Knicks Lineup Brings One Key Advantage

The New York Knicks can mix and match with several different combinations of players.

Jeremy Brener | Aug 17, 2024

May 19, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the third quarter of game seven of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

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New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are coming into the season with some new faces and opportunities to do things a little bit different.

That comes with the addition of Mikal Bridges, who can play multiple positions and defend nearly everybody on the team. On top of that, the team has Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiuwa expected to man the middle instead of Isaiah Hartenstein, who signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency this offseason.

Bleacher Report writer Dan Favale believes that the Knicks have a lot of flexibility to work with when it comes to constructing various lineups.

"New York has lineup buttons to push not available to every team. And while head coach Tom Thibodeau isn't known for off-beat exploration, he's warmed up to playing smaller over the past season-and-a-half—a development that also bodes well for these Knicks," Favale writes.

The Knicks showcased some of this flexibility last season, especially with players like Josh Hart able to play 2-4 and Donte DiVincenzo able to slide in other spots. That flexibility has now been maximized with Bridges and the team will have the chance to run a number of different lineups to determine which fivesome works best for them for the playoffs.

Having as many combinations as possible will prepare the Knicks for the postseason and enable them to potentially make a deep run in the Eastern Conference.

The locks for the best lineups will be Jalen Brunson at point guard and OG Anunoby either at the small or power forward position. Then, the Knicks can run three of Miles McBride, Julius Randle, Robinson, Achiuwa, Bridges, Hart and DiVincenzo depending on whatever matchup the opposing team gives.

This factor should make the Knicks incredibly dangerous going into the upcoming season.

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Published Aug 17, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.