How does the New York Knicks bench compare to others in the NBA?
By James Ryder
The New York Knicks Bench vs the Boston Celtics Bench
As much as I would love for it to not be true, the Boston Celtics are a very good looking and much-improved team.
The biggest issue with Boston last season was their bench. The Celtics were hemorrhaging when it came to depth. As the season dragged on, it was too much for their starters to make up for as far more well-rounded teams jumped them in the standings.
Al Horford is back after leaving the franchise in free agency in 2019. A player as diverse as Horford will look to help the team improve on both sides of the floor. Robert Williams III may be the bench center behind Horford, but it’s too early to tell. Williams, a Mitchell Robinson-esque type of player, would provide quality minutes in either role. Former Knick Enes Kanter will also see a bit of time, and we all know he can do a ton of damage with his rebounding and paint scoring.
Dennis Schroder is another big addition. One of the largest needs for Boston was a quality option at the point guard position, and Schroder is that and more. He and Marcus Smart will be a great floor general duo to watch. Smart seems like he will be the starter, but either of these players will automatically be one of the best bench point guards in the league if that is the role decided for them.
The Celtics have two other guards to look forward to in Josh Richardson and Payton Pritchard. Pritchard is a promising second-year player who excelled during the 2021 Summer League, while Richardson is a solid two-way shot creator.
Jabari Parker and Juancho Hernangomez are offensive-minded forwards that will fill out the rotation, spelling Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in limited minutes.
The clear advantage here for the Knicks’ bench over the C’s bench is the chemistry. New York’s ensemble of Rose, Quickley, Burks, Toppin, Noel, and Gibson played nearly an entire season together. They have proved the ability to outscore their opponents while also holding them at bay.
The Celtics have several new moving parts in the rotation. No matter how talented a group of players are, every new team is going to experience some level of getting acclimated. Boston won’t be able to avoid the growing pains that come with a rotation overhaul. Therefore, these players may even struggle to fit alongside the Celtics’ veterans at first.
Lastly, you might argue that the C’s bench is better because on paper they have more notoriety, but you’d be wrong. New York’s bench isn’t prone to being exposed based on what some of their weaknesses may be, something Boston may struggle with. There are too many players with glaring weaknesses that can be exploited. Not to mention the only reliable scoring and shooting option on this Boston bench is Schroder.
The Knicks work so well as a team on defense and they deploy many skilled offensive individuals.
Advantage: New York Knicks.