Going into the preseason, the Knicks will have things to figure out. For the more established teams and players, the preseason can feel unnecessary. For a team like the Knicks, the preseason will be a real evaluator to see where some players stand.
The Knicks will play four preseason games this year, starting at home against the Pistons on Oct. 4 and finishing in New York against the Wizards on Oct. 14.
Knicks announce their preseason schedule: pic.twitter.com/KGGtaE0tyk
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) August 12, 2022
3 things to look out for during the Knicks’ preseason games
1. Three lefty lineup:
The Knicks’ three star players going into the season are Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, and Jalen Brunson. What will be incredibly interesting to watch is how these three mesh together. Randle and Barrett have played 186 games together since RJ was a rookie and Julius came to the Knicks in 2019. It has not always looked smooth, and at times the two lefties on the floor together can get in each other’s way.
Now, add Brunson, who is also a lefty, and there will be an adjustment period. All are capable of shooting from outside and none are considered to be shooters. The three of them individually work best when driving or being close to the basket. Brunson and Randle both ranked in the top 20 in points per game off drives in 2021-22.
Mitchell Robinson will be the starting center to start the season, and he isn’t exactly a floor spacer himself. The Knicks will need Brunson or Barrett to improve their three-point shooting numbers, or there could be logjams near the basket. Randle will continue to work down low and on the high post where he has proven to be effective.
Many teams in the NBA will include at least one left-handed player in their projected starting lineups. In some cases, like with the Pelicans, you will see them start two lefties in Zion Williamson and Herb Jones. In the rarest forms seen in the NBA today, the Knicks and Sacramento Kings are the only two teams with three lefties in their projected starting lineups.
How will the spacing work? Will there be more off-ball cuts? Can they find a way to overload on the left side and create a huge advantage? There are so many questions to ask with these three and answers will come in the coming months.
Watching how Randle, Barrett, and Brunson play together will be priority number one for the Knicks organization and fan base.