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Knicks Tinkering With Lineup Changes

The New York Knicks may be flirting with new lineups to boost their defense.

Jeremy Brener

Dec 11, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Precious Achiuwa (5) looks to shoot a three point shot against the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Dec 11, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Precious Achiuwa (5) looks to shoot a three point shot against the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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ORLANDO, Fla. — The New York Knicks are looking for ways to improve their lineups, especially when it comes to their defense.

A solution is available with Precious Achiuwa re-entering the lineup after missing the first month or so of the season with a hamstring injury, but the Knicks have been rolling with their current rotation.

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is hoping to get Achiuwa more involved next to Karl-Anthony Towns in the frontcourt in hopes of improving the defense, but it comes with a catch.

"The challenge becomes, you gotta rest KAT at some point," Thibodeau said. "So there's a finite amount of time to play them together, but it's something we definitely want to take a look at."

The Knicks have a below-average defensive rating, though it has made a jump in recent weeks. That being said, hovering just under the league average likely won't be enough for the Knicks to become a true contender this season.

Improvements will need to be made, likely from within, but changing the lineups and moving things around will be a tactic used by the Knicks to get better.

Achiuwa has played in five games so far for the Knicks this season, and he's slowly getting back to the player he was before the injury. He will be an important asset for the Knicks for the rest of the season, so the team needs to find exactly where he fits best.

Towns flourished with the Minnesota Timberwolves last season when paired with another big man, so having Achiuwa in there instead of a smaller Josh Hart could pay major dividends for the Knicks.

The question becomes how the Knicks will find time for the pair, and that should be an ongoing process from now until the end of the season.

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Jeremy Brener
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.

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