The New York Knicks have had a solid first half of the 2024-25 campaign. Despite a rough last two-week stretch where they went 2-5 with several ugly losses, Tom Thibodeau’s group sits at 26-15 through 41 games. As crazy as it sounds, that record is the 11th best start for a Knicks season in their 79 years of existence. So, there are many positives to look at with the Knicks, even as concern grows among the fanbase.
Knicks First-Half Positives Amid Rough Stretch
First, let’s look at how this team has played so far relative to the rest of the league. New York is fifth in winning percentage (.634), fifth in net rating (+6.5), third in offensive rating (119.2), and is 15th in defensive rating (112.7). The first three numbers listed are as good as Knicks fans could’ve hoped through 41 games with a completely new rotation. The concerning metric has been their defense, which still has room to grow when Mitchell Robinson comes back in February.
Knicks fans can also find solace in the fact that 26-15 at the halfway point is the franchise’s best since 2012-13, when they also were 26-15. That also could be a reflection of the organizational incompetence that has occurred at times over the past dozen years, but New York has finally emerged from that. The team is in a better place than it has been at any time in the 21st century.
The Offense Has Been Spectacular
While Knicks fans should be appreciative of their suddenly-competent front office, they now have a chance to hoist the trophy in June, and should be judged by that standard. Many aspects of this team are being fairly criticized, but scoring is not one of them.
New York’s offense ranks third in offensive rating, and has essentially been top-three all season. They are second in both true shooting and effective field-goal percentage, and are top-five in assist-to-turnover ratio. NY is seventh in three-point percentage, although only tied for 24th in attempts per game because of their slow pace and paint-centered offense. Thibs’ group is second in two-point percentage at 57.6%, driven by the ridiculous efficiency of all five players inside the arc.
General manager Leon Rose’s dream when he put together a starting five of players who can penetrate and hit the three-ball to run true five-out offense has come true. The ball is moving seamlessly amongst the five guys, a far cry from the isolation-based attack of past years. New York’s spacing has completely changed with Towns at center, unlocking so much for the guys around him. Karl-Anthony Towns/Jalen Brunson pick-and-rolls have been one of the NBA’s best actions, and OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are excellent off-ball players who can capitalize on advantages created by their star duo.
The Knicks offense is already championship level. It’s time for the rest of the team to catch up.
Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns Having Career Years
One of the most enjoyable parts of this Knicks season has been the special play from Josh Hart and Towns. Hart is having easily the best offensive season of his career, averaging 14.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists on an insane 66.9% true shooting. These marks rank second, first, first, and first in his career, respectively. He’s also shooting a career-best 81.7% from the charity stripe and 37.7% from three (best since rookie season). His ability to hit catch-and-shoot threes was a big concern going into the season, but he has silenced the doubters emphatically. Obviously, Hart’s value goes so far beyond the numbers. Whether he’s flying in for offensive rebounds, chasing loose balls, or hitting crazy shot-clock beating jumpers, he has been a true energizer for this Knicks team.
Towns, meanwhile, has completely transformed New York’s offense. As mentioned before, he and Brunson are arguably the league’s best pick-and-roll duo. However, his growth goes far beyond that. KAT is having his most efficient shooting season, at 55% from the field, 44.9% from three, and a 66.4% true shooting. All are career-bests, while still averaging the second-most points he ever has. Interestingly, his relentless attacking of the rim has been the driver of his offense, as his three-point attempts have declined from 5.3 in 2023-24 to 4.9 this season.
If these two guys continue their great play, there is no ceiling on what this team can accomplish. Bridges and Anunoby have yet to find consistency with their offensive games, but should as the year goes on. There is still so much room to grow.
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