For the first 10 games of this season, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau kept the same starting lineup intact, a testament to his faith in the quintet and the group’s ability to avoid injury.
The Knicks are believed not to have had the same starters for the first 10 games in at least 20 years.
The starting series ended in Charlotte on Monday, and so did some appearance of a good start to the game.
Reggie Bullock, who was the Knicks’ rock of a budding shooting guard, came down with a sore hip and scratched. Thibodeau chose Austin Rivers to slip into the role of Bullock and the Hornets sprinted to 10-0 and 19-5.
When Thibodeau turned from the bench to Immanuel Quickley and Kevin Knox, the Knicks rallied, though they ended up losing 21 points. Knox finished with 19 points and hit 5 of 12 3-pointers.
Bullock is expected to miss Wednesday’s game against the Nets. Would it finally be time for Knox to start alongside the icy RJ Barrett as a small attacker?
The Knicks were brutal from three-point range (24-for-85, 28 percent) during their three-game lost streak.
With three-point shooter Alec Burks tending an ankle sprain, Knox could be an elixir to help heal the blasting slump that dropped the Knicks to 5-6.
Knox started much of his rookie season in 2018/19, but when Marcus Morris was signed as a free agent in July 2019, Knox went back to the bank – and he stayed there even after Morris was traded last February.
Last season, Knox started only four of the 56 games, after starting 57 of the 75 games as a rookie.
Knox now shoots a career best of 40 percent from a 3-point range and an average of 7.9 points in 21 minutes.
Knox also has history with the other four starters who played in last season’s roster. (Mitchell Robinson is Knox’s best friend on the team).
Rivers has played well with the reserve crew and hadn’t started before. He may have been referring to himself when he said the team chemistry is out, even though most of the rotations are repeat players.
“Our chemistry is not there yet, we are still building,” said Rivers, who missed the whole pre-season and the first four games. “So I say be patient, because I know it will only get better and better. I haven’t had one practice all season My first time playing with the team was against the Raptors [on Dec. 31]. So I’m still figuring it out. “
It may be wise to continue picking out the pine tree.
Taj Gibson, last season’s starting center and a favorite of Thibodeau, will be available to brave the Nets after passing COVID-19 protocols. Although sources say he is in shape, it is unclear if he will play without team training.
Gibson was signed last week to help with front-court depth and cut Julius Randle’s tough minutes. Against the Hornets, an exhausted-looking Randle finally had his first off-game, scoring just 11 points and making four turns.
But his stats through 11 games shouldn’t be ignored. Randle joined Oscar Robertson as the only player in NBA history to achieve at least 200 points, 115 rebounds, and 70 assists in their team’s first 11 games.
Last season, the Knicks and Nets split the four games in the regular season.