Carmelo Anthony’s Success vs. Mavs Creates Many New York Knicks Issues

The Personnel Doesn’t Match Up

There is one serious issue with New York moving to a small-ball starting lineup. The personnel, specifically the bench, doesn’t makes sense.

First-Team:

• 5: Kristaps Porzingis
• 4. Carmelo Anthony
• 3. Justin Holiday
• 2. Courtney Lee
• 1. Derrick Rose

Bench:

• 5: Joakim Noah / Willy Hernangomez / Marshall Plumlee
• 4: Maurice Daly-Ndour / Kyle O’Quinn
• 3: Lance Thomas / Mindaugas Kuzminskas
• 2: Sasha Vujacic / Ron Baker
• 1: Brandon Jennings

There are entirely too many bigs coming off the bench. More importantly, the guys who are ahead of the curve and need more minutes are all bigger (aside from Brandon Jennings).

How can Noah, Willy Hernangomez, Lance Thomas, and Mindaugas Kuzminskas all receive ample playing time night in and night out? It’s an impossibility through the small ball lineup.

Worse yet, the two Knicks small forwards — Thomas, Kuz — can’t play the two spot. This means the Knicks have just three backup guards on the roster if Holiday is in the starting lineup.