The New York Knicks are in third place in the Eastern Conference and fifth in the NBA. By any stretch of the imagination, this should be considered one of the best seasons in recent history. Yet, despite this start, frustration has risen. After the Knicks’ offseason trades for Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, they essentially signaled that they believed this was a championship-contending team. Despite winning over 60% of their games, the consensus is that they aren’t. The Knicks’ shocking numbers against elite teams explain why.
*Note playoff teams are teams who rank in the top six of their respective conferences
The Knicks Numbers Against Elite Teams Are Shocking
Strength of Schedule
Just one team has had an easier schedule to start the season than New York. Their average opponent ranked 18th in the NBA. While it allowed the Knicks to pile on wins, there is a significant backlash to this kind of schedule. From now till the end of the season, no team has a tougher schedule than the Knicks. They will play the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics thrice, the Memphis Grizzlies twice, and the Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, and Houston Rockets once each.
Since the new year, the Knicks have played six games and lost four. The caveat? Almost all of their losses have come to teams either in the playoffs or competing for a spot. Perhaps the most damning aspect of it all is most of those games haven’t been extremely close. Even after removing the blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, their average loss margin is ~10 points.
Assuming this 28-point lead holds, the Knicks’ record break down:
0-5 against top-2 teams in each conference
7-7 vs. 4-10 in East (postseason teams)
3-1 vs. 4-10 in West (postseason teams)
13-1 vs. the bottom 5 teams in each conference
— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) January 11, 2025
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New York is 9-11 against teams above .500 and 8-6 against playoff teams. Of those nine wins, three have come against a severely depleted Magic. Additionally, against the top two teams in each conference, the Knicks are 0-5, losing those games by a combined 76 points.
Offense
The Knicks entered the year with a revamped offense, surrounding superstar Jalen Brunson with capable three-point shooters. While it has worked throughout a season, the offense falters when they face playoff teams, averaging only 112.7 points per game. They shoot just 32.7% from three in their 14 games against playoff teams, a mark that would rank 29th in the NBA. What exacerbates this issue is the lack of three-pointers they attempt in these games, just 29.1 per game vs. 38.2 against non-playoff teams.
The Knicks’ lack of depth has heightened this issue. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges combined for four points on Friday against OKC. In an ideal scenario, one (if not both) of them would have been benched, and New York would have turned to their sixth man. However, New York’s weak bench meant they played 36 and 32 minutes, respectively, forcing Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns to shoulder the bulk of the offensive load. This is a byproduct of their stagnating offensive game plan against playoff teams, with their assists a bit lower against playoff teams. They are unable to move the ball in these scenarios, resorting to isolation and contested shots, limiting the potency of their offense.
Defense
The defense, on the other hand, looks good at first glance. Against playoff teams, the Knicks give up just 110 points per game. However, remove their four games against the Magic, and the Knicks give up 115.6 points per game, ranking 23rd in the NBA. Despite improving their defensive numbers in December, this side of the ball remains a major issue.
Playoff teams shot 36.2% from deep against the Knicks but hit 41.4% in games New York lost. Their inability to guard the deep ball has been a significant detractor. Their tendency to overhelp against the ball-handler has cost them many times this season. Furthermore, there is a distinctive lack of effort over these last few games, which could be attributed to their load.
The Last Word on the Knicks Numbers Against Elite Teams
The only way for the Knicks to improve is by developing the bench and acquiring assets through the trade deadline or in the buyout market. The best teams in the NBA have deep rosters, and the only way for New York to match them will be to do the same. Leon Rose showed fans his jaw-dropping moves last trade deadline, and this one should be no different if the Knicks want to win a ring.
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