3 Knicks players who should get more minutes to close out 2021-22

After making it to the playoffs last year, the New York Knicks won’t be making it to the play-in tournament this season. With a 117-111 loss to Atlanta on Tuesday night, New York’s postseason hopes were diminished.

The Knicks have 10 regular-season games left to play (including Wednesday’s matchup in Charlotte), so now’s a good time to spread minutes out across the board. Hopefully, Tom Thibodeau gets that memo.

Julius Randle was out against the Hawks with a sore right quad and is listed as doubtful against the Hornets. Thibodeau said that rest will aid Randle’s injury, and what that being said, what’s the point of him rushing back to play in meaningless games?

New York has a promising roster that’s full of young talent. Not to mention, the Knicks currently have the 10th pick in the 2022 draft.

With the offseason looming on the horizon, the front office can use the remaining games on the schedule to evaluate talent and decide what direction the team needs to go in this summer. Or that’s what needs to happen, at least.

3 Knicks players who should get more playing time to close out 2021-22.

3: Obi Toppin

Leading up to the Feb. 10 trade deadline, the No. 8 overall pick of the 2020 draft was thought to be a player that New York should move.

In the 62 games that Obi Toppin played in during his rookie season, he averaged 4.1 points and 2.2. rebounds in 11 minutes. This year, the forward’s averaging 7.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 15 minutes in 62 games.

Toppin’s shooting 51.3% from the field with an average of 5.5 attempts per game, in contrast to last season’s average of 3.4 attempts.

With an equal comparison between the number of games that he played last year and this year, he’s shown improvement, although he still hasn’t been playing as much as expected.

Obi Toppin’s development has been hindered by the New York Knicks.

Against Atlanta, the 24-year-old started in place of Randle for his third-career start. Toppin finished with 10 points (5-of-7), seven rebounds, and three assists in 24 minutes.

The 2022 Slam Dunk Champion has no issue with entertaining fans at Madison Square Garden, but the best part of his game is how he runs the floor. With Toppin, the Knicks are a force in transition, but the thing is that Thibodeau doesn’t properly utilize the forward’s skill set.

There are parts of his game that still need to be developed (ie: his shot), but he’s always going to outwork the other nine players that are on the court with him.

It doesn’t seem as if Randle’s injury is serious (and I hope that it isn’t), but as long as he’s out, Toppin should continue to be a starter. And if both players are on the team next year, it’d be nice to see Toppin average around 20 minutes per night. We can dream, right?