C Willy G
F Beasley
F L Thomas
G Dotson
G Baker

C Oquinn
F Kuz
G Sessions

Noah Randle

KP
Melo
Hardaway
Baker
Frank

Willy
Kuz
Thomas
Lee
Sessions

BRIGGS wrote:C-KP
F Carmelo
G Lee
G Hardaway
G Frank N

C Willy G
F Beasley
F L Thomas
G Dotson
G Baker

C Oquinn
F Kuz
G Sessions

Noah Randle

I like that starting 5 ! I hope that's how it works out

nyknickzingis wrote:If we are going smaller and with a 3 guard lineup, I'd prefer Baker and Frank start together.

KP
Melo
Hardaway
Baker
Frank

Willy
Kuz
Thomas
Lee
Sessions

Im not sure we want Baker and Frank N starting. You really spread the floor with Lee and Hardaway--so it makes the PG position easier. Its possible they may take it slow with Frank N--so well see.

Baker coming back at PG will help with chemistry and getting the new players on the same page. Less pressure on Frank (has enough already) to be the man. With Rose thankfully out of the picture, a pass-first PG combined with an uptempo offense, and some passable defense, might get the Knicks off to a good start.

Hornacek is on the hot seat, has to rack up some wins before a really tough, extended road trip later this year.

Allanfan20 wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:When we had that 54 win season, the team was deep, but very old. This team isn't deep with HOF talent, but there are veterans (young and old) who can produce. Less reliant on players who cant stay healthy.

Baker coming back at PG will help with chemistry and getting the new players on the same page. Less pressure on Frank (has enough already) to be the man. With Rose thankfully out of the picture, a pass-first PG combined with an uptempo offense, and some passable defense, might get the Knicks off to a good start.

Hornacek is on the hot seat, has to rack up some wins before a really tough, extended road trip later this year.

KP
Melo
Kuz
Hardaway
Frank

You have size, scoring, passing and defensive potential. If all else goes wrong with the scoring, you can always have Melo attempt to takeover if needed.

Allanfan20 wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:When we had that 54 win season, the team was deep, but very old. This team isn't deep with HOF talent, but there are veterans (young and old) who can produce. Less reliant on players who cant stay healthy.

Baker coming back at PG will help with chemistry and getting the new players on the same page. Less pressure on Frank (has enough already) to be the man. With Rose thankfully out of the picture, a pass-first PG combined with an uptempo offense, and some passable defense, might get the Knicks off to a good start.

Hornacek is on the hot seat, has to rack up some wins before a really tough, extended road trip later this year.

KP
Melo
Kuz
Hardaway
Frank

Kuz defense is just not good enough to start a wing position--especially with Melo. Hes like a baseball player that shows all the skills but bats 220 and hurts you in the field.

Panos wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:C-KP
F Carmelo
G Lee
G Hardaway
G Frank N

C Willy G
F Beasley
F L Thomas
G Dotson
G Baker

C Oquinn
F Kuz
G Sessions

Noah Randle

No way Frank is starting off the bat. I like Lee and THjr in the SL, but you need either Baker or Sessions to start. And yes to Willie off the bench.

Why can't Frank start from the beginning. He has experienced more winning than anyone on the current team. Frank should start what championship are the Knicks going for? This about player development.

Allanfan20 wrote:

Allanfan20 wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:When we had that 54 win season, the team was deep, but very old. This team isn't deep with HOF talent, but there are veterans (young and old) who can produce. Less reliant on players who cant stay healthy.

Baker coming back at PG will help with chemistry and getting the new players on the same page. Less pressure on Frank (has enough already) to be the man. With Rose thankfully out of the picture, a pass-first PG combined with an uptempo offense, and some passable defense, might get the Knicks off to a good start.

Hornacek is on the hot seat, has to rack up some wins before a really tough, extended road trip later this year.

KP
Melo
Kuz
Hardaway
Frank

You have size, scoring, passing and defensive potential. If all else goes wrong with the scoring, you can always have Melo attempt to takeover if needed.

Unless Frank has a hell of a preseason running the point, Id rather bring him off the bench at first. To watch and learn. Don't want him overwhelmed. Plenty of time.

chrismcnealy wrote:Frank or Baker
Tim
Lance
Melo
KP

I think they need a strong defensive forward like Lance with Melo.

Second unit
Sessions
Baker or Frank
Lee
Beasley
Willy

I'd like to see Dotson get some PT too.

yeah thats the lineup Id go with however I think they will end up starting Melo at the 3. The Knicks SF situation is brutal and they have a glut of bigs. I think they will force him to the 3 to give everyone minutes

BRIGGS wrote:C-KP
F Carmelo
G Lee
G Hardaway
G Frank N

To be totally effective in how Hornacek likes to ideally run his offense, he needs

- A Stretch 5 who can defend the rim ( basically a prime Channing Frye)
- Combo guards who run 5-6 deep on the roster, where three can be deployed at one time
- A defensive wing stalwart who can play close to positionless individual and team defense ( more or less PJ Tucker) who doesn't need the ball in his hand to contribute

Zinger and Ntilikina actually can fit the mold of what Hornacek likes to do. The issue is it might not be this season to really galvanize.

Could this team make the playoffs? It would need a ton to go right and move in a very ideal sense ( which is sadly not likely)

Beasley would have to be a functional 6th man who is not a blackhole on defense.
Melo would need to be willing and able to be a small ball center (Yes, I said center) and embrace the role ( not likely to happen)
Baker would need to develop and consistently hit from long range.
Ntilikina and Zinger would need to develop at a pace not common for such young players.
Hardaway would need to take a step forward from his Hawks development ( slide into a PJ Tucker type of role)
Noah and Lee would need to be healthy. Lee would need a outlier career year from behind the arc.

Likely? NO
Impossible? Anything is possible.

This team needs Channing Frye on the roster. As long as Hornacek is the coach, they really do need him. He's not the same player as he was with the Suns, but he really galvanized what they were trying to do as a team when the Suns had a good run under Hornacek.