The Knicks are off to an ideal begin simply not fairly as nice as they’d like.
At 36-18, New York heads into the All-Star break with probably the greatest information in franchise historical past. Since Pat Riley took over in 1991-92, solely 4 Knicks groups have received at the very least 36 of their first 54 video games.
They’re additionally sending two All-Star starters — Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Cities — to San Francisco.
The final time the Knicks had two gamers within the beginning lineup at an All-Star Sport?
Fifty years in the past in 1975, when Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe suited up two seasons after the final championship in franchise historical past.
And but, regardless of these milestones, the Knicks stay third within the Jap Convention, trailing the reigning champion Boston Celtics and the No. 1-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.
That’s the place the frustration lies.
This Knicks group wasn’t constructed for ethical victories.
They didn’t commerce 5 first-round picks for Mikal Bridges and transfer Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo for Cities simply to endure a 3rd consecutive second-round exit.
And proper now? They haven’t confirmed they’ll cling with the league’s finest.
The file in opposition to contenders tells the story: Two blowout losses to Boston, two decisive losses to Oklahoma Metropolis, the West’s No. 1 seed, plus spotty outcomes in opposition to the opposite high groups, together with those that muck video games up with physicality and brute pressure.
It’s the explanation Brunson didn’t sugarcoat his emotions of the group’s standing after Wednesday’s slim time beyond regulation win over the Atlanta Hawks.
Sure, the Knicks are good, however they weren’t constructed to be good. They had been constructed to be among the many finest, and coming into the break, the Knicks are one of the best of the remainder, not one of the best of one of the best.
“We haven’t really accomplished anything. We have a long way to go to get to where we want to go,” he stated. “It’s all about just taking one day at a time. Right now it’s just to rest and recharge and come back ready to go.”
One factor is obvious: scoring isn’t the issue.
If Wednesday’s 149-148 victory over Atlanta is any indication, the Knicks can put up factors with anybody.
They enter the break with the second-best offensive ranking within the NBA (119.9 factors per 100 possessions), trailing solely Cleveland.
New York ranks tenth in assists whereas averaging the fourth-fewest turnovers per sport. The Knicks additionally rank fifth in three-point share regardless of making an attempt the fourth-fewest threes per sport. Plus their five-out offense with Cities on the 5 creates house for chopping lanes and driving lanes alike.
Briefly? Offense has come simple in Yr 1 of the Brunson-Cities period.
Protection? Not a lot.
The Knicks rank 18th in defensive ranking (113.9 factors allowed per 100 possessions) — backside half of the league — and their points are notably obvious each past the arc and within the paint.
New York owns the worst three-point protection within the NBA, permitting opponents to shoot near 38% from deep. The Knicks permit the fifth-fewest makes an attempt per sport, however over time, numbers this dangerous point out structural points — poor closeouts, breakdowns in protection and a scarcity of rim safety forcing further assist rotations.
“I think offensively we’re doing great. Defensively we have things to work on — consistency, discipline,” Cities stated after his 44-point outburst Wednesday. “But I think those are all things y’all as the media can see from Game 1 to now, where we’re a much better version of ourselves.”
Higher? Sure. However ok? That’s one other query.
There’s context, after all, to the Knicks’ defensive struggles. In any case, Tom Thibodeau groups cling their hats on getting stops.
OG Anunoby, New York’s finest perimeter stopper, has missed 5 straight video games with a proper foot sprain.
In these 5 video games, the Knicks gave up 118, 115, 131, 115 and 148 factors, and their their defensive ranking ranked twenty sixth in that stretch.
Then there’s Mitchell Robinson.
The 7-foot rim protector hasn’t performed since Sport 1 of the second-round sequence in opposition to Indiana final Could — however he’s getting shut.
At his finest, Robinson is an elite offensive rebounder, a dominant shot-blocker, and a vertical lob risk within the pick-and-roll.
With out him, Cities — an offensive-minded huge — has been the Knicks’ final line of protection.
In consequence, New York ranks twentieth in factors allowed within the paint this season. Over the past 5 video games with out Anunoby, they rank dead-last.
That’s why this break comes on the excellent time — at the very least for everybody besides the scorching-hot Cities, whose rhythm with back-to-back 40-point performances might be disrupted by per week off.
The Knicks get an opportunity to relaxation, regroup and replicate earlier than the ultimate stretch of a season carrying championship expectations.
“We can take some of that stuff, and the things that we need to improve upon, take a hard look,” he stated. “This is a good chance. I want our players to get away and reenergize and refocus and then come back ready to head down the stretch.
“But there’s been a lot of fight, a lot of determination. We had to overcome a lot. We still haven’t had Mitch. Precious [Achiuwa] missed a good chunk, and Landry [Shamet] missed a good chunk.”
The Knicks have fought via adversity.
Now, with Robinson and Anunoby returning quickly, the group has an opportunity to color a a lot clearer image.
Are they actual contenders?
Or are they nonetheless a step behind?
It’s arduous to inform at Sport 54, however as soon as the All-Star break comes and goes, the dash to the season finale occurs within the blink of an eye fixed.
