Elfrid Payton has struggled mightily in recent weeks, yet has remained a mainstay in the Knicks starting lineup.
As the playoffs begin, and the team’s margin for error decreases while the need to maximize every potential advantage increases, could we see a change in the team’s typical starting five when New York lines up against the Hawks on Sunday?
Don’t count on it.
Tom Thibodeau, when asked about Payton’s struggles after Wednesday’s practice, defended Payton and his spot as a regular in the Knicks rotation. And while Payton’s minutes have decreased in recent weeks (he hasn’t played more than 20 minutes in a game since April 28), it doesn’t look like any changes will be made to the starting backcourt when the Knicks begin their first playoff series in eight years.
“The depth of our team is one of our strengths,” Thibodeau said. “There are things Elfrid provides for us that are a big assert to our team. His size, his defense, those are important factors.”
Over his last nine games, Payton is averaging nearly as many turnovers (1.2) as assists (1.9), and has been an average of a -6.2 while shooting 31.9 percent from the floor and 20 percent from downtown. But Thibodeau won’t let his point guard’s recent play, no matter how much of a struggle it has been, cause him to make a change at this point in the season.
“The most important thing is the team winning,” Thibodeau said. “That’s where I want our focus to lie. So the things you can do well, focus in on those things, the things you’re not doing well, you stay away from those things. Play to your strengths and cover up your weaknesses, and do that as a team. If you do that as a team, the team will have success.”
The only issue with Payton and Thibodeau’s philosophy is the fact that Payton has struggled in almost all areas of the game of late. Over his last five games, he has committed more turnovers than made field goals, free throws and 3-pointers combined, per Forbes, and has made just three of his last 19 shots. His defensive numbers have slipped as well, but Thibodeau doesn’t seem to believe that the Payton the Knicks have seen this month is the one they’ll see once the intensity of the playoffs arrives.
“As is the case with most players, there’s going to be ups and downs,” Thibodeau said. “You don’t have to shoot well to play well. Just go out there and give us what you can. Every game is different. The thing I love about our team is if someone is not going good, then another guy steps in, and if he’s going good, everyone is cheering for that guy.”
As for other changes to the rotation, Thibodeau said he has been considering “a lot” the idea of adding Frank Ntilikina into the playoff rotation to help guard Trae Young. Ntilikina, arguably the team’s best on-ball defender, hasn’t provided much on the offensive end this season, but could help limit Young and his ability to take over a game.
“Frank has sort of been in that role as a defensive stopper,” Thibodeau said. “He adds great value to the team. What you guys don’t see is he and Kevin Knox and other guys who aren’t in the rotation, how hard they work in practice…they’re providing a lot to our team. Whatever their strengths are, we’re going to try to take advantage of that.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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