New York Knicks Look to 'Take Advantage' of 2nd Unit's Strengths and Skillsets

Tom Thibodeau believes the diverse skillsets of the New York Knicks' lineup will allow them to build on last season's success.

When most teams grab a rebound after a defensive stop, the player who secured the board waits for the point guard to come get the ball from them, and then the ball can be advanced down the court. 

The New York Knicks, on the other hand, are looking to have a different approach this season.

Over the past few seasons, Knicks management has loaded up on backcourt options and ball handlers. New York thus carries several players that head coach Tom Thibodeau can trust to move both up the court and in the half-court sets. A lot of those players come off the bench, allowing them to play at a quicker pace when the second unit takes the floor.

With the power forward spot behind Julius Randle relatively small beyond the inexperienced Isaiah Roby and Jericho Sims, the unit that would be on the court would potentially still have RJ Barrett, as well as Immanuel Quickley, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo, with Isaiah Hartenstein rounding things out at center. With Hartenstein being the only questionable ball handler of the bunch, the plan would be for him to grab the defensive rebounds and then just get it to anyone and run.

“You want to always play to your strengths and cover up your weaknesses. So, if one group is small and quick, you’re going to play fast,” Thibodeau said of the second unit's change of pace, per Fred Katz of The Athletic. “If one group is more of a pick-and-roll type or post-up type team you take advantage of that.”

Set to enter his first full season in New York, Josh Hart is one of the headliners of the Knicks' second-unit / Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports

Thibodeau is particularly intrigued by what Hart, back in New York for the next five seasons thanks to a 2023-24 player option and a subsequent four-year contract extension, has to offer. This season will mark Hart's first full year with the Knicks after coming over from Portland at last year's trade deadline.

“When you study transition, oftentimes, those are the hardest breaks to stop: when a guard gets a long rebound and he goes. You create easy offense from that,” Thibodeau said. “Oftentimes, if you have a four or a guy like Josh. When he gets it and he goes, that puts people at a big disadvantage.”

With the Knicks' starting lineup being better in the pick-and-roll and other half-court sets, this fast pace of play with the bench unit would keep defenses on their toes.

The Knicks will get another chance to work on that strategy soon enough, as they are back in preseason action on Tuesday in Boston (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).