OKC Thunder: TI editor power ranking week 9: The shuffle is on

A scan of recent box scores shows Tim Hardaway Jr., Enes Kanter, Kevin Knox or Emmanuel Mudiay as the leading point scorers in different games. Some nights the reserves post more points than the starters. The issue is the foursome noted never seem to all have their groove on at the same time or on the same night the reserves are rolling.

The difference in who happens to be hot on a given night might be as simple as opponents game plans centering on three of the four starters allowing the fourth more freedom.

Some scoff at the prospect of the Knicks improving next season but lest we forget Kristaps Porzingis will return presumably in February. If then, the Knicks land a top draft pick and lure a talented free agent and mix in the foursome mentioned above plus quality youngsters who David Fizdale is getting the most out of (Noah Vonleh and Allonzo Trier to name two) can we really rule out the Knicks improving dramatically? After all, they are housed in the East, not the West.

Still, with Courtney Lee back (a career 38,7% perimeter shooter) it’s likely he gets dangled as trade bait and decisions will need to be made on players such as Hardaway and Mudiay who become more attractive to teams needing just one more piece for the playoffs. Interesting times in the Mecca, indeed.

New York Knicks:

Offensive Rating: 22nd
Defensive Rating: 29th
Net Differential: 26th

Points per game: 108.5 (tied 22nd)
Offensive field goal efficiency: 43.9 percent (28th)
Opponent points per game: 115.0 (26th)
Opponent field goal efficiency: 47.6 percent (27th)

3-Point percent: 34.8% (tied 20th)
Opponent 3-point percent: 36.9% (28th)

Home: 4-9
Road: 5-13
Back to back sets: 6

Versus the West: 3-4
Versus the East: 6-18, 12th in EC

Week nine 1-2:  Lost to @Cavaliers, @Pacers and @Hornets,
On tap for week 10: Suns, @76ers, Hawks