Knicks Preseason Observation: More Five-External Tactics? New Rotations Emergency?

Knicks' preseason schedule has been fully launched. The team opened training camp last week and is currently stationed in Abu Dhabi and will have two matches with the Philadelphia 76ers. Although New York basically retains its core roster that reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season, several changes are still coming. After coach Tom Thibodeau was fired, Mike Brown has taken the coaching stick and stayed on the sidelines. The management has focused on enhancing the depth of the lineup by introducing Jordan Clarkson, Gaelson Yabuselle and Malcolm Brogden.

It is true that this is just a preseason, but the following highlights are worth paying attention to.

The Athletic Knicks team reporter James L. Edwards III and national columnist Fred Katz will jointly analyze their expectations for the Knicks and new coach Brown, and share their insights on the depth of the lineup.

What are you most concerned about in the Knicks' preseason this season?

Katz: A lineup combination that has never appeared before.

The core suspense lies in the composition of the starting lineup. As James reported last week, head coach Brown has made it clear that he will use the preseason to determine the ideal starting five Tigers. Four of the seats have been settled: Jaylen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunobi and Carl-Anthony Towns. But the fifth position is still waiting.

If Josh Hart was selected last season's starting lineup, the Knicks will add a wing that has both organizational and rebounding capabilities, but the protection of the penalty area will be weakened accordingly. Hart's unstable jump shot will also hinder the implementation of the five-for-one tactics - and he said that the finger injury that requires protective gear during the game will add variables. If Mitchell Robinson is activated, this starting lineup will build an Optimus Prime-like penalty area barrier. The seven-foot man is both a rebounding giant and a rim protection expert, but his technical characteristics on the offensive end are destined to cause congestion on the field. If Miles McBride is selected, the Knicks can set up a five-shot formation along the three-point line, but the overall size will be at a disadvantage. Equipped with two small defenders in the backcourt and lacking the defensive configuration of traditional franchise guards will face a huge test.

Robinson is the most likely starting person at present. If arranged in this way, Towns will need to move to the power forward, which will weaken his offensive power to a certain extent. However, the key to the final decision may not lie in how to create the strongest lineup for the opening game.

After all, for today's Knicks, an operating model that is eager for quick success and instant benefits is absolutely undesirable.

The management has clearly conveyed through the actual action of firing Thibodeau: the team's results that were only stopped in the second and third rounds of the playoffs were unacceptable. The team should not be limited to the opening game of the season against the Cavaliers at home on October 22, but should focus on the long-term layout of the playoffs six months later.

So when choosing a starting lineup, I will not prioritize tactical adaptation, but will first evaluate Robinson's health.

In the playoffs last year, Robinson, who had escaped from injuries for the first time in the year, showed a dominant performance. But looking at the seasons in recent years, he has not been able to maintain his continued health.

If I decide on the starting lineup, the first move will be to consult the team doctor and trainer: What kind of solution can best ensure Robinson's physical condition?

There is no doubt that the team will definitely hope that Robinson can take the field at the critical moment at the end of each quarter. Management will monitor his playing time with extreme caution – a priority is to grab a few more offensive rebounds against the Hornets in January, ensuring he stays healthy during the April-June playoffs.

As a result, the Knicks faced two rotation plans:

Robinson was the starter, playing for about six minutes in the first and third quarters, and then made another appearance in the last six minutes of the second and fourth quarters.

Robinson plays as a substitute and is specifically responsible for the final six minutes of each quarter.

The total appearance time of the two schemes is the same, and there is only a difference in rhythm allocation. This is the key to the medical team's need to provide professional judgment: some players are suitable for playing again after a short break, which can not only restore their physical strength but also maintain competitive state; others require longer bench rest time to adjust their bodies. Which solution can minimize Robinson's risk of injury?

In the first set of plans, Robinson will have 12 minutes of game time to rest; in the second set of plans, it will be 6 minutes.

If the medical team determines that Robinson is more suitable for long break mode, it should be included in the starter; if a short break strategy is recommended, Hart or McBride should be included in the starter.

Regardless of whether McBride enters the starting lineup or not, I pay special attention to the effect of his team-up with four core starters. Robinson and McBride were the king of net efficiency for the Knicks last season - the former showed dominance in the playoffs and the latter continued to output in the regular season - but neither of them went through much lineup run-in. For example, although McBride usually plays the role of the Sixth Man, he played with Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby and Towns in just 82 non-trash time rounds throughout the season.

This means that the Knicks rarely truly practice the five-man outside tactical system.

At the same time, I look forward to observing: Will the duration of Abussele and Robinson partner exceed that of the combination with Towns? How often did he serve as a center? Although he does not have the ability to protect the frame, Yabuselle has a solid physical qualities like a brick wall.

Brown said that the new season may adopt a rotation of up to ten people, which is in stark contrast to the Knicks' employing strategies over the past few seasons.

Compared with the controversial total playing time allocation during the coaching period of Thibodeau, what is more worthy of attention is his obsession with insisting on using a fixed lineup combination. There is no need to worry about whether Brunson averages 34 or 36 minutes in the new season - the key is that he and his teammates will now experience more diverse lineups, and I will pay close attention to the actual effects of these new combinations. If he cannot copy the influence displayed by last season's data, isn't it reasonable? Yabussele has indeed surpassed the Celtics, and his growth in Real Madrid and the French national team is obvious to all. However, the NBA sample size is still insufficient at this stage, and it is still difficult for us to make a conclusion.

Finally, let’s talk about Brogden: This 2023 best sixth man winner has only played 63 games in the past two seasons. Since the 2018-19 season, he has only made more than 60 appearances in a single season. The 32-year-old point guard is suffering from injuries and although the low-cost signing is worth trying, people can't help but question why he can only get an unsecured one-year contract - the law of time may be showing its power again.

However, it is always good to start with a healthy Robinson in the new season. If he serves as the starter, it means that Hart will fill the bench rotation, which is also worthy of recognition. McBride deserves to continue his steady performance, while Landry Shamet and Garrison Matthews' performance remains to be seen.

Knicks have done their best to strengthen the bench. I just can't be 100% sure whether these measures will work, after all, the improvement of paper strength cannot always be transformed into practical results.