The Knicks reached the midway level of the 82-game season with the third-best document within the Jap Convention and the fifth-best in all the NBA.
Tom Thibodeau usually says – and reiterated it after Monday’s residence loss to the Pistons – that he strives to enhance every day, with the purpose of reaching his peak on the finish of the season, in time for the beginning of the playoffs.
“There’s lots of challenges all through the season, so there’s ups and downs, and it’s important to cope with that,” Thibodeau mentioned after the Knicks misplaced for the fifth time in seven video games after a streak of 9 consecutive victories. “You must undergo issues collectively, however you possibly can by no means lose sight of how vital it’s to get higher each day, and I hope that in the long run you play your greatest basketball.
“There are nonetheless lots of issues we are able to do higher and must deal with.”
Listed below are 5 areas the place the Knicks (26-15) most want to enhance over the ultimate 41 video games of the common season, beginning with Wednesday’s street recreation towards the 76ers:
Hold the three level line
With two 3-pointers transformed within the last minute by Detroit’s Malik Beasley the newest examples, the Knicks personal the sixth-worst defensive share from past the arc within the league, at 37.3 p.c. This shouldn’t be the case with strong perimeter defenders similar to OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and reserve Miles McBride within the rotation.
Extra offensive consistency
The Knicks have already had 10 video games during which they transformed fewer than 10 3-pointers, and so they have misplaced seven of these video games. Jalen Brunson is in a 13-of-62 (21.0%) exterior funk in his final 12 appearances, together with six of seven misses from deep Monday evening. However that determine drops to fifteen.4 p.c in case you take out a 5:10 lead to his 44-point efficiency towards the Bucks on Sunday.
Inside D
With heart Karl-Anthony Cities enjoying 34.7 minutes per recreation – his most since 2017-18 in Minnesota – the Knicks rank twelfth within the NBA in factors allowed within the paint, at 48.4 per recreation. THE potential return of Mitchell Robinson (1.9 profession blocks per recreation) ought to assist, however the 7-footer may not be again earlier than the Feb. 6 commerce deadline since he nonetheless hasn’t returned to follow and even run at full velocity.
Youth has gone loopy
The Pistons are younger, lengthy and athletic and have now overwhelmed the Knicks twice. Thibodeau must discover a higher approach to fight any such staff, as evidenced by further losses not too long ago to the Rockets, Hawks, Magic and Thunder (twice), though few opposing groups have managed to get previous OKC, chief of the West. .
Discover one other bench half
Perhaps Robinson helps fill that want, however then once more, he is not more likely to considerably improve the staff’s 20.2 bench factors per recreation until Thibodeau higher balances the time disparity recreation. Knicks starters document probably the most minutes per recreation (36.2) in all the league and the reserves are the fewest (11.9).
Thibodeau largely opted for an eight-man rotation within the first half, though McBride, Cam Payne, Treasured Achiuwa and Landry Shamet mixed for 45 minutes towards the Pistons. Rookies Tyler Kolek, Ariel Hukporti and Pacome Dadiet nonetheless have not secured common roles.
“We have now greater than sufficient. We have now to discover a approach to make this occur,” Thibodeau mentioned. “Once more, it mainly comes right down to a one-possession recreation. We did not succeed. We want to try it and see what we are able to do higher and proceed to combat to win each possession each recreation. You by no means know which possession makes the distinction, so keep locked in and prepare for Philly.
