After back-to-back second round exits in the playoffs, the New York Knicks front office decided to revamp the team this offseason and swing for the fences. They traded five first-round picks for Mikal Bridges, signed OG Anunoby to a pricey extension, and made a blockbuster trade towards the tail end of the offseason, bringing in Karl-Anthony Towns in exchange for Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle.
Yet, despite all this and the hype surrounding the Knicks, they have stumbled out of the gate. Why is that the case? What has gone wrong for the Knicks?
This Was Not The Start That The Knicks Wanted
KAT’s Lack of Involvement
In the 7 games KAT has played, he has scored more than 25 points just twice. Yes, one can look at the averages and say he’s having one of his better offensive seasons, but his production has been extremely inconsistent. It’s not his lack of efficiency that’s been the issue, and even on his worst nights, he has shot over 40% from the field. The worst part of this occurs in the fourth quarter when he’s almost phased out of the game. In the six fourth quarters he’s played in, Towns averages just four field goal attempts. These numbers get worse in the clutch, where he attempts just 0.8 shots per game.
Jalen Brunson
There was a lot expected from Jalen Brunson this season. The Knicks gave him the keys to the franchise, and the fans expected him to get better. Instead, Brunson has regressed thus far. His mid-range game has fallen apart, and he’s shooting just 38.4% in that area. The offense hasn’t come together, and numbers are down across the board from last year. When Brunson’s on the court, the Knicks score 118.4 points/100 possessions, down from the jaw-dropping 123.4 points last season. His assist numbers have also dropped.
Defensive Struggles
The Knicks brought in Bridges to form one of the most lethal defensive wing duos in the NBA. So far, that has not been the case. The Knicks rank 20th in defensive rating, and both Anunoby and Bridges have not been game-changers on the court. Anunoby has a 52nd-percentile defensive points/100 possession number this year, a far cry from his best. Bridges, on the other hand, has been horrendous on the defensive end. When he’s on the court, the Knicks give up 122.7 points per 100 possessions, an 11th percentile mark. Despite all his offensive prowess, the Knicks brought Bridges in to be a defensive menace, and Bridges hasn’t proved his worth yet.
The Last Word on Knicks Horrendous Start
The Knicks’ biggest saving grace is the fact that the Eastern Conference is wide-open after the top-two teams. After Cleveland and Boston, no other team in the East has a winning record. The Bucks are. 2-6, the Sixers are 1-6, the Magic lost Paolo Banchero for over a month, and the Pacers are led by a struggling Tyrese Haliburton who hasn’t been the same since his injury. The Knicks need to find their footing while the field is still open, and they have to continue to build chemistry and gel as a team.
