Daily Report – 2/25/25

Greetings,

Here is today’s report:

Yankees

The Yankees lost to Minnesota 4-5 today. Everson Pereira and Dom Smith both homered for the Yankees. I will break down the game tomorrow.

In other news, Scott Effross made a relief appearance in this game, and after throwing his first pitch of Spring Training, he sustained a leg injury. Details have not been released on the specifics of the right-handed reliever’s injury, but it is a major setback for him.

Next, Aaron Boone provided an update on Giancarlo Stanton’s situation. Recall that Stanton is dealing with tendinitis in both of his elbows and reportedly visited with Dr. Ahmad yesterday. Aaron Boone said yesterday that Stanton traveled to New York for personal reasons. Today, Boone said, “There’s nothing else more to say right now. Hopefully, we see him soon. If he wants to address anything, he can. But there’s really nothing more to answer right now.”

Rangers

Tonight at 7:30 PM (6:30 PM CST), the Rangers will visit the New York Islanders at UBS Arena (MSG).

The Rangers called  Brennan Othmann up from Hartford yesterday,  suggesting he might play in place of the injured Chris Kreider tonight on Long Island. The Rangers drafted Othmann 16th overall in 2021, and with the trade deadline approaching, they probably want to see what he can contribute in his next NHL call-up. “With questions up here [in New York],” said Peter Laviolette, “He gets recalled and an opportunity – possibly.”

“He’s getting ready to play,” said Laviolette, although he has not revealed any lineup details yet. Othmann has scored nine goals in his last 13 games in Hartford, and his 0.44 goals per game lead the team. Hopefully, the Rangers play well for Othmann. It’s not like there’s a playoff spot on the line or anything.

Speaking of which, the Rangers and Islanders are neck-and-neck in the playoff race. The Rangers sit two points out with 60 points in 57 games, and the Islanders sit immediately behind them with 57 points in 56 games. The Rangers would benefit from adding to their lead on the Islanders in the standings, plus it would be fun to hand them their fourth straight loss.

Catch tonight's Rangers game at 7:30 PM (6:30 PM CST) on MSG Networks.

Knicks

All season long, the Knicks have struggled defensively. They currently rank 20th in the NBA in defensive rating and allow a 38.1% three-point field goal percentage, the highest in the league. Last season, the Knicks had the ninth-best defensive rating in the NBA and even recorded the league’s top defensive rating in January. While the team has made impressive offensive improvements this season, their defense has worsened considerably.

It’s surprising that a basketball team coached by Tom Thibodeau can rank so poorly defensively. Over the last five years, the Knicks organization has been building a championship-caliber team, and after acquiring OG Anunoby last season, they looked like contenders for the first time in decades. With Josh Hart, Julius Randle, and Jalen Brunson at the core, the 2023-24 Knicks became known for their grittiness and defensive mindset.

However, after the Knicks collapsed against the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, it became clear that they lacked depth. Knicks president Leon Rose traded Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota for Karl-Anthony Towns, who has helped the Knicks blossom into one of the NBA’s best offensive teams. Mikal Bridges, known for his strong defense, was brought in to replace DiVincenzo, and the Knicks looked stronger than they ever have in the Jalen Brunson era.

Nevertheless, it was evident from last season that Mitchell Robinson would struggle to start the 2024-25 campaign healthy. It was later revealed that Robinson’s time away would last through 2025, and with March approaching, he remains yet to make his season debut. He ranks among the NBA’s leaders in offensive rebounding, and if he had been healthy to start this season, the Knicks would be much more formidable defensively.

However, Robinson’s absence does not explain why OG Anunoby – the best defender on the team – has been unreliable on the defensive end. It also does not clarify why Karl-Anthony Towns has not been dependable or why the gritty Josh Hart often appears invisible when defending against three-point shots. The Knicks lead the league in starter minutes per game by a significant margin, but that should not excuse their defensive shortcomings.

Firstly, on the court, the Knicks appear smaller than their opponents. This is sometimes true because Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart are two of the smallest starters in the league; however, this should not impact their ability to shoot and thrive offensively. Actually, it’s their lackadaisical defense that makes their offense slump. When the Knicks play the NBA's top teams – specifically Cleveland, Boston, and Oklahoma City – they often find themselves scrambling on defense. The league’s best teams excel at three-point shooting, but the Knicks consistently struggle to get back on defense.

The reason the Knicks have the highest opponent three-point field goal percentage is that they allow some of the cleanest shooting opportunities to their adversaries. One way this could happen against Boston looks like this:

Precious Achiuwa drives to the basket and puts up a floater that rolls off the rim, and Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns are waiting for the rebound. Against teams like the Washington Wizards or Orlando Magic, one of them would be able to collect that offensive rebound and score some second-chance points. However, against Boston or Cleveland, winning the battle for the offensive board is improbable. Instead, an opponent – say, Jaylen Brown – grabs the rebound and quickly passes it to Derrick White, who dribbles the basketball up the court and finds a wide-open Kristaps Porzingis in the corner. Porzingis nails his three-point shot.

In this scenario, Porzingis is wide open because his guard, Towns, is stuck in the backcourt, catching his breath after unsuccessfully battling for a rebound. This situation is especially challenging for Towns because of his extended minutes on the court. If the Knicks want to improve their defense, they must prioritize defending in transition. Double-teaming against the NBA’s top teams is ineffective as it leaves players open for three-point shots. Nonetheless, regardless of the opponent, the Knicks make the same defensive mistakes, but they become amplified against teams like Boston, Cleveland, and Oklahoma City, where players rarely miss from downtown.

I am not suggesting that the Knicks should work on their shooting accuracy. Their offense will benefit greatly from a new defensive strategy. However, they must be cautious because when players are on the court for 40 minutes each game, it becomes increasingly challenging for them to defend consistently. Nevertheless, if the Knicks commit to developing and implementing a new defensive game plan – assuming Tom Thibodeau continues to play his starters for extended minutes every night – then each starter will find it easier to maintain their defensive performance throughout the game.

Schedule

7:30 PM (6:30 PM CST): NYR at NYI; MSG

That will conclude this report. Enjoy your evening.