Knicks Seeing Major Improvement in One Area

With the injuries to Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby , the bench is expected to step up more than ever. Mike Brown's offense allows the depth of the roster to shine, usually going with a nine-man rotation. The Knicks have had multiple occasions where the bench did their job and more, and it starts with the most recent example.

Landry Shamet

Shamet is fresh off a career night against a dangerous Miami Heat team. The eight-year vet went off for a career-high 36 points, draining six threes in the process. So far this season, Shamet has shown he is a knockdown shooter from three, shooting 38.7% from beyond the arc, while also being a capable scrappy defender.

Shamet is outplaying his contract, which is worth $3.08 million. In a contract year that sees Shamet hitting free agency next summer, the sharpshooter out of Wichita State is proving to the rest of the league that he belongs and could help a team that is contending for a championship.

Jordan Clarkson

The Knicks signed Jordan Clarkson to do one thing and one thing only: score the ball. In 12 games this season, Clarkson has done just that. Clarkson is averaging 10.3 points per game on solid efficiency. The former sixth man of the year is shooting 46.7% from the field and 38.8% from three-point land.

Clarkson has scored in double digits in six of 12 games this season, with his season high of 24 points coming in the Knicks' win over the Miami Heat. A game in which Clarkson also went 3-for-6 from three and 9-for-11 from the free throw line.

Josh Hart

Many consider Josh Hart the heart and soul of this Knicks team. Hart is the scrappy, do-it-all player that every team would love to have but also hate playing against. So far this season, Hart is averaging 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.

Hart is coming off an outstanding performance against Miami, in which he got his first triple-double of the season and his 16th as a Knick. Finishing with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, Hart cemented himself as one of the better bench players in the league.

Last season under coach Tom Thibodeau, Hart started 77 games and, to no surprise to many, led the league in minutes per game with a whopping 37.6 per game. So, for Hart to be moved to the sixth man position with no signs of slowing down, it goes to show he is willing to do whatever the team needs from him.

Who Steps Up After the Injuries?

With Miles McBride stepping up for the injured Jalen Brunson, the Knicks would need to look for another bench piece to start for the recently injured OG Anunoby. Could this be where we see Josh Hart return to the starting lineup?

If McBride and Hart become the full-time starters while Anunoby and Brunson recover, Mike Brown could use this time to experiment with the second-year players. Look for Tyler Kolek, Pacome Dadiet and Ariel Hukporti to receive quality minutes. Also, expect to see more Guerschon Yabusele minutes. Yabusele can use this opportunity to get back into rhythm, hoping to recreate the same momentum he had during his career season last year.

If the second-year trio and Yabusele can perform well and contribute quality minutes, it will add a boost to what is already one of the better bench units this season.