The more, the merrier. That’s Knicks coach Derek Fisher’s current motto.

A team not blessed with a coterie of All-Star-caliber players is decked out with a lot of competent players, down to the 14th man.

In a tight game Tuesday, Fisher decided to do the lucky 13 routine. He used all 13 of his available players (Arron Afflalo was out) in a 111-109 squeaker over the Raptors at AirCanada Centre that put the Knicks’ record at 4-4, surviving an extremely rugged start to the schedule.

It also gave the Knicks their third road win of the season. The Knicks didn’t get their third road win last season until Jan. 21 in Philly. You can see why Fisher has a little twinkle in his eye.

“I think everybody is trying to play like a team,’’ point guard Jose Calderon said of the difference from last season’s start. “Everyone is buying into being a team first. Right now in the NBA, you can’t win by yourself.’’

The 13-man rotation may not be a nightly tactic, but Fisher said it will be used again. And one of Tuesday’s 13 contributors will have to sit Wednesday in Charlotte as Afflalo is expected to be ready for his season debut. Fisher went to an old well Tuesday, dusting off Lou Amundson, who had been a Halloween ornament to start the season after being the starting center for the second half of last season. Amundson made his season debut and pitched in 5:16 of scrappy action. Fisher apparently didn’t like the way backup center Kevin Seraphin was playing. The Frenchman was benched after coughing up the ball for a turnover and then misfiring early in the shot clock on an ensuing possession.

Also surprising was the unearthing of Cleanthony Early, who had a fine preseason after his shaky rookie year, but didn’t wind up landing a rotation spot. To the surprise of many, Fisher chose Lance Thomas over Early for the rotation, and that has worked out splendidly.

But in a pinch, Fisher chose Early on the final possession of the third period, and all he did was hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to put the Knicks even with the Raptors. What a good use of resources. Early played 5:50, made 2 of 3 shots and was a plus-4.

Early has played in five of the eight games and now has the distinction of being the Knicks leader in shooting percentage at 75 percent (OK, he’s 3-of-4).

“I run the floor, that’s what I do,’’ Early said. “Just got to stay ready because you never know.’’

Asked about his 13-man rotation, Fisher said adding tempo to the triangle offense and demanding more activity on defense is conducive to playing 13 players to keep them fresh. “Right now we have to do that on some nights because we are trying to demand that these guys play so hard, they can’t play much longer than they are playing,’’ Fisher said after the victory. “We are also trying to build a team where every guy understands they matter, and the five minutes Cleanthony played, the five minutes Lou played, that makes a difference on a team. One day when we are a really successful team, we are in the postseason, five minutes really is a difference between winning a big game in the playoffs. You have to build that trust in guys now, and that’s what we’re trying to do.’’ Indeed, Fisher may have more faith in Thomas than anyone on the roster other than Langston Galloway. It figured the journeyman obtained in the J.R. Smith/Iman Shumpert trade last January was re-signed because of his work ethic and locker-room presence, not to play.

Thomas told The Post recently he put on 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason due to more dedication to weightlifting and improved his shooting range. His newfound speed, strength and shotmaking are showing. In two huge crunch-time road victories, Thomas was on the court to close the game and marquee rookie Kristaps Porzingis watched from the bench.

In Toronto, Porzingis struggled with his jumper (3-of-11) while Thomas was 3-of-3 from 3-point land. He finished with 17 points and drained four key free throws in the final 17 seconds.

Fisher said he loves Thomas’ “heart, grit and his mental toughness.’’

Knicks president Phil Jackson said Fisher’s toughest job with the deep roster is figuring out whom to play and whom not to play.

He’s found the solution: Play everyone.

fishmike wrote:http://nypost.com/2015/11/11/derek-fishers-bench-policy-answers-phil-jacksons-challenge/

The more, the merrier. That’s Knicks coach Derek Fisher’s current motto.

A team not blessed with a coterie of All-Star-caliber players is decked out with a lot of competent players, down to the 14th man.

In a tight game Tuesday, Fisher decided to do the lucky 13 routine. He used all 13 of his available players (Arron Afflalo was out) in a 111-109 squeaker over the Raptors at AirCanada Centre that put the Knicks’ record at 4-4, surviving an extremely rugged start to the schedule.

It also gave the Knicks their third road win of the season. The Knicks didn’t get their third road win last season until Jan. 21 in Philly. You can see why Fisher has a little twinkle in his eye.

“I think everybody is trying to play like a team,’’ point guard Jose Calderon said of the difference from last season’s start. “Everyone is buying into being a team first. Right now in the NBA, you can’t win by yourself.’’

The 13-man rotation may not be a nightly tactic, but Fisher said it will be used again. And one of Tuesday’s 13 contributors will have to sit Wednesday in Charlotte as Afflalo is expected to be ready for his season debut. Fisher went to an old well Tuesday, dusting off Lou Amundson, who had been a Halloween ornament to start the season after being the starting center for the second half of last season. Amundson made his season debut and pitched in 5:16 of scrappy action. Fisher apparently didn’t like the way backup center Kevin Seraphin was playing. The Frenchman was benched after coughing up the ball for a turnover and then misfiring early in the shot clock on an ensuing possession.

Also surprising was the unearthing of Cleanthony Early, who had a fine preseason after his shaky rookie year, but didn’t wind up landing a rotation spot. To the surprise of many, Fisher chose Lance Thomas over Early for the rotation, and that has worked out splendidly.

But in a pinch, Fisher chose Early on the final possession of the third period, and all he did was hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to put the Knicks even with the Raptors. What a good use of resources. Early played 5:50, made 2 of 3 shots and was a plus-4.

Early has played in five of the eight games and now has the distinction of being the Knicks leader in shooting percentage at 75 percent (OK, he’s 3-of-4).

“I run the floor, that’s what I do,’’ Early said. “Just got to stay ready because you never know.’’

Asked about his 13-man rotation, Fisher said adding tempo to the triangle offense and demanding more activity on defense is conducive to playing 13 players to keep them fresh. “Right now we have to do that on some nights because we are trying to demand that these guys play so hard, they can’t play much longer than they are playing,’’ Fisher said after the victory. “We are also trying to build a team where every guy understands they matter, and the five minutes Cleanthony played, the five minutes Lou played, that makes a difference on a team. One day when we are a really successful team, we are in the postseason, five minutes really is a difference between winning a big game in the playoffs. You have to build that trust in guys now, and that’s what we’re trying to do.’’ Indeed, Fisher may have more faith in Thomas than anyone on the roster other than Langston Galloway. It figured the journeyman obtained in the J.R. Smith/Iman Shumpert trade last January was re-signed because of his work ethic and locker-room presence, not to play.

Thomas told The Post recently he put on 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason due to more dedication to weightlifting and improved his shooting range. His newfound speed, strength and shotmaking are showing. In two huge crunch-time road victories, Thomas was on the court to close the game and marquee rookie Kristaps Porzingis watched from the bench.

In Toronto, Porzingis struggled with his jumper (3-of-11) while Thomas was 3-of-3 from 3-point land. He finished with 17 points and drained four key free throws in the final 17 seconds.

Fisher said he loves Thomas’ “heart, grit and his mental toughness.’’

Knicks president Phil Jackson said Fisher’s toughest job with the deep roster is figuring out whom to play and whom not to play.

He’s found the solution: Play everyone.

On the first night of a road back-to-back … in a win.

Nah… Fisher sucks.