Knicks Stick With Blockbuster Starting Five Despite Disastrous 0-2 Start

The New York Knicks are rolling out their blockbuster starting five on Sunday against the Orlando Magic, which is fantastic news for anyone who has successfully avoided watching them play basketball so far this season.

According to Underdog NBA, head coach Tom Thibodeau is sticking with his primary group, starting Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

"Lineup alert: Knicks will start Brunson, Bridges, Hart, Anunoby, Towns on Sunday. - @UnderdogNBA"

On paper, that looks like an Eastern Conference juggernaut. In reality, this exact group has stumbled out of the gates to an 0-2 start after dropping tight games to the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics.

The biggest red flag waving over Madison Square Garden right now belongs to Bridges. Through two games, the marquee offseason addition is averaging a staggering 2.0 points per game on 12.5 percent shooting.

For context, you could pull a random guy out of the halftime layup line, put him in a Knicks jersey, and he might accidentally trip into more than two points in 27 minutes of action.

Anunoby has not been much better on the offensive end, shooting just 34.8 percent from the floor despite putting up 15 points and 7.5 rebounds a night.

Anyone looking at the prop markets for Sunday night needs to seriously evaluate whether these wings have remembered how to shoot. Fading the New York perimeter players feels like a logical angle until they prove they can throw a rock into the ocean.

You do not trade a decade of draft capital for Bridges and hand Anunoby a massive contract extension to start the year looking completely lost. Thibodeau is giving his starters a chance to fix the mess they made.

The Knicks tip off against the Magic on Sunday night. If this starting five lays another egg at home, the panic in Manhattan is going to reach levels usually reserved for a delayed subway train.