Josh Hart’s return provides glimpse of Knicks system’s true potential

The boxscore was a sight to behold.

The Knicks scoring was incredibly balanced in their 123-114 win over the Trail Blazers on Sunday in Portland. All five starters scored at least 18 points — 26 from Jalen Brunson, 24 from OG Anunoby, 20 from Karl-Anthony Towns and 18 each from Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. Four of them shot over 50 percent from the field, with Hart a hair short. Brunson, Hart and Bridges each dished at least six assists.

This is the potential for the starting lineup when it is firing on all cylinders.

“We got guys that can score, so it’s not surprising,” head coach Mike Brown said. “I didn’t know all five guys had at least 18, but all those guys can pass, dribble and shoot, and they’re all unselfish. And so that’s the thing that makes it exciting for our team. When we have those guys all together, they’re a lethal starting five, and they’re a lethal group when they’re together. Great things from Josh as well as the rest of the group tonight.”

It’s also something that was largely missing without Hart. He is the string that connects the Knicks.

Anunoby and Bridges are talented shooters and scorers, not initiators. Their primary role in Brown’s system is to stay in the corner for catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. That requires a ball handler to break down the defense, force it to collapse and create open looks.