The New York Knicks suffered their most humiliating defeat of the season, falling to a severely undermanned Orlando Magic team. This loss marks the Knicks’ first three-game losing streak of the year and exposes glaring issues within the team.
The Magic, missing their top four scorers and without a single player averaging double-digit points, managed to outplay and outwork the Knicks. It’s a new low for a team that had been riding high just a few weeks ago.
What’s most concerning is the lack of energy and effort displayed by the Knicks. Words like lethargic, indifferent, and uninspired come to mind when describing their performance. This is uncharacteristic for a team coached by Tom Thibodeau, known for his emphasis on hustle and intensity.
The loss raises questions about Thibodeau’s grip on the locker room. Where was the sense of urgency? The desire to compete? It’s one thing to lose due to injuries to Karl-Anthony Towns and Deuce McBride, but the Magic were even more shorthanded than the Knicks and just flat out outplayed them.
Shooting Woes Plague Knicks
The Knicks’ shooting struggles have been evident for some time now. Over the last eight games, they rank 29th in three-point shooting percentage. Key players like Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby are all experiencing significant shooting slumps.
Brunson, in particular, has been ice-cold from beyond the arc, shooting just 13% on 39 attempts in his last seven games. This is a far cry from his early-season form when he was having the best shooting season of his career.
The team desperately misses Karl-Anthony Towns, whose absence has left a void in both scoring and leadership. Towns’ ability to create his own shot and impact the game in multiple ways could have been the difference-maker in a close contest like this.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Knicks’ recent struggles, tune into the Locked On Knicks podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Knicks Podcast:
• Detailed analysis of individual player performances
• The impact of Karl-Anthony Towns’ absence
• Potential adjustments to the Knicks’ offensive gameplan
