As of now, the NBA is less than 2 months away from the start of the playoffs. As the regular season separated contenders from non-contenders, some teams have looked to free agency and the draft to see how they might improve next season, allowing others to have their eyes set on the title. Teams like the Pistons, Celtics, and Cavaliers in the east, and teams like the Thunder, Rockets, and Spurs in the west. The New York Knicks are among the teams currently slated to make playoffs, but are they really a contender?
Big Game consistency
The Knicks currently sit 3rd in the east with a record of 35 wins and 21 losses. They’ve had some major wins this season—like their 49 point win over the 76ers, and their 54 point win over the Nets. However, they’ve struggled in bigger games this season. Most recently, they lost 126-111 against the Number one seed in the East Detroit Pistons, which was the third time that they’ve lost to them this season. Others view games such as the Haliburton-less Indiana Pacers, (which they lost 137-134), to be considered “easy”. The Knicks have to improve their consistency if they really want to have a shot at the title in the playoffs. Granted, they won the NBA cup in the fall, but most NBA fans can agree that the only title that truly matters is saved for the finals.
Style of Offense
The Knicks are 9th in three point attempts, and 4th in three points made. They tend to rely heavily on these shots in games especially while down. The Knicks have players like Jalen Brunson, who averages 27 points a game, and is capable of making three point shots if he chooses to, but the issue is that the entire team falls into the same habit. In games like the recent Pistons clash, there were multiple opportunities to bring the score closer—-even settling for a smaller score in order to get to a two point. . Recently, the team chose to gamble on the three point instead, which eventually led to them falling behind on offense. Notably, the game saw the Knicks make just eight of 35 attempted three point shots. In smaller games when the Knicks are already ahead, there is no issue in trying to run up the score with three point shots, but in situations like these (where the Knicks are trailing behind), they continue to gamble on the three point shot. Ultimately, it creates a high risk high reward style of play. Where they could simply drive into the paint with players like Karl Anthony-Towns, or Mikal Bridges, they choose to give the ball to their three point shooters, like OG Anunoby or Josh Hart. Who, while very good shooters in their own right, are just not consistent enough to stake a comeback on them every time. Sometimes, the Knicks need to learn to take the easy route if they really want to improve their overall offense.
While the Knicks sit currently at 3rd in the Eastern conference behind the Boston Celtics in 2nd, and the Detroit Pistons in 1st, they are hardly a complete unit. Especially with the aforementioned Pistons looming, and the potential return of Jason Taytum on the horizon for the Celtics. The East is only going to get more competitive as the season goes on, and if the Knicks truly want to make a deep run, the team needs to improve their consistency more than anything.
