With that being said, 35.5 minutes per game is likely too many for anyone in the modern NBA, given the strain it places on players having to cover the court at high speeds defensively. It’s a credit to Thibodeau that he didn’t play Randle more than that (Randle led the league in minutes per game in 2020-21) but with Obi Toppin now gone there could be a temptation to bump his minutes back up.
Randle will likely need to play more minutes in the playoffs, so conserving his body for the regular season makes the most sense. Randle’s defense is also the first thing to go when he is fatigued, and next is his shot selection; as with most players, when he gets tired he turns into a jumpshooter. Randle is at his best with full optionality, the threat of a shot balanced with the threat of a bowling-ball drive into the paint.
Randle at 33 minutes per game is probably at his best on both ends of the court, and helps the odds of a healthy Randle reaching the playoffs.
after a low-activity offseason</a>. Does that mean they should keep everything the same?</p>
<h2>The New York Knicks are building a new rotation</h2>
<p>The NBA is always changing and always improving, and the Knicks can’t afford to get too comfortable. They did that two years ago and fell back to earth as the rest of the East got better around them. They may have made just one impact signing this summer, adding Donte DiVincenzo, but they can look at new and better ways to shape the rotation next season.</p>
<p>That means some players need to see their minutes reduced, and others need to be given more of an opportunity to spread their wings. Let’s look at five players on the roster returning from last season; who needs to play more, and who needs to play less?</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/08/05/3-knicks-play-2-play-less/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Deuce </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-133436" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/08/05/3-knicks-play-2-play-less/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F09%2F1387761630.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Miles McBride" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/09/1387761630.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/09/1387761630-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 25: Miles McBride #2 of the New York Knicks reacts after hitting a three point shot during the second half against the Miami Heat at FTX Arena on March 25, 2022 in Miami, Florida.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>No. 1: Miles McBride should play more</h2>
<p>Right off the bat, we’re going to see the difficulty with this exercise. The Knicks are loaded with talented backcourt players, and they are comparatively thin in the frontcourt. We’ll get more into that as we go. For now, though, despite the logjam at guard, the Knicks need to find a way to get <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/08/05/3-knicks-play-2-play-less/3/"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/6578/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miles McBride</a> minutes.</p>
<p>The Knicks took McBride with the 36th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft; the former West Virginia point guard was seen as a first-round pick by many draft analysts, and they have been proven right by McBride’s play in limited minutes thus far in his career.</p>
<p>McBride has a solid handle, quick hands and a dogged defensive presence. The swing skill for McBride was his shooting, but while he hit under 30 percent from deep in the NBA last year he has hit well over 40 percent of his 3-pointers in limited minutes in the G League. When he has played with the Westchester Knicks he has been “too good” for the G League, averaging over 26 points per game in 13 appearances over the last two years.</p>
<p>He played consistently but sparingly for the New York Knicks last year, appearing in 64 games but averaging just 11.9 minutes per game. He averaged 1.8 steals per 36 minutes as a ball hawk and his defensive impact was felt even if his offensive game is still coming along.</p>
<p>If the Knicks end up trading Immanuel Quickley for any reason, McBride looks capable of stepping into a larger role. His defensive chops give him a situational path to minutes in certain situations, but the Knicks should think through ways to get him on the floor.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/08/05/3-knicks-play-2-play-less/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Don Julio </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-145253" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/08/05/3-knicks-play-2-play-less/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1708,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2023%2F06%2F1245275432-scaled.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Julius Randle" width="2560" height="1708" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2023/06/1245275432-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2023/06/1245275432-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2023/06/1245275432-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2023/06/1245275432-2048x1366.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 30: Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks in action against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden on November 30, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Milwaukee Bucks defeated the New York Knicks 109-103. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>No. 2: Julius Randle should play less</h2>
<p>It continues to be surprising, but <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/08/05/3-knicks-play-2-play-less/3/"https://www.nba.com/player/203944/julius-randle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Julius Randle</a> has been really good for the New York Knicks over the past few seasons. He continues to lack a skillset to elevate in the playoffs, but he has drastically improved as a shooter and plays harder on defense for Tom Thibodeau than at any previous stop in his career.</p>
<p>With that being said, 35.5 minutes per game is likely too many for anyone in the modern NBA, given the strain it places on players having to cover the court at high speeds defensively. It’s a credit to Thibodeau that he didn’t play Randle more than that (Randle led the league in minutes per game in 2020-21) but with Obi Toppin now gone there could be a temptation to bump his minutes back up.</p>
<p>Randle will likely need to play more minutes in the playoffs, so conserving his body for the regular season makes the most sense. Randle’s defense is also the first thing to go when he is fatigued, and next is his shot selection; as with most players, when he gets tired he turns into a jumpshooter. Randle is at his best with full optionality, the threat of a shot balanced with the threat of a bowling-ball drive into the paint.</p>
<p>Randle at 33 minutes per game is probably at his best on both ends of the court, and helps the odds of a healthy Randle reaching the playoffs.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/08/05/3-knicks-play-2-play-less/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The Marshall </a>
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<span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Offseason Report Card: Knicks get two As and three Bs for summer moves </a> </div>
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<p>The Knicks probably need a trade to help alleviate their roster imbalance, but for now, their best players are crowded into the backcourt and they need to find a way to play them, despite the size disadvantage. Quickley leads the way for players who need to have a larger role next season.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
