This sequence felt over earlier than it even began.
As a result of the Indiana Pacers — very like the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder — don’t simply play basketball. They clear up it. Each recreation turns into equal elements math equation and struggle of attrition.
Each groups rank atop all playoff contenders in common variety of gamers used per recreation. They run out 10-man rotations like clockwork, deploying at the least 5 bench gamers each evening with objective — not simply to steal minutes, however to win them.
And the Knicks, very like the Minnesota Timberwolves — who the Thunder despatched packing in 5 video games on Wednesday — belong to a bunch of contenders nonetheless clinging to an previous blueprint. A blueprint that doesn’t maintain up in in the present day’s postseason meta.
They depend on stars. They depend on toughness. However in relation to depth, they’re making an attempt to fabricate what merely isn’t there — oftentimes refusing to make use of the little they do have.
It’s why this workforce is fumbling its closest shot at an NBA Finals look in over 20 years. As a result of they don’t have the our bodies — and our bodies are successful basketball video games.
By means of Video games 1 to 4 of the Japanese Convention Finals, the Pacers averaged 10.25 gamers per recreation — together with 9 who appeared in each contest. The Knicks? They performed 9, too — on paper. However solely seven logged actual, constant minutes. The remainder have been situational at greatest. Guards like Delon Wright and Landry Shamet didn’t enter the rotation till the Knicks have been already watching an 0-2 gap.
Similar sample within the West: The Timberwolves had eight gamers seem in all 5 video games of their sequence. The Thunder sat Aaron Wiggins for 2 of them — and nonetheless had 9 constant contributors.
It’s not a coincidence. The 2 deepest groups within the league are the groups doubtless headed to the Finals. Not due to MVPs. Not due to max contracts. Due to depth.
Depth isn’t simply insurance coverage — it’s identification. It lets the Pacers push tempo, put on groups down, and hold legs contemporary with out sacrificing execution. It’s a byproduct of a entrance workplace that understands an NBA season isn’t a dash. It’s a marathon.
And but listed below are the Knicks, probably falling for the second straight yr to the identical actual method.
Final season, Indiana was written off as a fluke — a workforce that solely superior as a result of New York was riddled with accidents. However possibly that wasn’t a fluke. Perhaps it was a preview. As a result of now the Pacers are doing it once more — and the remainder of the league is beginning to take notes.
Even the Golden State Warriors have been seen as critical contenders earlier than Stephen Curry’s season ended on a freak hamstring damage. Not simply due to Curry and Jimmy Butler — two of the sport’s premier rivals — however due to what they’d behind them. Jonathan Kuminga. Moses Moody. Gary Payton II. Brandon Podziemski. Quinten Publish. 9 gamers not named Curry appeared in all 5 second-round video games. Three others appeared in 4.
The Knicks, in contrast, are top-heavy and squeezed for choices. They’ve dedicated over $50 million yearly to Karl-Anthony Cities. They owe north of $30 million every to Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby. They only traded 5 draft picks for Mikal Bridges, who’s up for an extension that can push him past his present $23.3 million wage.
There’s no simple repair. If the Knicks need depth, they’ll have to get inventive — via the draft, via commerce, via a entrance workplace sleight of hand.
However even then, there’s no assure the bench sees daylight. As a result of Tom Thibodeau has his methodology — and that methodology hasn’t budged in over a decade. It took Thibodeau an 0-2 convention finals gap to shake up his beginning lineup and provides the workforce’s two unused veteran bench contributors actual minutes. In opposition to groups which have been mixing and matching lineups since Sport 1 of 82, changes in Sport 97 and 98 hardly stand an opportunity.
Nonetheless, the proof is correct in entrance of them: The groups advancing and the groups reserving flights to Cancun have distinct variations. The NBA will at all times be a star’s league. However the groups that win all of it? They’re deeper than the headlines.
Depth is the brand new meta. And if the Knicks don’t adapt, they’ll be left behind.
As a result of the sport isn’t slowing down — and neither are the groups that cracked the code.
The Knicks haven’t discovered the appropriate mixture as a result of they haven’t used sufficient numbers. In the event that they don’t need to succumb to the identical destiny a 3rd season in a row, they should take a web page from the 2 groups headed to the NBA Finals, whereas they’re headed for an offseason with extra questions than solutions.
Initially Printed: Could 29, 2025 at 7:29 PM EDT
