The Knicks led Cleveland by 13 points with 4:30 to go in the third quarter on Monday night – they were at home – elite teams find a way to close out these games.
The Knicks played like an elite team late in Monday’s game.
They shot 10-for-28 in the final 16 minutes of the game. They allowed Dario Garlando to explode for 15 points in the fourth quarter. And they let a winnable game slip away.
Part of the issue? They didn’t talk enough when things got tight in the fourth quarter.
“It’s early for us (in the season) but I think we need to communicate a little better to each other. I think when they made their (run), we just kind of went quiet,” Mikal Bridges said “It’s difficult. I think we all know it’s just running, so we’ll be fine. But sometimes you have to give each other a voice and listen. ‘Are we good?’ And talk to each other on the court when things happen. I think we’ve calmed down a bit. And they felt that and they got a little louder and a little more impetuous. But… it’s early.”
It’s reasonable to look at Monday’s game and see that a Knicks team is still getting used to each other.
Karl-Anthony Towns took only eight shots. That probably won’t happen often this season.
Jalen Brunson shot 8-for-24. That probably won’t happen often this season either.
So at best, Monday’s loss was a learning experience for the Knicks, but it did highlight some issues that need to be addressed.
One is the Knicks’ volume of threes. New York took eight more shots than Cleveland on Monday but attempted eight fewer three-pointers than the Cavs. Compared to the rest of the league, the Knicks haven’t attempted many threes so far. It is worth noting because perimeter shooting was a point of emphasis for the group.
“We have to generate more (three). Sometimes it’s a byproduct of deep-seated decisions, (making) the reading,” Tom Thibodeau said “Obviously you want as many deposits as you can get. If there are two on you, spread it out. And then everybody has to – you can’t just stare the ball, you have to stare the whole court…you have to read the man in front of you, what he’s doing so we don’t drift guys. on top of each other.”
It was eye-opening to see Towns take just two 3-point attempts in 30-plus minutes.
When asked after the game about the Cavs’ defense and Towns’ shot attempts, Brunson put the onus on himself.
“It’s on us. It’s on me as a teammate…to make sure we’re all on the same page, making sure everyone’s eating. I have to be better when it comes to that,” Brunson said.
