Post by New York on Aug 1, 2016 1:14:47 GMT
Heading into the off-season the New York Knicks were coming off of a historic run that saw them put together a record of 137 - 27 over the past two seasons and 32-8 in the playoffs in that same stretch. This includes a stellar 72-10 season with a 16-2 playoff run in this most recent season. This team was led by a big five of Greg Oden, Pau Gasol, Larry Nance, Wilson Chandler, and John Stockton as well as key reserves/role players like Andrew Bogut, Vasily Karasev, and Charles Smith. Surprisingly more than half of those 8 players that made up the Knicks championship rotation are now on new teams.
Gone are: Greg Oden, Wilson Chandler, Charles Smith, Vasily Karasev, Andrew Bogut
In their place are: Tom Heinsohn, Bobby Jones, Juan Antonio Corbalan, Billy Knight
Not to mention new players that weren't a part of any trade that sent the above players out
Maurice Harkless, Tyrone Corbin, Spencer Hawes, Austin Rivers.
And players that were on the Knicks last season but couldn't crack the rotation such as:
Ryan Gomes & Jimmy Oliver
You'll notice two things when comparing the old roster to the new one. First the talent level on the new look Knicks is definitely lower (by design, the field is open for a bunch of teams to win the title). Second, this team is an extremely versatile group now with players that can fill multiple roles on the roster.
In this article we'll be focusing on that second point and looking at some of the different lineups this roster could run as well as the individual players that make up the roster.
Traditional Lineups
A Simple Flip
The Big Lineup
Legends Throwback Lineup
That's just 4-5 different lineups the Knicks could run but definitely not the only ones that could be thrown out there. Before we finish up here though lets take a look at the players individually and get a better idea of how versatile each of them are.
Tom Heinsohn - Small Forward/Power Foward
Pau Gasol - Power Forward/Center
Larry Nance - Shooting Guard/Small Forward/Power Forward/Center
John Stockton - Point Guard/Shooting guard
Bobby Jones - Small Forward/Power Forward/Center
Maurice Harkless - Shooting Guard/Small Forward/Power Forward
Juan Antonio Corbalan - Point Guard/Shooting Guard
Ryan Gomes - Small Forward/Power Forward
Billy Knight - Shooting Guard/Small Forward
The Rest
Tyrone Corbin - Shooting Guard/Small Forward
Spencer Hawes - Center/Power Forward
Austin Rivers - Shooting Guard
Jimmy Oliver - Shooting Guard
Ndudi Ebi - Shooting Guard/Small Foward
Tim Hardaway Jr. - Shooting Guard/Small Forward
Oscar Schmidt - Small Forward/Power Forward
Gone are: Greg Oden, Wilson Chandler, Charles Smith, Vasily Karasev, Andrew Bogut
In their place are: Tom Heinsohn, Bobby Jones, Juan Antonio Corbalan, Billy Knight
Not to mention new players that weren't a part of any trade that sent the above players out
Maurice Harkless, Tyrone Corbin, Spencer Hawes, Austin Rivers.
And players that were on the Knicks last season but couldn't crack the rotation such as:
Ryan Gomes & Jimmy Oliver
You'll notice two things when comparing the old roster to the new one. First the talent level on the new look Knicks is definitely lower (by design, the field is open for a bunch of teams to win the title). Second, this team is an extremely versatile group now with players that can fill multiple roles on the roster.
In this article we'll be focusing on that second point and looking at some of the different lineups this roster could run as well as the individual players that make up the roster.
Traditional Lineups
- These are pretty straight forward, these are the "obvious" lineups that the Knicks are expected to run coming out of the off-season. But despite the name even these lineups aren't super traditional because you could argue that Maurice Harkless and Billy Knight are Small Forwards especially Harkless who isn't extremely quick. But this is as traditional as it's going to get for the team this year and I think they've shown in the past they don't mind going a bit outside of the box if it helps them win.
A Simple Flip
- This lineup isn't much different than the traditional lineups because as the title says, they are a simple flip at the forward positions. Larry Nance has shown he is capable of being an all-star at the SF spot and Tom Heinsohn (along with Gail Goodrich) just got the Warriors to the 2nd round of the playoffs as a PF so you could argue that this is the best direction to take with these two all-stars.
The Big Lineup
- The Knicks are going to have a big lineup regardless more than likely but this is the first time they go big and have a legit scoring threat at the SG spot with Larry Nance sliding to the position he originally won 6th Man of The Year at. Bobby Jones gets the chance to step into the starting lineup in this scenario as another versatile forward that could play the 3, 4 or 5.
Legends Throwback Lineup
This was originally going to be called the "small lineup" and while it is somewhat small I thought a callback to a particular ABCA Legends lineup was more fitting. That lineup was actually a bit smaller in the front court and bigger in the backcourt than this hypothetical as it saw saw a 5'11 PG, 6'3 SG, 6'5 SF, 6'9 PF, and 6'10 C take the court together but that's the vibe I got off of this lineup. Juan Antonio Corbalan becomes the primary ball handler here due to being an excellent passer who has the potential to make things tough on opposing PGs. John Stockton becomes the secondary ball handler and the 3 & D guy (i.e Otis Birdsong) with this setup. Heinsohn & Nance play the roles of Adrian Dantley and Elvin Hayes while Pau Gasol channels his inner Tyrone Hill to put us over the top
That's just 4-5 different lineups the Knicks could run but definitely not the only ones that could be thrown out there. Before we finish up here though lets take a look at the players individually and get a better idea of how versatile each of them are.
Tom Heinsohn - Small Forward/Power Foward
- All-Star Game MVP last season at the Power Forward spot and a 20 - 10 threat every night at that spot but at 6'7", with great shooting, respectable quickness, and impressive perimeter defense it's hard not to see him as a Small Forward as well.
Pau Gasol - Power Forward/Center
- Back on the Mexico City Titans he was a Center, once he came to New York he started off as a Center with Greg Oden surprisingly playing Power Forward before then transitioning over to the Power Forward role full time. Now with Greg Oden in Boston, and with both Larry Nance & Tom Heinsohn holding down the Power Forward spots he'll now find himself back at Center. If he had better perimeter defense I could even argue that he could slide to the Small Forward spot but that would be a stretch at this point.
Larry Nance - Shooting Guard/Small Forward/Power Forward/Center
- Larry Nance isn't just one of the most versatile players on this roster but also one of the most versatile players in the league. In three seasons, he's a two time all-star and he hasn't even made it at what many consider his natural position yet. He initially made the all-star team as a shooting guard, then followed that up with an all-star season at the Small Forward spot. Then obviously he's capable of playing both of the front court position since his natural position is a 6'10 athletic Power Forward.
John Stockton - Point Guard/Shooting guard
- One of the top point guards in the league since the creation draft, he has led the league in passing 5 out of the 6 seasons we've had so far so it's no question that's he is as much of a Point Guard as you can be. But he's also one of the league's top shooters, and one of the best defenders as well so it's not hard to see him sliding over the shooting guard spot for stretches. The one thing that may make you hesitate is him being 6'1 but as you'll see me mention later on, I've never been one to worry much about height.
Bobby Jones - Small Forward/Power Forward/Center
- One of the newer Knicks and also one of the most versatile. Bobby Jones has been talked about throughout the draft process due to his defensive versatility that makes him look like he'll be one of the best defenders in the league at some point. He's not much on the offensive end but he's capable enough athletically to slide away from his natural position of Power Forward if his team wants to play big or small.
Maurice Harkless - Shooting Guard/Small Forward/Power Forward
- On most teams Mo Harkless would be classified as a Small Forward that could maybe play some Power Forward but in my eyes I think he can play any of the middle three positions. Working from the top down, he's 6'9", is pretty strong, and has good potential as a post defender and shot blocker so I could definitely see his role being a small ball Power Forward. His ability to play the SF spot goes without saying and even though he's not the quickest player he is a quality perimeter defender and stealer so in a lot of matchups I could see him thriving at SG.
Juan Antonio Corbalan - Point Guard/Shooting Guard
- I know at 6'0 most would say he's strictly a Point Guard but I'd then remind people that this guy (Click Here For Zoran) was my starting Shooting Guard early on in his career. He's obviously a Point Guard primarily but if we felt we had a better player to play at PG, I have no concern with him starting at Shooting Guard for stretches.
Ryan Gomes - Small Forward/Power Forward
- When Ryan Gomes is described it'd be as a jack of all trades type player because there's not much that he can't do. He has a respectable 3-point shot, can defend the post, is a respectable ball handler, can defender the perimeter, can score on the inside, can hit the jumpshot, and can rebound. If he was a bit better perimeter defender and a bit quicker I'd argue that he could even give spot minutes at Shooting Guard but I think it's clear that he is a combo-forward/tweener or whatever you want to call it.
Billy Knight - Shooting Guard/Small Forward
Standing at 6 feet, 6 inches he's quick enough to guard shooting guards but strong enough to also match up with Small Forwards. He's not much of a shooter but that's not a part of his game so much like Larry Nance it doesn't take anything away from him. He's already shown he can score at both positions in Summer League and Pre-Season so now we just have to see if that carries over to the regular season.
The Rest
Tyrone Corbin - Shooting Guard/Small Forward
Spencer Hawes - Center/Power Forward
Austin Rivers - Shooting Guard
Jimmy Oliver - Shooting Guard
Ndudi Ebi - Shooting Guard/Small Foward
Tim Hardaway Jr. - Shooting Guard/Small Forward
Oscar Schmidt - Small Forward/Power Forward