Knicks’ Defensive Struggles: A Closer Look
The New York Knicks have been a powerhouse on offense ranking second in the NBA in offensive rating. However, their defense has been a different story, and it’s holding them back from reaching their full potential.
Defensive Rating and the Impact of Isaiah Hartenstein
The Knicks currently sit 17th in the NBA in defensive rating, allowing 113.7 points per 100 possessions. This is a significant drop from last season relative to the rest of the league when they were ninth, but only 1.3 points more per 100 possessions, so not so bad right?
It’s pretty bad. Last season’s number was accumulated with OG Anunoby playing in just 23 games in which the Knicks had a 100.9 defensive rating when he was on the floor. When he was on the court they played like the best defense in basketball by a substantial margin. Anunoby has not missed a game this year
The absence of Isaiah Hartenstein, who was a top defender last season, is a major factor, multiple all-in-one defensive metrics had him as a top 10 defender in basketball. The team is also missing Donte Divencenzo’s defensive playmaking something Mikal Bridges has been unable to replicate.
Lineup Adjustments and Defensive Variability
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Knicks’ defense is how different lineups perform. Deuce McBride has been a fixture in the Knicks’ best defensive lineups as the three groups he’s played the most minutes with have allowed just 100, 108, and 96 points per 100 possessions respectively.
Earlier this season BBall Index ranked McBride as the second-best screen navigator in basketball this season an area Mikal Bridges has an elite reputation in but has largely flailed (with some improvement of late). Bridges continuing to improve in that area could limit the time the Knicks have to send a third defender to help in pick-and-roll coverage which would improve their three-point defense and rebounding.
Rebounding and Defensive Positioning
Rebounding has been another area of concern. While the Knicks lead the league in contested defensive rebound percentage, they rank just 15th in overall defensive rebounding percentage.
This discrepancy suggests that while they excel in winning 50-50 balls, they struggle with actually being there to fight for the rebound in the first place. Towns and Hart have been exceptional defensive rebounders, ranking in the 99th and 100th percentiles relative to their position (per Cleaning The Glass). Still, the rest of the team needs to step up as Jericho Sims is the only other rotation player who ranks above average.
Mikal Bridges’ rebounding rate is alarming, ranking in the first percentile among wings. His lack of physicality and presence on the boards is a significant issue that needs addressing. Further emphasizing this his 1.5% foul rate is 97th percentile in the league which could correspond with elite defense, but in Bridges case further drives home that he’s been extraordinarily contact-averse this season
Towns has been much better defending the rim over the team’s last 10 games, but some of that again is to the detriment of the team’s three-point defense as he’s needed extra help containing drivers. The Knicks’ ability to find solutions in pick-and-roll defense will define their overall defensive performance over the rest of the season.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Knicks’ defensive challenges, tune into the Locked On Knicks podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Knicks Podcast:
- The impact of pace on the Knicks’ offensive and defensive numbers
- How the Knicks’ defense compares to last season’s playoff performance
- The role of Karl-Anthony Towns in the Knicks’ defensive scheme
- Potential lineup changes to improve defensive efficiency
