New York Knicks: 3 ways Miles McBride can find playing time

This one may be a little far-fetched, but New York has the personnel to run out some unique lineups.

It’s hard to imagine Tom Thibodeau straying too far from his usual basketball philosophies. There have been hypotheticals written about Obi Toppin or Julius Randle getting minutes at the center position but I don’t believe that’s something Thibodeau would do.

He has a specific, defined role for his centers to be rim-running bruisers. The Knicks played Norvelle Pelle before they considered experimenting with Toppin and Randle.

When it comes to the perimeter players, perhaps there could be room for some experimentation.

This comes back to Miles McBride’s defense being too good to ignore. Is there any way Thibodeau would try out 3-guard lineups with Derrick Rose/Alec Burks, Immanuel Quickley, and McBride?

It’s unlikely but here is how it could look.

McBride is on the court because the opposing team’s guard is tearing it up. McBride is tasked with defending him, while Quickley sticks on the secondary guard, and you hide Derrick Rose on the team’s wing player.

This also depends on the opposing team’s personnel but it’s not unheard of. Think of the Atlanta Hawks throwing Trae Young and Reggie Bullock during the first round of last season’s playoffs.

All the defender has to do is track the spot-up shooter along the perimeter. If it’s a player (like Bullock) who isn’t going to take more than 2 dribbles, it’s not the most devastating mismatch in the world to have a small guard defending them.

McBride’s skillset may be too strong to ignore. It’s going to be an uphill battle for playing time but if anyone can step up and prove themselves, it’s Deuce McBride.