New York Knicks: 3 potential starting lineups in 2019-20
3. The 3-point shooters
- PG: Dennis Smith Jr.
- SG: Reggie Bullock
- SF: Kevin Knox
- PF: Julius Randle
- C: Bobby Portis
In an NBA era where 3-point shooting plays as big of a role as any aspect of the game, the New York Knicks find themselves set for a season full of shooting struggles. During the 2018-19 season, the Knicks shot just 34 percent from behind the arc, ranking themselves as the third-worst 3-point shooting team in the league.
Even though the additions of Ellington and Bullock are set to lighten the burden, these Knicks still have a long way to go before they can be considered a respectable 3-point shooting team.
An incredibly difficult challenge that coach Fizdale will most definitely go up against will be choosing the man to run the point if he wishes to run a 3-point shooting lineup. He would literally have to choose the least terrible option among a selection of terrible shooters. Dennis Smith Jr.’s 31.6 career percentage barely edges out Payton’s 30.2 percent and Frank Ntilikina‘s 30.5 percent.
On the bright side, this team now possesses a couple of 3-point shooting big men, as Randle shot 34.4 percent last season, while Portis’ 39.3 percent is something he can clearly boast about.
As far as Kevin Knox goes, even though the team obviously possesses more prolific scorers on the roster, it would be extremely improbable seeing Allonzo Trier or Damyean Dotson get that starting spot on the team over Knox.