It was eyebrow-raising when one of the vocal leaders of the New York Knicks, Josh Hart, intimated a chemistry issue with the Knicks. In fact, he’s used the term ‘individual agendas’ during the SNY post-games, on a few occasions since the turn of the new year.
Despite being the third seed in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks have significant issues in depth and defense. New York’s woeful depth puts them last in the league in bench points. It has led them to overusing their starting five, wearing their starters down in the process.
Furthermore, the Knicks do not remotely play championship-caliber defense, sitting 18th in defensive rating. It eminates from their inability to defend the pick and roll, close out open three-point shooters, or play with physicality. The Knicks are currently among the worst teams in the NBA defending the three.
Normal staples of a Tom Thibodeau team such as defense, constant effort, and physicality are all missing from this current iteration. This prompted Hart to say that the Knicks are losing games they should win. Let’s examine his comments and their validity.
Potential Chemistry Issues With The Knicks Hinted At
Josh Hart Questions Chemistry
Josh Hart told SNY last week after losing to the Pistons,
“We’re losing games we shouldn’t be losing…we gotta start correcting these.”
This comes in the aftermath of the Knicks being winless against the top NBA teams this season. That includes humbling home and road blowout losses to Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City.
These comments have led the head coach to speak against it, but is Hart really that off-base? Thibodeau asked Hart to watch the film before commenting on other players’ performance levels. However, if there is one player who doesn’t have to look at himself in the mirror, it’s arguably Hart. His energy, leadership, and career performance levels stand out. It’s a good thing to demand more from teammates and demand accountability.
The Knicks looked putrid Friday night losing to the Timberwolves in Julius Randle‘s return to MSG. They also gifted the severely undermanned struggling 76ers an overtime game, before Jalen Brunson‘s heroics saved the Knicks. His comments shouldn’t be dismissed but rather examined.
According to insider Ian Begley on The Putback, Begley reports internally Hart’s comments were not just cliches but rather pointed criticisms, somewhat eyebrow-raising ones at that. Much of that is aimed at their defensive struggles.
Poor Defensive Chemistry
Hart’s comments are likely aimed toward the lack of chemistry on defense. Isaiah Hartenstein was an active and vocal leader protecting the paint last year. He’s a huge loss on the roster. Mitchell Robinson‘s ability to defend the paint at an elite level is missing, and he’s still a few weeks from a return.
Towns is an elite rebounder but an inconsistent defender for a center. Mikal Bridges has been much worse than advertised defending at the point of attack. Often matched with teams’ best players, he’s had his struggles (although there has been improvement at times as the season has gone along).
There’s also a lack of communication in terms of closing out three-point shooters. Case in point, the Knicks costly communication breakdown in the closing seconds of their defeat against the Pistons. Brunson signaled to OG Anunoby to cover the pick and roll with Cade Cunningham. Anunoby didn’t do so, leading to Malik Beasley being left alone to knock down an open three. This necessitated Hart calling out his teammates, in the aftermath of the Pistons game.
Was this aimed at Anunoby? It would be unfair to speculate. Perhaps it was a more general call to action to improve chemistry.
Can The Chemistry Issue Be Resolved?
On one hand, it’s not all doom and gloom. Unquestionably heightened expectations are playing a part. They sit comfortably in the playoff spots in the East. Karl-Anthony Towns is having an incredible offensive year, and Brunson is on a torrid streak. In his last 10 games, he has averaged 29.2 points and 6.5 assists on 50.2% shooting. He has three games of over 30 points on over 60% shooting in that stretch. The chemistry between the two stars seems to be on point, which is vital.
Furthermore, Hart, as mentioned earlier, is having a career year and is the best rebounding guard in the NBA. Anunoby remains one of the top wing defenders in the league.
On the other hand, Thibodeau also has to accept some responsibility for his lack of trust in his bench. For instance, Cam Payne had a stretch where he scored 16 of 18 points scored by the Knicks in the second quarter against the Timberwolves. He would play just a little over five minutes in the second half. That alone is incredibly bizarre.
With such a non-productive bench, not taking advantage of a hot game seems like an odd way to develop chemistry. These are all factors in chemistry issues. If the bench isn’t trusted, how can a roster buy in?
Chemistry takes time. Knowing the assignments and the schemes is a big priority moving forward. Consequently, the Knicks front office must acquire depth before the trade deadline. Mitchell Robinson would go some way to fixing the defensive and size issues. Alternatively, they may use his contract as trade bait to address their depth needs at center and elsewhere.
Make no mistake, as presently constituted, the Knicks are a distance from contention without roster tweaks and improved chemistry.
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