Heading into Tuesday's game against the Lakers, the Knicks' starting lineup of Julius Randle, Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier, RJ Barrett, and Mitchell Robinson were the most-used five-man group in the NBA this season, but the second worst in the league in terms of point differential.
The group looked to be on the rise when it stormed out to a 25-point lead against Los Angeles, but quickly, that same group watched the lead evaporate before a unit primarily of bench players secured the win and avoided a collapse.
"We made some plays down the stretch in the fourth quarter that kept us in a good position," said Evan Fournier, one of the only starters who saw significant playing time in the fourth quarter. "I think this game is a perfect example of how we play. We're very capable of playing good basketball and getting big leads, and all of a sudden, not so well, and they get comfortable and we lose rhythm, and they get back in the game."
In the fourth quarter, the Knicks' bench trio of Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, and Alec Burks scored 15 of the team's final 16 points, the only other point coming from a Randle free throw in the final minute after being on the bench with foul trouble for most of the period. Quickley's four 3-pointers saved New York from another collapse, one that was started by the team's starters, who are still looking to find their way consistently, not just in spurts.
"It would be really interesting to find a stat and see in all the games we've played, how many times we've had a 15-point lead," Fournier said. "I'm confident it would be like three quarters of the games.
"We have to keep playing the same way. Up 20, down 15, tie game, for us, I think the key is to find that balance and that rhythm. We can be really good. We just have to trust how we play, and when we have that way to play, just stay with it."
The Knicks' second unit has been one of the top lineups in all of basketball this season, but head coach Tom Thibodeau has remained confident that his starters will come around, and they feel the same.
"What are we, 18 games in?" Randle said. "This s**t takes time. The thing about us is we've stayed encouraged, we stayed positive, we've had highs, we've had lows but once it starts clicking we're going to be a really, really good team."
The starting lineup showed signs of cohesion on Tuesday night, just before showing signs of its all-too familiar inefficiency shortly after. If the Knicks want to find consistency, the starters will have to find a sense of familiarity with each other after logging heavy minutes together already this season.
"It's always complicated to add someone to a lineup, but two or three guys, it's definitely different, and you have to find that team that works," Fournier said. "I thought we played really well to start the game…we all have a positive attitude about it, we all want to move forward and play well and win games. I think our attitude is great right now. We're heading in the right direction, and that's very encouraging."
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