It’s time to get a first glimpse on how much the Knicks have improved following last season’s 17-65 wreckage and $70 million expenditures this summer.
Without a star but carrying loads of depth after signing seven free agents, coach David Fizdale’s new pressure defense will be on display for the first time Monday in Washington when they play their preseason opener against the Wizards.
“Our depth,” new point guard Elfrid Payton said Sunday when asked to identify the team’s strength. “I really believe that we’re two deep at every position. There’s no drop-off. That’s where we’re going to do our best.”
With virtually an entire roster of players who can lay claim to being worthy of an NBA rotation, Fizdale will employ a frenetic, full-court defense that will best utilize what figures as a deep rotation.
“I think we have the potential to be a very good defensive team,’’ Payton said. “I definitely think we have the tools at every position to be a great defense.”
Emphasizing defense this season — which Fizdale failed to do in 2018-19 — could bode well for defensive-minded Frank Ntilikina.
“All my teammates, we pay a lot of attention at pressuring the ball on defense and not letting the opposing team be comfortable offensively,” Ntilikina said. “Guys picking up full-court, guys being physical and being competitive. They play with a chip on their shoulder and it will help us defensively. Defense is something that helps us win games and coach has been really thoughtful about this side of the court.”
Fizdale wouldn’t divulge any part of Monday’s starting lineup, saying Sunday it was still being hashed out. He even refused to pencil in their splashiest signing Julius Randle at power forward. But Fizdale said point guard Dennis Smith Jr. is expected to miss the first of their four preseason games with a strained back.
The Knicks will also play Washington at the Garden on Friday and finish the preseason against Atlanta and Zion Williamson’s Pelicans. Short and sweet.
“It’s huge,” Fizdale said of finally playing. “Because when you are beating each other up and you know each other, you get something from that, but you start to see where guys are strong or weak when you are playing against an opponent. I think this will be good for us. I like the fact that we’re going out on the road right away and doing it out there in Washington.”
With Smith ailing, either Payton or Ntilikina will start at point guard. Figure Randle to man the power-forward slot and Mitchell Robinson to go at center.
It would be surprising not to see marquee rookie RJ Barrett, their No. 3 pick, start at shooting guard. The biggest mystery lies at small forward, where veteran signee Marcus Morris has battled 2017 lottery pick Kevin Knox. But Fizdale said not to read that much into Monday’s starters. (The season opener is Oct. 23 in San Antonio).
“I really like to mix it up and look at different combinations of guys and different lineups,” Fizdale said. “Experiment a little bit and just see who works well together.”
TNT analyst Kenny Smith, who spent two days with Knicks brass at camp, told The Post that Fizdale has a rough assignment in managing players who expect to get minutes — and may not.
“You know you never want guys to feel they are not getting their due, but I’m not there to make everybody happy,” Fizdale said. “It’s always going to be about who is getting it done and competing at the highest level. I do feel my depth gives me a tough task. We have a lot of guys that’s capable. So juggling that and getting the right guys and the right combination on the floor is something I have to work out.”
And it starts Monday.
“It is exciting,” Ntilikina said. “You’re in training camp so you’re doing most of the time, scrimmages against your own teammates. Even if they’re new teammates, they’re still going to be your teammates for the season. So now, we’re the Knicks, we’re one. So we’re excited to play against another team.”