{"id":117836,"date":"2025-01-14T11:11:28","date_gmt":"2025-01-14T16:11:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=117836"},"modified":"2025-01-14T11:20:54","modified_gmt":"2025-01-14T16:20:54","slug":"new-york-knicks-defense-walker-kessler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/01\/14\/new-york-knicks-defense-walker-kessler\/","title":{"rendered":"Utah Jazz Is the Only Team That Can Help the Knicks Defense"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the Pistons leading up 118-117 against the Knicks, on Monday night, they found an open three-point look. Malik Beasley<\/a> hit back-to-back open three-pointers. The first one, with 39 seconds to go, put the Pistons up 121-117, while the second, with six seconds left, put the game away for good at 124-119. The Knicks’ defense was bad down the stretch, putting more pressure on the organization to make some moves at the deadline to improve on that end.<\/p>\n

Utah Jazz is the Only Team That Can Help the Knicks Defense<\/h2>\n

Pistons star Cade Cunningham<\/a> exploded for 29 points in the second half Monday night. He had 18 in the third quarter. During the final possessions, the Knicks tried to trap him aggressively, but the ball found Beasley for an open look, and the game was over. During the entire time, fans at Madison Square Garden shouted,<\/a> \u201cDefense, Defense.\u201d But the Knicks are just average on that end of the floor.<\/p>\n

This year, the Knicks are 15th in defense<\/a>, allowing 112.7 points per 100 possessions. Last year<\/a>, they were ninth, allowing 112.4 points per 100 possessions. At first glance, it looks like a small margin, but watching the games shows liability on the defensive end. They have too many miscues and miscommunications on the defensive end, ending up in open looks. After the game, Josh Hart<\/a> acknowledged the obvious, saying,<\/p>\n

\u201cDefensively, we\u2019ve got to be better. We\u2019ve just got to be better there.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n