Sources: Knicks mull benching Hart for Robinson for Game 3

[ScienceOfLosing]

This is a momentous day. Where have they taken the real Thibs?

p.s. -Praying works!

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45307763/knicks-mull-benching-hart-robinson-ahead-game-3

INDIANAPOLIS -- Down 2-0 in the Eastern Conference finals, the New York Knicks are seriously considering a change to their starting lineup for Sunday's Game 3, sources confirmed to ESPN's Shams Charania on Saturday.

Coach Tom Thibodeau is considering moving backup center Mitchell Robinson into the starting five for wing player Josh Hart, sources told Charania.

It would mark the first change all season to the Knicks' starting five of Hart, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns when each is listed as available and healthy.

It would be easy enough to look at the Knicks' struggles against the Indiana Pacers in this round as the reason for the change. The Knicks' starting five was outscored by 13 points in Game 1 and by 16 in Game 2. The Pacers have shot a blistering 61% from the field and 52% from 3-point range with New York's starters on the floor. The Knicks' defensive rating with the starters in this series -- the points the group has allowed per 100 possessions -- is an alarming 155.1.

But the Knicks, who needed a trio of double-digit comebacks to take down the defending champion Celtics in the second round, have been ineffective to start games for a while now. Their starting five's plus-minus rating is a postseason-worst minus-50. The group was outscored by nine points from Jan. 1 to the end of the regular season.

Asked if he would consider tweaking the Knicks' lineup following their Game 2 defeat, Thibodeau said, "We always look at everything."

The Knicks' starters played a league-high 914 minutes together, far more than any other club. They're seeking to become the first team since the 1987 Celtics to lead the NBA in starters' minutes and make the Finals.

Robinson, who missed the team's first 58 games following an ankle surgery last postseason, would bring greater defensive mobility in the paint and along the perimeter. The Knicks have struggled with the Pacers' pace and ability to force multiple rotations per possession, which has at times exposed Towns' footspeed.

The Knicks have managed to contest 52% of the Pacers' shot attempts with Robinson on the floor compared to 42% when Robinson is on the bench, according to ESPN Research.

SNY was first to report the potential change to the Knicks' lineup.

[ScienceOfLosing]

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[Kidknick!]

They put a gun to Thibs head. I'll believe it when I see it. Doesn't really matter, we know what kind of MALFEASANCE has occurred here.

[gavran]

2 games too late.

[R-DAWG]

I also think part of this is Precious should get 10 minutes off the bench. Robinson is only good for about 25 mpg and we should limit KAT to 12 MPG at C - which means Precious should give us 11 or so.

Robinson (25), KAT (12), Precious (11)
Towns (25), Hart (13)
Anunoby (35), Hart (13)
Bridges (35), McBride (13)
Brunson (38), McBride (10)

[ctorres]

I've been looking online but not even chat gpt can help me out with this one

I'm trying to find out if there is any NBA game in history in which a team managed to play a 7 man rotation without a single player exceeding 40 minutes

[seren]

I am glad he is finally considering it but we are already down 2 games. Don’t expect a miracle here. For all we know refs may call a quick 2 on Robinson and we would go back to the same rotation.

[seren]

On a different note, didn’t we also change lineups during 2013 playoffs against Indiana?

[prophet_of_rage]

Who does KAT guard? Nesmith? This might **** up JB's rhythm, too. The paint will be more crowded.

Gotta try something.

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[Guano]

This is like buying your wife flowers after you cheated on her type sht.

lil late mf... its over.

The time to change was before we were down 0-2.

[sol537]

Better late than never I suppose. Deuce could have worked too.

[prophet_of_rage]

I smell disaster. The Pacers can still pick on KAT and JB

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[H_20]

Just a few days ago I would say the majority of yall were saying a change needs to be done to our starting lineup now it's mistake.

[JayTWill]

I think the Brunson/Mikal/OG/KAT/Mitch lineup has played a total of 9 minutes together all year and numbers weren't great in those limited minutes. It feels like a bit of a Hail Mary to throw out a lineup that hasn't been used all season at this point.

The teams defensive communication and chemistry has been absolutely terrible at times this postseason. The 2 big lineup has had some success this postseason but I do have some concerns about their ability to switch, rotate and recover against a team that moves the ball as much as the Pacers do. Mitch and KAT looked terrible together at the start of the 4th quarter last game.

The game was tied at 81 heading into the 4th with Cam/Deuce/Mikal/KAT/Mitch and the Pacers went on a quick 13-4 run in less than 3 minutes making 5 consecutive open or lightly contested shots. Cam had some breakdowns off ball but i'm not sure if replacing him Brunson would make things better. The team looked completely lost trying to stay with their man while TJ McConell probed the defense. Mitch has a tendency to over help on drives and with KAT and Brunson on the court he is definitely going to need to help. Maybe moving OG off of Siakam will free him up to be more disruptive on the perimeter and at the point of attack.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FGA&EndPeriod=4&EndRange=28800&GameID=0042400302&PlayerID=0&RangeType=1&Season=2024-25&SeasonType=Playoffs&StartPeriod=4&StartRange=21600&TeamID=1610612754&flag=3&sct=plot&section=game

[kNicksGmen]

Classic thibs. Wonder if he's getting pressured to do this.

We've been calling for this before the season even started. I said he would finally do it when we were down 0-2 or 1-3 in the playoffs.

[prophet_of_rage]

Just a few days ago I would say the majority of yall were saying a change needs to be done to our starting lineup now it's mistake.

I have never advocated for the lineup.change. i have always viewed the problem as Brunson not getting off the ball early and often enough when the offence struggles.

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[spree8]

Should’ve been Deuce since day 1, but oh well

[Chanel Bomber]

I don't think this was necessarily needed.

Thibs needs to play his starting unit less, obviously. We can all agree on that. But I'm not sure upsetting the entire rotation and substitution patterns will be conducive to success, considering he didn't tinker much in the regular season (injuries aside).

I think a more measured solution would've been to shorten the minutes of the starting unit drastically, and increase the playing time of the more successful lineups. Which he should have done much earlier.

It didn't work in 2021. Hopefully it does this time, starting tonight.

[god shammgod]

I don't think this was necessarily needed.

Thibs needs to play his starting unit less, obviously. We can all agree on that. But I'm not sure upsetting the entire rotation and substitution patterns will be conducive to success, considering he didn't tinker much in the regular season (injuries aside).

I think a more measured solution would've been to shorten the minutes of the starting unit drastically, and increase the playing time of the more successful lineups. Which he should have done much earlier.

It didn't work in 2021. Hopefully it does this time, starting tonight.

it might not. and it might be too late anyway. but the knicks start every game in a hole with this lineup. so how much can it hurt ?

[ScienceOfLosing]

I don't think this was necessarily needed.

Thibs needs to play his starting unit less, obviously. We can all agree on that. But I'm not sure upsetting the entire rotation and substitution patterns will be conducive to success, considering he didn't tinker much in the regular season (injuries aside).

I think a more measured solution would've been to shorten the minutes of the starting unit drastically, and increase the playing time of the more successful lineups. Which he should have done much earlier.

It didn't work in 2021. Hopefully it does this time, starting tonight.

Have you seen the starters point differential? It is bad.
Don’t think that it is a new rotation; It is a lineup that has been working (though every lineup with Mitch has been working.)
Most likely Mitch for Hart and hopefully if we have a lead late we go with a more defensive lineup w Deuce and Mitch (that got us the big lead we blew.)

Thibs is doing this cause we are about to get swept = Thibs “promoted” and a new coach. He is coaching for his job now.
I do think Delon should be getting minutes over Payne; at least a trial.

Thibs not playing the bench much hurts now as it is a bit dicey to try now.
Indiana playing 11 vs Thibs 7 isn’t going to end well.
We need changes or …