The New York Knicks opened the season distancing themselves from last year’s starting five. They have since re-embraced it, adding Josh Hart back into the opening-tip fold. And now, it may be time to reconsider who they’re rolling out to start games.
Make no bones about it, the macro numbers on the lineup with Hart, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby remain encouraging. The Knicks are a plus-19.3 points per 100 possessions, with an offensive rating north of 130, for the season. That is objectively elite stuff.
In recent games, though, this quintet has begun to lose its luster.