NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 24: Isaiah Hartenstein #55 of the New York Knicks celebrates in the ... [+] third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesLast year a large proportion of analysts questioned whether the Cleveland Cavaliers could sustain any sort of production with a lineup featuring Lauri Markkanen, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. That lineup had immense size, but that idea flew in complete contrast to where the NBA has been heading over the past decade with a concentration on small ball lineups. The success of that team allowed others to think differently.
The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired Rudy Gobert to pair with Karl-Anthony Towns, and the Pistons welcomed a style that paired Isiah Stewart with a traditional center. There are plenty of examples of stylistic differences in the NBA, but it’s always fair to question if the personnel choices actually make sense.
A few weeks ago Obi Toppin missed some time due to a non-displaced fracture in his right fibula. This seemed like an obvious blow to the 2nd unit but it was assumed that the Knicks had the depth to offset such an injury. Cam Reddish had played effectively over the course of the season, at that point, and it seemed to make sense to go with him off the bench. Instead, Tom Thibodeau elected to bring Jericho Sims off the bench to play with Isaiah Hartenstein.
Thibodeau used Sims routinely in that role where he played with Hartenstein. He averaged well over 10 minutes per game and would often see those minutes with another center on the court.
With Mitchell Robinson out of the lineup for a bit with a broken thumb and Toppin back in the rotation the two center lineup isn’t necessarily needed. Can it be a weapon that Thibodeau can break out after the All-Star break?
How It Can Work
The obvious consideration for why this has some validity is the rebounding issues the Knicks have fallen into this season. They rank 8th worst in the NBA in defensive rebounding percentage after placing in the top-five last season. That has caused opponents to gash the Knicks on the glass and take advantage of 2nd chance points.
Hartenstein does certain things well but he isn’t a beast on the defensive boards. Hartenstein ranks in the bottom half in the league in the category and Toppin, his current running mate on the second unit, struggles in this sector of the game, too. Adding another above average center in terms of defensive rebounding made a huge impact for the Knicks.
During that month-long period where Toppin missed time the Knicks ranked 1st in the NBA with a 75.4 defensive rebounding percentage. That is a huge bump and showed that the Knicks were able to make strides in an area in which they otherwise have struggled. It helped translate to the team capturing the 2nd best defensive net rating in the NBA during that same time period. Trotting out a bench lineup that can help you sustain elite numbers on the defensive side of the court must be awfully appealing to Thibodeau.
Sims showed credibility in being able to blitz on the perimeter in the pick and roll and allowed Hartenstein to stay upright down near the basket. Maintaining a defensive scheme that bludgeoned opponents is right in line with they way Thibodeau wants to operate. On top of that, the offensive rebounding was the best in the league (up a touch from their average on the season), which is a general philosophy the team has played into all year round.
The look would allow the Knicks to maintain the identity they’ve crafted all season long while promoting the areas they’ve wanted to excel in.
Why It Can’t Work
This only came about as an area of necessity. It wasn’t rooted in an idea that it would last forever and the look was just to “get by” for short stints at a time. The offense often looked clunky; it relied on some of the brilliance of Immanuel Quickley and the downhill action of RJ Barrett.
The fit, offensively, seemed like it could work since Hartenstein is known to stretch the floor all the way out to the 3-point line. He averaged a 3-point attempt per game during the stretch when Toppin was out, but he’s taken only one three-pointer in the 10 games since. It could simply be a product of the lack of a need for him to let it fly since he has typically been the only center on the court, but it could also speak to his lack of confidence in a shot that hasn’t worked this year. This will need to be sorted out if they plan to use Hartenstein stretch the floor.
Team construction has to be taken into consideration. Choosing to implement this lineup, with a fully healthy roster, means that you are likely resorting to keeping Toppin on the bench. Obi certainly struggled when he first returned back from his injury as he accumulated a mere 13 points over the course of six games. That level of productivity on offense does not make up for the defensive shortcomings on the other end of the court.
It’s important to remember that Toppin is still a valuable piece to this team and the long-term health of the organization needs to allow the 3rd year forward an opportunity to thrive. He’s performed much better over his past few games, even with the continued limited playing time.
The conversation becomes much more interesting if Toppin, Julius Randle, or RJ Barrett are ever forced to miss time. The chatter will resurface and it’ll be up to Thibodeau to see how he wants to allocate his minutes. If you know Thibs it may not be shocking to see him consider dusting off this strategy before the end of the season.
Tom Rende, Contributor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomrende/2023/01/27/will-the-new-york-knicks-consider-going-back-to-the-three-center-rotation/
By: Tom Rende, Contributor
Title: Will The New York Knicks Consider Going Back To The Three Center Rotation?
Sourced From: www.forbes.com/sites/tomrende/2023/01/27/will-the-new-york-knicks-consider-going-back-to-the-three-center-rotation/
Published Date: 01-28-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What does NBA mean by waived?
In the NBA, "waived" means a team has officially released a player from their roster. This could be for salary cap reasons, personal reasons, or disciplinary actions. The player becomes an unrestricted, free agent after being waived. They can then sign with any other league team. The player is not eligible to participate in the playoffs if they were waived after March 1, 2001.
What is the greatest NBA team?
This topic is hotly debated and has been talked about for decades. The "showtime Lakers of 80-1989" dominated this league for almost a decade, winning five championships. The Lakers also had superstars such as James Worthy, Byron Scott, and Kurt Rambis in their lineup during this period.
The Los Angeles Lakers of 200-2004, later known as the Shaw and Kobe Lakers, were a force to be reckoned with. They were defeated by Shaquille Bryant and Kobe Bryant, both Hall of Famers. They won three consecutive championships between 2000 and 2002.
The Chicago Bulls in the 1990s were also a dominant force. They won six titles under Phil Jackson, their iconic head coach. Michael Jordan was the team's greatest player, widely regarded as one of the greatest ever. The Chico Bulls (1995-1996) are one of the most famous teams in NBA History. They won three consecutive NBA championships and had a record 72 wins. The Bulls' 1972-10 regular season record was broken in 2015-2016 by the Golden State Warriors.
The Boston Celtics of 1962 are perhaps the most famous dynasty of NBA history. They won eight consecutive NBA titles and 11 championships under Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach. Legendary players Bill Russell, Bob Cousys, John Havliceks, Sam Jones and John Havlicek helped to create a winning culture which has been unmatched in decades.
The San Antonio Spurs are another contender for the title of best NBA dynasty. From 1999 to 2007 the Spurs won four league championships and had one among the most impressive runs in league history. They were led by future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, as well as Gregg Popovich who was their head coach. Their basketball approach improved, emphasizing team-first mentality, which made them successful.
The Golden State Warriors are one team that has won four NBA championships, making them one of the most successful in NBA history. Steve Kerr, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry are their stars. The Warriors have an exciting brand and style of basketball that has excited fans all around the world.
It's difficult to pick one team that is the greatest NBA Dynasty. Each team had its own group of players and coaches who made them successful. But some teams were more notable than others because they were dominant. The Lakers, Bulls, Celtics, Spurs and Warriors would make a strong case for the greatest NBA dynasty.
What is a Bird Rights in NBA?
"Bird rights", in the NBA, refers to a system that allows certain players to be resigned by their current teams for more money than any other. This rule is named after Larry Bird (ex-Boston Celtics player), who was the first to profit from it. A team cannot exceed their salary cap to resign a player if that player has been with them for at least three consecutive years. Bird rights allow players to remain with the same team while receiving a higher salary than they would receive from another team.
Which NBA player has been voted the NBA's most prolific scorer?
Kareem Abdel-Jabbar is currently the NBA's leading scorer. His career has seen him score 38,387 points. LeBron James is in second place with 37,062 points. Karl Malone is in third place with 36,928 points. Kobe Bryant is fourth with 33,643 point. Michael Jordan is fifth with 32,292 point.
Statistics
- Meanwhile, the opening night rosters include a record-setting 234 players with some G League experience, according to the NBA ( Twitter link ). (hoopsrumors.com)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20% of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Between 2012 and 2019, the league lost 40 to 45 percent of its viewership. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The opening game of the 2020 Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat brought in only 7.41 million viewers to ABC, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
External Links
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basketball-reference.com
- Thomas Bryant Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
- Dennis Schroder Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
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The NBA All-Star Game 24 players are selected through a combination fan, media, player and voter voting. Fans make up 50 percent of the vote. Media and current players account for 25 percent. Each group's vote counts as one, and all three groups submit their ballots simultaneously. Each conference picks two guards, two forwards and one centre. If a player is injured or unable to play due to any other reason, then the NBA Commissioner will select a replacement for that player. The All-Star Game will see the players compete against one another in a pre-determined format. The team with the highest points total at the end after four quarters wins is declared the winner. Each year, the winning team receives a donation to charity.
The All-Star Game also presents a special award to the most valuable player. The All-Star Game is one of the most highly anticipated events in the NBA each year, as it brings together some of the best talents from both conferences. It's a great way for fans to cheer on their favorite players and see who ends up winning. Fans look forward to the All-Star Game every year because it showcases some of the best players in the NBA. The NBA All-Star Game promises to be a spectacular showcase of talent and entertainment with its unique selection process.
