It's difficult to parse, exactly, what the issue is with the Knicks starting lineup. All the parts--size, versatility, sheer talent--are there for it to be a successful unit, and coach Tom Thibodeau has certainly been steadfast in his adherence to the group. But offensively, the group has never clicked into something bigger than the sum of its parts, and defensively, it's been a major disappointment. 
That's been true for most of this season.
With the Knicks down, 2-0, to the Pacers in the East finals, the woes of the starting five have come into focus. Increasingly, fans and media members have called on Thibodeau to break out of his stubborn loyalty to the team's starters.
With the Knicks down, 2-0, to the Pacers in the East finals, the woes of the starting five have come into focus. Increasingly, fans and media members have called on Thibodeau to break out of his stubborn loyalty to the team's starters.
Veteran beat reporter Stefan Bondy wrote in the New York Post that Thibodeau should pull out Josh Hart from the starting five and insert either Mitchell Robinson or Miles McBride.
Wrote Bondy: "No player has struggled more in the opening two games of this series than Hart. He just looks uncertain and played just 28 minutes in Game 2."
And that's just the tip of the iceberg for those pressuring Thibodeau into a lineup change.
One fan account posted: "Thibs (expletives) me off so much. Indiana told Ben Sheppard and Tony Bradley to give them quality minutes and they did. Thibs continues to roll with the same (expletive) thing even when he sees it’s not working."
From CBS's Sam Quinn: "It took Tom Thibodeau seven minutes and 42 seconds to insert a sub for a lineup that loses its minutes in basically every playoff game to start the second half down 1-0 at home in the conference finals. This is malpractice."
The "McBride Muse" account noted: "Brunson is the better player in this series and it won’t even (expletive) matter because Tom Thibodeau can’t coach his way out of a (expletive) plastic bag."
And there's this ...
Thibodeau will reveal his lineup tomorrow, and the Knicks and Pacers will tip off Game 3 in Indiana on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
