Knicks
It’s still early, but the Knicks have a shooting problem. A three-point shooting problem, to be precise. Their 32.4% three-point rate ranks 18th in the NBA, and they are the first defending champions to start a season 0-3 since the 2011-12 Dallas Mavericks.
Opponents always play tough at Madison Square Garden. Now that the Knicks are defending champions, every opponent will bring their A-game, especially early in the season. The Knicks have a massive target on their back, but they earned that right.
“One thing I’ve said during training camp, and to this day, is we’re going to see who we are within the first couple of weeks of the season,” captain Jalen Brunson said. “We’re seeing adversity. So, how are we going to respond?”
The Knicks shot 23.7% from three-point range in their 111-102 home loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday. Brunson shot 1-for-7 from downtown. When the Knicks struggle to shoot three-pointers, their transition defense breaks. They won the turnover battle 15-14 against Orlando, but conceded 11 more points off turnovers than the Magic.
After the Knicks led 12-0 early in the first quarter, Orlando pushed toward a seven-point game by the end of the frame. They tied the score in the second quarter, but the Knicks held them there. However, they led by four points at halftime, leaving the door open for the Magic.
Orlando tried to come back in the third quarter, but the Knicks didn’t let them. However, the fourth quarter was different. Knicks fans hoped Brunson, or Captain Clutch, would emerge down the stretch, but instead, the Magic took the lead with 5:37 left and never looked back.
The problem is, Captain Clutch won’t appear until the Knicks prove they can produce in the first three quarters. Comebacks won’t happen until the Knicks, who haven’t scored more than 103 points in any game, pick up the pace offensively.
“Everyone can say it’s early in the season,” Brunson said. “We can use that as an excuse, but the one thing I see is when we get those runs and start to look like the team we did in the past, we get comfortable.
“We have to continue to put our foot on the gas and execute like we did last year, and we’re not going to be the same as last year. That’s just human nature. But we have to accept this part of the journey and find a way to be better.”
The good news for the Knicks is that they tend to thrive when facing adversity, even after winning a title. The Knicks struggled mightily after winning the NBA Cup last season, but they bounced back and ultimately became NBA Champions.
Perhaps the Knicks are a bit hungover after winning a championship. All it takes is one win, no matter the opponent, for the offense to start clicking. Then the defense will take shape. The pieces are there. This team just won a championship, for crying out loud.
“We’ve got to continue trying to embrace the little things, and we’ve got to make sure we’re doing it in practice so it has carryover in the games,” head coach Mike Brown said. “I’ll really jump their ass if I see the effort isn’t there. To me, that’s a whole different thing.
“If we’re trying, and trying the right way, sometimes you’ve got to fight through stuff like this to get yourself on track. Our crap stinks. It does. We’re the only ones that can do something about it. There’s no light switch that we can just turn on and think we’re going to go win ballgames.”
Tonight at 8:00 PM (7:00 PM CDT), the Knicks will host the 3-0 Detroit Pistons, who led the Eastern Conference last season but lost in the second round of the playoffs (NBC, MSG, Peacock, DAZN). A win tonight is just the spark the Knicks need to get their season rolling.
Schedule
8:00 PM (7:00 PM CDT): NYK vs. DET; NBC, MSG, Peacock, DAZN
