The Knicks have a problem that their record can't hide, as their small player numbers are becoming more prevalent across the Eastern Conference. The Charlotte Hornets' starting five features Brandon Miller, the smallest player in the team, at 6-5. The Knicks have opted for small guards over smaller players, with Jalen Brunson playing 35 minutes a night and Jose Alvarado, Tyler Kolek, Miles McBride, or Jordan Clarkson. The trend of small players in the NBA is shifting as teams increasingly use size to control their game. However, the Knicks have been criticized for conceding size by playing more defensively than their small players. Despite this, the team is on track to surpass Tom Thibodeau's 51-win mark from last season and is already the franchise's best since Carmelo Anthony's 54-win campaign in 2013.