Head coach Tom Thibodeau didn’t sound like he was in a rush to make a change to the starting lineup after the Knicks lost their third straight game on Wednesday to the Hawks, writes Zach Braziller of The New York Post.
“We’ll see how it unfolds,” Thibodeau said, when asked how much of a sample size is needed before considering a change. “So, you wanna make sure that you get a good look at everything.”
However, Fred Katz of The Athletic wrote prior to Friday’s 106-104 victory over Philadelphia that it would likely just be a matter of time before a change was made given Evan Fournier‘s defensive struggles and poor on/off numbers, and that turned out to be the case, with Quentin Grimes inserted as the starting shooting guard. Fournier wasn’t Grimes’ initial replacement either, as Immanuel Quickley was the first player off the bench.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Grimes is still working his way back into game shape after making his regular season debut in garbage time on Wednesday. Thibodeau said he was unlikely to have a big role prior to Friday’s game, Braziller notes in a separate story. “He’s situational right now,” Thibodeau said on Thursday. “But we’ll take a look at it.” Even though he did end up starting, Thibodeau’s statement still held true, as Grimes only played 15 minutes.
- Starting center Mitchell Robinson left Friday’s game during the first half and was unable to return, with the team announcing (via Twitter) that he was dealing with a sore right knee. It’s unclear at this time how serious his injury might be.
- One beneficiary of Robinson’s absence was third-year forward Obi Toppin. Thibodeau has been hesitant to use him alongside Julius Randle, preferring a more traditional center with rim protection, but the Sixers were without Joel Embiid and had a small lineup themselves, so Thibodeau used the pairing in the fourth-quarter comeback to great results, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News (subscriber link). As Bondy notes, Toppin scored 13 of his 17 points in the fourth. “That’s one of the first times [I saw the Toppin-Randle frontcourt],” said point guard Jalen Brunson. “I found it worked.“
At some point the Knicks are going to have to get a different coach if they want to develop their younger players.
Which players are those. Grimes in his 2nd yr is pushing Fournier to bench. Quickley is first off bench. Mitch is the starting center. Toppin is only one who gets inconsistent mins. Imo he should be starting. He’s a better mix with Jalen. Only McBride is being held up now. That’s cause of Jalen. Who is 25 yrs old.
Cam is starting to show up too. I’d say they are developing nicely.
Knicks need to make a decision about Randle. And even Fournier can be in this. Right now Fournier better be looking over his shoulder. Cause Cam and Grimes are coming. Imo as soon as Randle starts playing well and consistent. They should move him. Depth and players needing mins. Is a good thing.
Thibs doesn’t develop players during gms. He expects good results. He develops in practice and off season.
We didn’t trade for Mitchell. So a major trade can still happen. Knicks are a .500 team. And we finally have a real leader and starting PG. And Thibs just started his third yr. All things considered we are going in the right direction.
In Thibs we Trust ……
The goal should be to make the playoffs, it’s a long season and an Eastern Conference that is legitimately 16 teams deep.
The Magic are in last place and I think they have one of the best young teams in the league. They Magic have to sort out some roster congestion, so do the Knicks.
You can’t have disgruntled players, it’s better to have less depth, and stronger rotations.
But this a good time to bring up how the ten team playoff system takes away from the competitiveness if the regular season. Those two extra slots really provides a sort of cushion in the regular season standings that eliminates a strong playoff race towards the end of the season. The finality of the regular season standings and the hard cut off for a playoff birth really puts the honess on regular season wins.
I guess you could say that teams are now playing for a top six slot, but even if they don’t land one they can get into the tournament at 7-10, only six teams are out after the regular season. Far less dramatic that if eight teams are eliminated.
The playing tournament was actually interesting last season but somewhat at the expense of a competitive regular season.
Ahh, there are only 15 Eastern Conference teams. Rolling 16 deep is pretty impressive.
Thibs ideal starting 5
Rose
Deng
Gibson
I dunno, Oakley
Joakim Noah
Ben Gordon off the bench
Need to find room for Jimmy B at 44 min per game in there.
No surprise on Fournier-Grimes. It was going to happen once Fournier’s defense started to hurt, which was inevitable. He’ll still play, but with a crowded rotation, I doubt he finishes a lot of games. Boston in a back to back tonight might be an opportunity.
Toppin’s 3 pt shooting has always been the key to his playing time on this roster. Randle-Toppin together has to be a true small ball (spacing) lineup, not just a (physically) small one. Last night it looked the part.
Reddish playing with his head outside of his butt is another good story. The minutes are there for him if he wants them.
Been banging on about it for a while but I think they need to move Fouriner.
Sucks defensively, isn’t exactly a marksman from 3 point land, he offers some offence but you guys now have Brunson to go along with Barrett and Randle. Not only that but Grimes, IQ, Reddish the young guys are playing better and better and now overtaking him.
I personally still like Barrett at the 2 and would be looking to move Fouriner for a 3.
Brunson being smaller needs help defensively in the backcourt and Barrett who has always really been a 2 is solid defensively. It’s only been the past couple years he’s been moved to the 3 and at times that’s fine but I think he makes more sense at the 2.
For example Fouriner for Terrance Ross plus cap filler could be an option.
Another could be Fouriner for Jae Crodwer and cap filler.
Lastly Fouriner for Doug McDermott and cap filler.
I think Crowder would make the most sense with Torrey Craig for filler. Crowder is a Tom Thibs style guy. Physical, hard working, does all the dirty work, plays both ends of the floor, veteran presence aswell.
Suns might even like that deal adding Fouriner to be their sixth man off the bench. He’d likely play next to Cameron Payne who works really hard on defence and Fouriner would offer some shooting and offence to complement him.