In the first 10 games this season, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau kept the same starting team intact, a testament to his belief in the quintet and the group’s ability to prevent injury.
The Knicks are believed not to have had the same players in the first 10 games in at least 20 years.
The streak ended on Monday in Charlotte, as well as any appearance of a good start to the game.
Reggie Bullock, who has been the base of the Knicks for an initial shooting guard, fell in pain in the hip and was scratched. Thibodeau chose Austin Rivers to take on the role of Bullock and the Hornets ran to 10-0 and 19-5.
When Thibodeau turned to Immanuel Quickley and Kevin Knox off the bench, the Knicks recovered, although they suffered a 21-point loss. Knox finished with 19 points, hitting 5 out of 12 points out of 3.
Bullock is expected to miss Wednesday’s game against the Nets. Is it finally time for Knox to start as a small striker alongside the cold RJ Barrett?
The Knicks were brutal in the 3-point range (24 to 85, 28 percent) during their three-game losing streak.
With 3-point shooter Alec Burks taking care of an ankle sprain, Knox can be an elixir to help heal the falling shot that helped knock the Knicks down to 5-6.
Knox started much of his debut season in 2018-19, but when Marcus Morris was hired as a free agent in July 2019, Knox went back to the bank – and stayed there even after Morris’s negotiation last February.
Last season, Knox started just four out of 56 games, after starting 57 out of 75 games as a rookie.
Knox is now getting the best 40% of his career in the 3-point range and averaging 7.9 points in 21 minutes.
Knox also has a history with the other four starters who served in last season’s squad. (Mitchell Robinson is Knox’s best friend on the team).
Rivers has played well with the reserve team and had not started before. He may be referring to himself when he said the team’s chemistry is wrong, although most of the rotation is from returning players.
“Our chemistry hasn’t arrived yet, we’re still building, ” said Rivers, who missed the entire pre-season and the first four games. “That’s why I’m saying to be patient, because I know it will only get better and better. I haven’t had a workout this entire season. My first time playing with the team was against the Raptors [on Dec. 31]. So, I’m still finding out. “
It may be wise to continue to discover this from the pine.
Taj Gibson, last season’s starting center and Thibodeau’s favorite, will be available to face the Nets after passing the COVID-19 protocols. Although sources say he is in shape, it is unclear whether he will play without training as a team.
Gibson was hired last week to help the depth of the court and reduce Julius Randle’s heavy minutes. Against the Hornets, an exhausted-looking Randle finally had his first game off, scoring just 11 points and making four turns.
But his statistics in 11 games should not be ignored. Randle joined Oscar Robertson as the only player in NBA history to record at least 200 points, 115 rebounds and 70 assists in his team’s first 11 games.
Last season, the Knicks and Nets shared the four games of the regular season.