The New York Knicks are eager to see a revival of their second unit this season, particularly if backup point guard Cameron Payne continues his formidable form shown in recent outings.
Payne, who joined the Knicks to orchestrate the bench offense and provide reliable outside shooting, is making his presence felt. The 10-year veteran is currently averaging 7.2 points and 2.6 assists, while hitting a respectable 40.6 percent of his three-point shots.
Despite his respectable personal statistics, the Knicks bench struggled significantly, lagging at the bottom of the league’s scoring charts for much of the season. Currently, they are in last place among the 30 NBA teams, only managing to average a paltry 20.2 points per game.
However, there is a glimmer of hope as Payne has stepped up his game recently. He scored 11 points in the Knicks’ 126-101 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 10, followed by a star-studded 18-point performance in a milestone 140-106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. — representing his second best effort of the season. Payne finished that trio of games with a solid 10-point contribution in the team’s close 124-119 loss to the Detroit Pistons.
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Head coach Tom Thibodeau praised Payne’s contributions, particularly after the game against the Bucks, saying, “Huge, huge, huge. Those were big minutes…The bench play was really good — we needed it.” ” This underlined the pressing need for a constant spark from the reserves.
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Currently, the Knicks do not have a single player scoring in double figures off the bench. Miles McBride used to be that reliable source, but his numbers have dropped to a disappointing 9.3 points per game average. Therefore, there is an urgent call for Payne to raise his level of play even further — showing more tenacity in his shot-finding while maintaining his efficiency.
Although the Knicks have a formidable starting lineup, a lack of productivity from the bench could force management to consider trade options. Whether or not a trade happens, bolstering their bench’s production remains crucial if the Knicks aspire to contend for an NBA championship this spring. A combination of sustained performance from Payne and strategic moves could be instrumental in transforming the second unit into an asset rather than a liability.
