Knicks’ Struggles Against the Cavaliers: A Closer Look
The New York Knicks faced a tough challenge against the Cleveland Cavaliers, falling 110-104. Despite a promising start, the Knicks couldn’t maintain their momentum, and the game highlighted multiple areas to clean up for the Knicks.
Karl-Anthony Towns’ Role and Performance
With the reasonable caveat that this is his third game on a team he was traded to two weeks before the start of the season, this was way too quiet of a performance in a game the Knicks desperately needed a second creator to step up down the stretch. This is partially an expectations problem.
KAT is not Julius Randle.
He’s not going to consistently create off the dribble and bend defenses on the ball so Tom Thibodeau has to build in infrastructure to allow him to do what does make him special. Being (one of) the greatest shooting big man of all time.
Towns has taken just six threes though three games. The Knicks as a whole have allowed 127 three point attempts on the year while getting off just 65 of their own. These two problems are related. If KAT is not forcing a second (or in tandem with Jalen) third defender into the action the Knicks are infinitely easier to guard and don’t get the quality threes teams like Boston do consistently. It certainly doesn’t help manners that on top of shipping off their second best advantage creator the Knicks sent off one of the most willing and accurate bombers in the NBA in Donte DiVincenzo.
The Knicks need more from their 50 million dollar a year star and it has to come soon for the Knicks to survive their brutal early season slate.
Jalen Brunson’s Challenges and the Knicks’ Offensive Strategy
Jalen Brunson, had an off night, shooting 8 for 24 from the field.
The Knicks’ offense continues to rely heavily on mismatch hunting, and nearly all that creation weight falls on Brunson’s shoulders. This was my biggest fear when the trade was made.
He’ll have better nights, but right now the coaching staff isn’t doing a good job taking work off his plate by fully leveraging what Towns and Bridges bring to the table.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Knicks’ performance and strategies, tune into the Locked On Knicks podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Knicks Podcast:
-OG Anunoby’s brillant help defense
- Mikal Bridges’ shot making
- The Knicks’ three-point shooting challenges
- Potential adjustments for Tom Thibodeau’s lineup and strategy
