Derrick Rose, Tom Thibodeau, New York Knicks. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The New York Knicks could shake up their current rotation for the postseason.
After clinching a playoff berth for the first time in eight years, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau and his team are gearing up for the elimination tournament. While New York isn’t expected to contend for a championship, it’s a sure bet that they’ll make life miserable for whoever matches up with them in the first round.
However, there is a possibility that the Knicks might make some adjustments to the rotation once the playoffs begin. Many teams often do this before the postseason to try and catch opponents off guard, and it has worked quite a bit.
For example, the Miami Heat had Bam Adebayo switch from power forward to center right before the playoffs last season. That move helped them go from the 5th seed in the East to game 6 of the NBA Finals.
While Thibodeau likely won’t make any decisions that completely dismantle the current rotation, there are still some smaller moves and adjustments to be made that can help New York stay competitive once the games start to truly matter.
The Knicks are about to enter their first playoff series since 2013, here’s the rotation that gives them the best chance to make it out of the first round.
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau and his team are gearing up for the elimination tournament. While New York isn’t expected to contend for a championship, it’s a sure bet that they’ll make life miserable for whoever matches up with them in the first round.</p>
<p>However, there is a possibility that the Knicks might make some adjustments to the rotation once the playoffs begin. Many teams often do this before the postseason to try and catch opponents off guard, and it has worked quite a bit.</p>
<p>For example, the Miami Heat had Bam Adebayo switch from power forward to center right before the playoffs last season. That move helped them go from the 5th seed in the East to game 6 of the NBA Finals.</p>
<p>While Thibodeau likely won’t make any decisions that completely dismantle the current rotation, there are still some smaller moves and adjustments to be made that can help New York stay competitive once the games start to truly matter.</p>
<p>The Knicks are about to enter their first playoff series since 2013, here’s the rotation that gives them the best chance to make it out of the first round.</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/2021/05/15/new-york-knicks-predicting-perfect-playoff-rotation/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The Starting 5 </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-118263" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/15/new-york-knicks-predicting-perfect-playoff-rotation/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2174,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1232796491.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks" width="3200" height="2174" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1232796491.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1232796491-768x522.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Julius Randle, Derrick Rose, New York Knicks.(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>New York Knicks: Ideal playoff starters</h2>
<p>PG – Derrick Rose</p>
<p>SG – RJ Barrett</p>
<p>SF – Reggie Bullock</p>
<p>PF – Julius Randle</p>
<p>C – Nerlens Noel</p>
<p>Randle, Barrett, Bullock, and Noel have all been steady presences at their respective positions throughout the year. Barring injury, they’re going to remain starters for the foreseeable future. However, there is another choice that needs to be made.</p>
<p>In a move that seems like it’s been building for weeks now, there’s a good chance that Thibodeau names Derrick Rose as the starting point guard for the playoffs. Current starting point guard Elfrid Payton has seen his playing time dip drastically over the past month, with all of those extra minutes going to the former league MVP.</p>
<p>Over the team’s last 13 appearances, Rose is averaging 30.6 minutes while <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/15/new-york-knicks-predicting-perfect-playoff-rotation/"https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/2583639/elfrid-payton" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Payton is averaging just 16.5 minutes per game</a>. In fact, Payton’s 16.5 is the lowest mark of any Knicks rotation player over that timespan outside of rookie Obi Toppin.</p>
<p>Rose is averaging <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/15/new-york-knicks-predicting-perfect-playoff-rotation/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rosede01/gamelog/2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">19.9 points and 5.1 assists on 57.4% shooting over that same 13-game span</a> meanwhile Payton is putting up just 5.4 points and 2.5 assists on 36.5% shooting.</p>
<p>Thibodeau hasn’t publicly stated that he plans on starting Rose, but the large minute reduction for Payton and his unwillingness to discuss the situation might be a sign that he’s tipping his hand.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Given Elfrid Payton’s reduction in minutes, I asked Thibs whether he’d consider a lineup change this late in the season. He lauded the team’s depth and didn’t answer.</p>
<p>— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/15/new-york-knicks-predicting-perfect-playoff-rotation/"https://twitter.com/SBondyNYDN/status/1393028639835529222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 14, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Rose’s return to New York and subsequent stellar play has been one of the largest surprises in a season filled with them, and he has been a major factor in the team’s second-half surge. It would be wise to roll with him in the playoffs as the primary option at point guard, allowing him to truly shine.</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/2021/05/15/new-york-knicks-predicting-perfect-playoff-rotation/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The Bench Rotation </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-118056" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/15/new-york-knicks-predicting-perfect-playoff-rotation/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2360,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1309325332.jpeg" alt="Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks" width="3200" height="2360" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1309325332.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1309325332-768x566.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Immanuel Quickley, NY Knicks (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>New York Knicks: Bench rotation</h2>
<p>PG – Alec Burks</p>
<p>SG – Immanuel Quickley</p>
<p>SF – Frank Ntilkina</p>
<p>PF – Obi Toppin</p>
<p>C – Taj Gibson</p>
<p>With Derrick Rose heading into the starting lineup, the Knicks should give their old 6th man the keys to the bench offense. Alec Burks hadn’t been with the team for a few weeks due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols, <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/15/new-york-knicks-predicting-perfect-playoff-rotation/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/14/ny-knicks-3-secret-weapon-playoffs/">but he has come back and picked up right where he left off</a>.</p>
<p>The veteran journeyman recorded 30 points and 10 rebounds against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night, providing clutch offense when the team needed it most.</p>
<p>One of the less talked about storylines this season is that Rose and Burks haven’t played particularly well alongside each other.</p>
<p>Burks is averaging 15.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 41.9% from three in games without Rose. Those numbers drop down to 9.6 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 39.8% from three with Rose.</p>
<p>Similarly, Rose is averaging 19.5 points and 5.5 assists per game while shooting 44.8% from three in games without Burks. In games where Burks also plays, those numbers are just 12.9 points and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 39.0% from behind the arc.</p>
<p>Both players are at their best with the ball in their hands so it makes sense for Thibodeau to stagger their minutes in the postseason.</p>
<p>With Burks playing more of a point-forward role, it leaves an open spot at one of the wing positions. It seems likely that this spot will be filled by Frank Ntilikina, who has provided useful situational defense and has earned Thibs’ trust as of late. The 22-year old has appeared in 7 of the team’s last 8 games after falling out of the rotation for the majority of the season.</p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr">🗜 <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/15/new-york-knicks-predicting-perfect-playoff-rotation/"https://t.co/s1YTyJJZhw">pic.twitter.com/s1YTyJJZhw
<p>— x – NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/15/new-york-knicks-predicting-perfect-playoff-rotation/"https://twitter.com/nyknicks/status/1392996204376645632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 14, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>In just over a week, the New York Knicks will be competing in playoff basketball. The rotation may see some changes, but fans can rest assured that the team is still going to compete and give 110% effort no matter who they face.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="3 Players NY can trade up for in the 2021 NBA Draft" data-url="https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/13/ny-knicks-3-players-trade-up-2021-draft/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/15/new-york-knicks-predicting-perfect-playoff-rotation/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/05/13/ny-knicks-3-players-trade-up-2021-draft/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> 3 Players NY can trade up for in the 2021 NBA Draft </a> </div>
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