The New York Knicks have been scuffling a lot lately, as they have lost eight of their last eleven games, and it has them thinking about some changes, as they are 11-14 through 25 games. Head coach Derek Fisher has said he is currently evaluating his starting lineup, so it has people wondering what changes he might make to that unit. One logical change he could make would be taking Robin Lopez out of the starting lineup, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
Lopez is coming off what might have been his best game of the season on Sunday when the Knicks defeated his old team, the Portland Trail Blazers. Lopez scored 14 points and added seven rebounds, but before that he hadn't scored in double figures in nine straight games, and overall he hasn't played all that well for the Knicks.
Lopez signed a four-year, $54 million deal with the Knicks after they missed out on the big free agents this offseason, and he was brought in for defensive purposes, but they hoped he would bring some sort of offensive productivity as well. Lopez has been good on the defensive end so far, but on offense he is a big detriment, and he isn't a great rebounder, so bringing him off the bench may not be a bad idea.
The thought here would be to move Lopez to a full-time bench role and make the starting lineup smaller by moving Kristaps Porzingis to center, Carmelo Anthony to power forward and moving either Lance Thomas or someone else into the starting lineup. The reason these changes are possible is because Porzingis has proven he can defend in the paint and that he won't be bullied down low, so despite the fact that he has struggled a bit recently the Knicks now at least have the option of moving their rookie to center.
Through 25 games, all starts, Lopez is averaging 7.2 points and 5.6 rebounds in 23.9 minutes per game, and his PER is a below-average 12.4. Lopez remained in the starting lineup for the Knicks' game against the Blazers because Fisher thought he might produce against his old team, and he did, but going forward his spot might not be safe if he continues to be non-existent on the offensive side of the ball. It is unlikely that Lopez will be taken out of the rotation completely, given the Knicks' huge investment in him, but his role could take a hit in the near future.
