RealGM

Just to start - three games into the season is not enough time to figure out what moves should be made in the rotation (and the Horny man has been tinkering himself during games ). However, in post game threads, there have been some good discussions on what moves should be made to the rotation (moving starter to bench, bench to starter, bench to reserve, etc) and I think it can be made into a legitimate discussion.

I'll start this off with... surprise,surprise...Rose to the bench. (Below is what I posted in the PG thread.)

I'll float the idea of moving Rose to the bench because (a) he looks for his shot WAY more than pass (b) he's been taking some bad shots and has bad efficiency (c) moving him to the bench will give us an aggressive scoring guard (albeit, on low efficiency) off the bench (d) Jennings has been a better point guard than Rose thus far and has been far more willing to pass (and is seeing the court better, but this is not surprising at all IMO) (e) moving Jennings into Rose's role in the starting lineup will allow KP to take on a larger role helping us not only now, but going forward as well.

Move Rose to bench.

Hopefully this doesn't go to **** too quickly...and remember, attack what is said not who is saying it.

KP off the bench >>> Holiday to the starting lineup

1) Just solved your bench problem
2) Puts Melo at the 4, where he should be
3) Hoilday, like Lee, doesn't need the ball to be effective, and can guard wings better.
4) KP off the bench = More running/scoring with Jennings
5) KP gets more touches with a better defensive unit Thomas/Ndour/KuzKuz

These two are the moves.

I prefer the KP/Holiday move because it creates better defensive units. Both moves maximize Jennings a little better.

If I was to choose. KP to the Bench. Him and Jennings could be a nice combo. Rose not passing in three games does not mean he can't pass. Two Man Game with Melo and Rose in the starters. Two Man Game with Jennings and KP off the bench.

I don't think you need to bench anyone but Horny needs to adjust his rotations.

Stagger Melo and Rose more. They sat too long together. When your base offense isn't working these are the two guys on the roster that can get a shot. One needs to be on the court at all time IMO. They both have been sitting long periods of time together and watching our bench not be able to hold it together.

Also like to see more small ball line-ups that don't include Thomas because he sucks and doesn't make it look good.

Rose
Lee/Jennings
Holiday/Lee
Melo
Noah/KP

I really think Horny should be playing more with his sub patterns and testing different line-ups out.

Honestly, rotations need consistency. With that said, I'd swap Willy with N'Dour in the rotation and go with 9 strong. Playing Willy & Jennings together is a nightmare matchup defensively.

Another subtle thing is not with the starting lineup, but rather find a way to sub out Rose earlier and have him play with KP & the bench unit starting the 2nd and 4th quarters.

Noah to the bench, Jennings to the starting lineup

PF Melo
SF Lee
C KP
SG Rose
PG Jennings

BeagleBoss wrote:Noah to the bench, Jennings to the starting lineup

PF Melo
SF Lee
C KP
SG Rose
PG Jennings

How does this help anything?

JXL wrote:KP off the bench >>> Holiday to the starting lineup

1) Just solved your bench problem
2) Puts Melo at the 4, where he should be
3) Hoilday, like Lee, doesn't need the ball to be effective, and can guard wings better.
4) KP off the bench = More running/scoring with Jennings
5) KP gets more touches with a better defensive unit Thomas/Ndour/KuzKuz

Capn'O wrote:These two are the moves.

I prefer the KP/Holiday move because it creates better defensive units. Both moves maximize Jennings a little better.

IllmaticHandler wrote:If I was to choose. KP to the Bench. Him and Jennings could be a nice combo. Rose not passing in three games does not mean he can't pass. Two Man Game with Melo and Rose in the starters. Two Man Game with Jennings and KP off the bench.

THIS. THIS. and THIS

Also KP off the bench he can come in for Noah at the 5 where he has more of an impact on the defensive end.

Knickstape1214 wrote:

BeagleBoss wrote:Noah to the bench, Jennings to the starting lineup

PF Melo
SF Lee
C KP
SG Rose
PG Jennings

How does this help anything?

I'm throwing **** at the wall cause this roster stinks but at least you play KP and Melo at their real positions and you have two attacking ball handlers in Rose and Jennings. It's been proven Noah doesn't impact the game anymore defensively so he's pretty useless.

I would worry about KP's confidence being shattered if he was asked to come off the bench. A young guy like him could really suffer if he got pulled from the starting lineup right now.

I do see the wisdom in the strategy from a pure basketball point of view but I just don't know if it would work if we add human nature/emotion into the equation.

Only true (correct) -- which won't happen -- is moving is Melo to the bench and playing him as a PF.

You don't break up Rose/Noah and our problem really is a struggle guarding 3/4 positions.

Noah
KP
Lance (Lance might play better with this group or maybe you go NDour - don't think Kuz is ready)
Lee
Rose

KOQ / KP
Melo
NDour
Holiday
Jennings

Man - when you look at these names/roster ---- our depth is poo=poo by NBA standards.

Kuz replaced Lft
Baker gets minutes somehow someway
NDour gets some burn

Well I've said this before but to me the first unit really isn't changing unless it gets so bad that is obvious something major needs to change. It may seem that way already but remember Rose missed all of preseason, Noah was out and overall this is a newer team. Not excuses but just to say they gotta gel.

But my gripe is more, what type of team or flow do we want. Well when I look at the first unit I see a very deliberate group of players, slower, taller but very skilled individually. This is the lineup where Id you wanted to run triangle in its purest form you can because of the size and skill level. As far as the second unit I think it should really be there to provide the first unit with fresh legged players who push the pace. Or can do it as a group in a mass substitution.

So the way Id do it is by putting Hernangomez into the 3rd unit until further notice and promoting Kuz at SF. Id them only use Lance as a PF and Oquinn at C. So in essence or second unit would be a small ball unit of ...
Jennings/ Holiday/ Kuz/Thomas/ Oquinn.

Idk if we're seeing this already but if so I'm outta ideas folks

Noah to the bench.. his facilitating will help the bench players score.. those guys move more anyways too.

Rose
Holiday
Lee
Melo
Porzingis

Jennings first player off the bench for Lee

Noah comes in for Porzingis

Jennings
Rose
Holiday
Melo
Noah

Kuz comes in for Melo Lee comes back in for Rose

Jennings
Holiday
Lee
Kuz
Noah

Then back with KP and Melo and the guards that are playing the best.

they're not even gonna bench lance thomas, forget about changing the lineup

With the Holiday/Lee wing duo you can try and at least be strong defensively on the perimeter and with Porzingis at the 5 he can just patrol the paint from the second block out to the free throw line <<<<this will prevent Bigs from trying to bang with him because he would just concede that position and use his length and the baseline to defend them. He doesn't have to bang with 5's all the time because of his length. Skinny guys have played the 5 and defended it well.. in eras where guys banged down low way more.

Johnny Hoops wrote:Man - when you look at these names/roster ---- our depth is poo=poo by NBA standards.

Why I kept saying that the Knicks bench is a weak spot all summer.