Knicks rank first in the Eastern Conference in offensive rating

After 41 games, the New York Knicks’ season can no longer be considered a small or insignificant sample.

Since Tom Thibodeau revamped the playing rotation on Dec. 4, the Knicks have gone 27-14, with particularly staggering offensive results from both team and individual perspectives.

In that stretch, the Knicks rank first in the Eastern Conference in offensive rating, behind only the Kings and the Blazers across the NBA.

Their net rating of 5.9 ranks second in the league behind the Grizzlies’ 6.2.

Julius Randle has averaged 27.2 points in the 41 games since Thibodeau tweaked the Knicks’ rotation. Jalen Brunson is scoring 25.6 points per game with a shooting slash line of 48.5/45.1/81.9, while RJ Barrett has given the team a third 20-point scorer (20.1 ppg) since Dec. 4, with a 44.4/37.0/73.0 slash.

Quentin Grimes is contributing 11.5 points on average over that stretch, including 6-for-9 from long range and 22 points Wednesday against Brooklyn. Sixth man Immanuel Quickley has played in all but one of the past 41 games, netting 14.6 points per appearance.

Thibodeau made drastic changes following a blowout loss to Dallas on Dec. 3, sending Derrick Rose and Cam Reddish to the bench, joining veteran guard Evan Fournier, who had been demoted a couple of weeks earlier.

Starting wings Barrett and Grimes have seen their minutes and stats diminished somewhat with the deadline addition of Josh Hart. But the team’s multifaceted impact of Hart, who is a perfect 7-0 as a Knick since his arrival from Portland ahead of the trade deadline, cannot be overlooked.

The Knicks’ offense has always been good this year, but they are now clicking on a different level, and everybody is just locked in on winning.

Thibodeau believes they have a long way to go, but he likes where they are in the season in terms of intensity, which should bring out the best in them.

The Dec. 4 game against the Cavaliers kicked off an eight-game winning streak following a 10-13 start. Thibodeau’s surging squad is now 10 games over .500 at 37-27 overall and can match that season-long streak Friday night in Miami.

»Knicks rank first in the Eastern Conference in offensive rating«