After 13 games, the Knicks find themselves in fourth place in the East with a 7-6 record. Although the team didn’t look the part of championship contenders, there were some positive signs early on. Let’s look at where the club excelled and where there is room for improvement…
Forces
Effective shooting
New York’s offense was a positive story. The Knicks are third in the NBA in offensive efficiency, scoring 119.7 points per 100 possessions. Key factors for the ranking were how well the Knicks shot overall. New York is seventh in three-point percentage (37.8), fifth in free throw shooting (80.8 percent) and second in true shooting percentage (60.2).
1-2 punch
The combination of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns gives the Knicks two consistent options to go during the course of the game. Towns is on pace for arguably his best offensive season, with a team-high 26.4 points on 54.2 percent shooting from the field. Brunson performed below his high standard but was still effective, averaging 24.3 points and 6.8 assists. In close games, having two All-Star caliber players to go to is crucial and we saw it help in situations like Brunson’s game-winner on Friday night against the Brooklyn Nets.
Passing potential
In the Tom Thibodeau era, the Knicks never finished higher than 24th in assist rate. This season, New York could crack the top half of the NBA in the category. The Knicks are 17th in assist rate and they have recorded at least 30 assists in four of the last six games.
The Knicks had 33 helpers in their Sunday night 114-104 win against the Nets. With proper spacing, the Knicks could drive and kick and play. Just as importantly, the Knicks have the fifth lowest turnover rate despite the improved passing.
Weaknesses
Lack of depth
Just a few years ago, the Knicks were one of the deepest teams in the NBA. Now, in building their starting lineup, New York has lost some depth. The Knicks are last in the NBA in bench scoring. Centers Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiuwa have yet to play this season due to injury, and when they return, it will add to a thin bench that relies heavily on guards. Miles McBride and Cameron Payne.
Beginners Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and AND Anunoby are all in the top ten in minutes per game. The Knicks will need more impact from the bench so they don’t run the starters ragged.
Defensive adjustments
When the Knicks traded for Towns, it was clear that the defense was going to take a step back. The question was how big of a step back it would be. The Knicks are 21st in defensive efficiency, giving up 115.5 points per 100 possessions.
Three-point defense was a struggle. Through the first 12 games, the Knicks gave up 40.8 three-point attempts per 100 possessions, second in the NBA according to Basketball Reference. Opponents are shooting 36 percent from three, which is 12th in the NBA. New York’s point defense guarding the pick and roll will have to be better at containing the drive and kick game.
Shot profile
Since becoming the head coach, Thibodeau has focused on modernizing the team’s shooting diet. That means raising three-point attempts. Although New York has shot well from three, the club is just 17th in three-point attempts per 100 possessions (36.3). Last season, the Knicks were ninth in three-point attempts per 100 possessions.
Instead of threes, the Knicks are taking more mid-range attempts. The club is third in percentage of points that come from the middle range, by NBA Stats. The main culprit is Bridges, which leans heavily on midrange pulls. In fact, 21.4 percent of his points came from mid-range shots.
