Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns has reinvented himself as a playmaker

The changes have given the Knicks' offense more variety. Towns' scoring numbers have gone down, but the team's have gone up, with the Knicks' making 13 percent more three-pointers this season.

Less banging inside means less foul trouble for Karl-Anthony Towns

Putting Towns in a passing role should help counter Towns' biggest playoff weakness: Foul trouble.

Even with the Knicks blowing out the 76ers in Game 4, Towns managed to pick up five fouls in 20 minutes, some of them on quite poor decisions. Towns has committed five fouls in four of his 10 playoff games. Often, the only player who can stop Towns from wreaking havoc on offense is Towns getting into foul trouble with illegal screens or ill-advised reach-ins.

When he's staying aware of his passing opportunities, Towns is far less likely to commit an offensive foul than he would be grappling under the basket. Towns still needs to clean up the dumb fouls, but working as a facilitator lets him play in space instead of pushing and shoving for position.

For the playoffs, Towns is averaging 6.6 assists per game, and 7.5 per game in Knicks' wins. His previous high for a postseason was 2.6. The more he's dishing, the more the Knicks are winning. 

Thanks to the sweep, the Knicks will have a lot of time to think of new offensive wrinkles before the Eastern Conference Finals. They won't pass on giving Towns more playmaking chances.