Knicks

2 ways the Knicks can solve their massive chemistry problems

by
evan fournier, knicks

The New York Knicks started off the 2021–22 season with efficient scoring and good enough defense. However, fast forward to December and they are currently facing a cold streak as a result of awful defense and poor shooting.

The team is currently on a three-game losing streak, dropping games to Brooklyn, Chicago, and their latest against Denver on Saturday afternoon. Denver completely annihilated the Knicks, finding open shooters and taking advantage of every mishap.

The Nuggets finished with a 46.5% success rate from three-point range and 52.4% from the field in total. They held New York to just 30% from deep and 39.8% from the field. Denver entered the game as one of the worst three-point shooting teams in basketball and one of the worst defensive units. New York made them look like championship contenders, exposing a significant issue within the team — chemistry.

Star forward Julius Randle stated after the loss that the team was in a “funk,” but it seems to be far more foundational than just a cold streak. The team has no chemistry on defense, failing to communicate properly, and offensively their ball movement is lackluster. It seems to be a poor match of players and mentality.

Two ways the Knicks can solve their massive chemistry issues:

1.) Trade for another star at the deadline

The Knicks have a few ways they can correct their major chemistry issues, and the first is to bring in another star player to take the burden off Randle’s shoulders. Julius has done his best to carry the team at times but has made terrible decisions down the stretch, including a technical foul against Brooklyn in the final moments and costly turnover again Chicago which put the game to bed.

If Tom Thibodeau and the front office are willing to give up assets to acquire a big name, it will help Randle tremendously finish off games. Ultimately, what they need is a closer, as Randle simply can’t handle the pressure.

In addition, if the defense is going to be lackluster, the Knicks are going to have to outscore teams by a significant margin. That is what the Brooklyn Nets prescribe to, so adding another offensive playmaker with elite scoring production would mask some of their deficiencies.

2.) Come together and hold each other accountable

The second path to success is simply holding each other accountable and developing chemistry. The Knicks are currently regressing in every way, ranging from three-point shooting to defensive communication. It is clear they aren’t on the same wavelength, with too many bodies in the paint and not enough players guarding the perimeter. Offensively, the ball movement is stagnant and their transition game is nonexistent.

Dropping Kemba Walker from the rotation was a good decision, but Evan Fournier and his nonexistent defense have been a big problem. The Knicks lack a true 3-and-D player, which is why letting Reggie Bullock walk for the French sharpshooter was a big risk.

Denver 113, Knicks 99: Nuggets go ballistic from three-point range to doom Knicks

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knicks, nuggets

The New York Knicks have lost three consecutive games, starting against a Brooklyn Nets, falling to the Chicago Bulls, and dropping a blowout to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday afternoon.

With the Knicks looking to turn a corner and get back in the win column, Denver went ballistic from three-point range, despite losing seven of their last eight games. After dropping an embarrassing game to the Orlando Magic before taking on New York, they shot lights out at MSG.

Poor perimeter defense and overall play gave Denver a significant advantage, as they connected on 46.5% of their shots from deep and 52.4% from the field. Star center Nikola Jokic finished with 32 points, 11 rebounds, and a +12 +/-. Will Barton added 13, and Zeke Nnaji posted 21, hitting 5-of-9 three-point attempts in the game.

The Knicks showcased minimal energy and little cohesion with one another, as their morale and confidence continues to drop. Every starter hit double-digit points aside from Mitchell Robinson, but their defense was abysmal, and 11 turnovers don’t tell a full story of how poor the team played.

Among a tough stretch of games, this was a winnable one for New York, who is 5–8 at home this season and have dropped below .500 for the first time. Oddly, opposing teams are shooting incredibly at MSG, as the Knicks fail to close out shot attempts and curate good opportunities of their own.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau needs to find a solution quickly, whether it be a change in combination or discipline. The team is all over the place defensively, finding themselves sitting in the paint with open shooters on the perimeter constantly throughout the game.

Shooting guard Evan Fournier, despite posting 15 points, has been a liability on defense all season, but RJ Barrett failed to get going after missing the loss to Chicago with a non-Covid related illness. Barrett connected on just five shots, missing 6-of-7 times from three-point range.

While Julius Randle did his best to will the Knicks to victory, earning 24 points, he simply can’t do everything on his own, especially if his teammates are wildly inconsistent from three-point range and defensively inept.

How Knicks can get back in win column against struggling Denver team

by
knicks, julius randle

The New York Knicks are coming off consecutive losses to the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls, giving up 110+ points in each. Despite resilient efforts, forward Julius Randle was unable to close out the games, forfeiting an ill-advised technical foul with seconds left against Brooklyn and turning the ball over on one of the Knicks’ final possessions to give the game away Vs Chicago.

Unfortunately, New York hasn’t been able to come out on the better side the last two games, but they are preparing to face off against a struggling Denver Nuggets team.

Denver has lost seven of their last eight contests, including their most recent against Orlando Magic, arguably the worst team in basketball. The Knicks also dropped two games to Orlando this year, showcasing volatile inconsistencies. However, Denver is one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the league, landing at 21st at 33.3%. They also hover around average in three-point attempts per game, ranking 29th in rebounds and 10th in assists.

Looking specifically at Denver’s defense, they rank 29th in both steals and blocks, showcasing the 16th best defensive rating in basketball. The Knicks currently sit at 19th, an abysmal number that head coach Tom Thibodeau is undoubtedly livid about. That played a significant part in the benching of Kemba Walker, but the Knicks’ defense still hasn’t provided that extra bit of gusto to push them over the edge.

Unfortunately, both guard RJ Barrett and center Mitchell Robinson have been dealing with non-Covid related illnesses the past few days, which has impacted their play. Hopefully, the pair will be fully healthy against the Nuggets, in a game, they can turn things around. The Nuggets will likely be without guards Bones Hyland and Austin Rivers after both were placed on the 10-day Covid protocol on Wednesday.

Fortunately for the Knicks, Denver’s starting team represents the bulk of their talent, with near nonexistent depth. Denver’s best players are Nikola Jokic at center, averaging 25.7 points, Will Barton at small forward, earning 16.1 points, and Aaron Gordon, who’s posting 14 points per game. If they can limit their interior presence, the Knicks should have an easy path to victory if they shoot well from the perimeter.

If both Robinson and Nerlens Noel are able to play, clogging the interior and communicating on switches will be the key to limiting the Nuggets. The Knicks cannot have another problematic start to a game, after finding themselves in a 21-point deficit to close the first half against Chicago on Thursday night. While they fought back with resiliency, consistency is key, especially down the stretch when that last bit of energy is needed.

Knicks’ Julius Randle details heated exchange with Evan Fournier after first half collapse

by
julius randle, knicks, evan fournier

With the first half coming to an end on Thursday evening against the Chicago Bulls, the New York Knicks stepped off the floor in disarray. After allowing 37 points in the first quarter and 32 points in the second quarter, Knicks’ forward Julius Randle and guard Evan Fournier were seen arguing as they walked off the floor in a heated exchange.

Both players suggested it was a form of communication, and that it benefited the team as a whole, coming out entirely different in the second half, mounting a 21 point comeback despite the loss.

“It looks like we’re arguing,” Randle said. “…. We went to the locker room (to) talk it out. We say regardless, at the end of the day we’ve got each other’s back and we’re in this together. That’s important.

Competitive communication is a positive, and it clearly helped the Knicks score 32 points in the third quarter, holding Chicago to just 20.

“…. You can have differences. You can communicate and talk and say what you see on the court. But at the end of the day, we’ve got to know that we’re riding with each other regardless.

Randle finished the game with 30 points, despite missing several clutch free throws down the stretch and turning the ball over in the most important moment. With fatigue building and a lack of awareness, Randle helped blow a second consecutive game, something the Knicks simply cannot afford to do after fighting their way back in both contests against Brooklyn and Chicago.

However, it is good to see the players showing competitive spirit, as Fournier indicated communication like this needs to happen, as letting things boil can lead to bigger issues.

“I think the key was communicating,” Fournier said afterward. “I would rather have that than not saying anything and hold grudges and stuff. So, stuff like that happens all the time and I’m glad it happened, because we played much better in that third quarter.”

The Knicks one will look ahead to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday afternoon at 1 PM. Denver has lost seven of their last eight games, recently falling to the Orlando Magic, arguably the worst team in basketball.

The Knicks have a fantastic opportunity to bounce back and get back on the win column after falling to .500 on the season.

The puzzle piece Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau desperately needs

by
knicks, julius randle

With 1:36 minutes left against the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks power forward Julius Randle drew a technical foul, providing Kevin Durant with a chance to extend Brooklyn’s lead to three points.

That decision made a comeback for the Knicks even more unlikely, changing their strategy down the stretch and forcing them to settle for a two point shot. About 50 seconds later, Randle converted on a dunk, but due to the technical foul, the Knicks were still down one point. Durant drew a shooting foul from Randle seconds later, hitting both free throws, giving them a three point advantage.

As you can see, there is a similar trend throughout the final moments of the game, Randle making poor decisions which led to a loss. That didn’t change against the Chicago Bulls in the waning moments on Thursday, as New York fell by just four points after mounting a 21-point comeback in the second half. Playing in 39 minutes, Randle was gassed, but that doesn’t excuse a turnover with 56 seconds remaining, allowing the Bulls to convert two free throws and force the Knicks into another disadvantage.

In two consecutive games, Julius hurt his team down the stretch with poor decision making and a lack of awareness. This brings us to the final puzzle piece Tom Thibodeau’s squad desperately needs.

What the Knicks need to make the jump to the next level:

The Knicks need a closer, a player they can lean on to finish off games and mount momentum instead of burying them further in the loss column. The Knicks now sit at .500 on the season, watching DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Durant put them away with ease the past two games.

Randle hasn’t been able to find himself on the other end of that equation, which was still a frequent occurrence during the 2020–21 season, his breakout campaign.

The Knicks could acquire a superstar at the trade deadline, but making a shift of that magnitude mid-season is unlikely. In fact, it may spark another debate next off-season that New York needs to bring in another star to pair with Randle, someone who can take the pressure off and give him peace of mind in big moments. In the loss to Chicago, Randle hit just 2-of-5 free throws, missing several down the stretch to go with seven total turnovers, his highest mark of the season.

If Thibodeau wants his team to take the next step, his best player can’t be giving the ball away at such an absurd rate. Despite scoring 30 points, he did enough damage on his own to give the Bulls an advantage.

Most fans have already come to the conclusion that Randle needs a partner in crime, arguably an even better player to help him reach his potential. Force-feeding him clutch moments and opportunities hasn’t seemed to help him get over the hump, and playing second fiddle to a legitimate superstar is not a bad thing if the team is winning at an elevated rate.

Bulls 119, Knicks 115: Chicago stifles triumphant Knicks comeback

by
derrick rose, obi toppin, knicks

The New York Knicks faced off against the Chicago Bulls in a shootout on Thursday night, with the final score 119-115. Despite a resilient effort, the Knicks deserved to lose this game, finding themselves down 21 points in the first half before mounting an incredible comeback in the third quarter. Unfortunately, New York was unable to extract a victory, losing their second consecutive contest by four points or less.

The Knicks took a late lead for just a moment before DeMar DeRozan hit a number of shots to give the Bulls an advantage. In fact, DeRozan finished with 34 points, hitting 12-of-19 shots from the field and 10-of-11 free throws. He also contributed six rebounds and three assists.

DeRozan wasn’t the only Chicago star to post double-digit points, as Nikola Vucevic posted 27, hitting 10-of-18 shots from the field and 5-of-9 from three-point range. Zach LaVine, who shot lights out, recorded 27 as well, hitting 50% of his shots from the field and 3-of-6 from deep.

The Knicks found their groove in the second half partly because they began to understand Chicago’s game. With smaller players, the Knicks played physically and dominated the interior, as Julius Randle posted 30, hitting 14-of-21 shots from the field and picking up 12 rebounds.

The starting team as a whole played well for New York in the 2nd half, with Alec Burks contributing 16 points over 43 minutes and Evan Fournier posting 16, shooting 40% from three-point range. Fournier also earned four steals in the game, a high for both teams.

Off the bench, Obi Toppin scored eight points, recording two steals and four rebounds. While he allowed a few costly turnovers, he played with energy and made several defensive stops to keep the Knicks in the game.

Unfortunately, the difference in this game was the turnovers, as the Knicks posted 18, eight of which came in the first quarter. They managed to fight back in the second half, with Chicago turing the ball over 15 times.

Despite another resilient effort, New York will go home tonight with a somber feeling, exerting maximum effort but unable to secure victory. They will look forward to the Denver Nuggets, who should offer a better opportunity at victory compared to Brooklyn or Chicago. Their next game is on Saturday afternoon at 1 PM, so they have a bit of time to rest up before then.

Knicks: NBA admits officiating crew missed two big calls in loss to Brooklyn

by
knicks, julius randle

The New York Knicks fell to the Brooklyn Nets due to a few bad calls in the waning moments on Tuesday evening by a score of 110–112. The Knicks gave Brooklyn a run for their money, despite crawling back from a double-digit deficit in the third quarter.

The Knicks have had far more success with Alec Burks at starting point guard after taking Kemba Walker out of the rotation. The analytics indicated that the Knicks have the worst defense in the NBA per 100 possessions when Walker is on the floor, and when he’s off, they have the best defense per 100 possessions. Ultimately, head coach Tom Thibodeau tried his best to retain him and utilize him appropriately, but his homecoming has been nothing but disappointing thus far.

Nonetheless, forward Julius Randle was extremely vocal after the loss to Brooklyn, specifically regarding poor officiating. In fact, he indicated that the referees told him he wasn’t getting calls in the paint because he was “too strong.”

Well, Randle was proved right, as the league admitted he was fouled with 1:49 remaining in the game on a jump shot.

According to the New York Post, the league admitted the officiating crew made two mistakes in the final moments of the game, dictating the result:

The league ruled the foul was called correctly, but there were two mistakes — both that went against the Knicks. The NBA said there should’ve been a foul called on James Harden when he made contact with Julius Randle’s arm with 1:49 remaining on a jump shot. A frustrated Randle was later given a technical foul after arguing with the officials. Additionally, on the play that Johnson was fouled by Robinson, LaMarcus Aldridge should’ve been called for a three-second violation.

In addition, Kevin Durant executed a clear as day double dribble, and James Harden traveled with a big jump stop, landing on the same foot he jumped off of, which by definition is a foul.

The officiating crew clearly gave Brooklyn more calls, despite Knick fans overwhelming the Barclays Center.

Thibodeau is already thinking about the future, trying his best to leave the past in the past without getting too frustrated.

“You just got to move on. That’s the league,” Thibodeau said. “You can’t think about what happened yesterday. You have to think about what’s coming. So that’s where we are.”

3 keys for the Knicks to take down strong Chicago team at MSG

by
immanuel quickley, knicks

The New York Knicks are coming off a disappointing defeat to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday evening, littered with officiating controversy. After the contest, forward Julius Randle and head coach Tom Thibodeau spoke to the media, indicating their displeasure with some of the calls made (and not made), specifically against Randle, who didn’t earn the same equality as Kevin Durant and James Harden.

However, the Knicks will look to bounce back against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday at MSG.

Three keys for the Knicks to take down Chicago:

1.) Guard the perimeter

Chicago has lost three of their last five games but scored 133 points against Charlotte in their most recent victory. They shot 46.7% from three-point range and nearly 60% from the field, elite numbers from their starting team. Center Nikola Vucevic hit all six of his three-point attempts as Lonzo Ball connected on five.

With some of the best starters in the NBA, the Knicks will have a challenging task ahead of them, trying to limit their production. Small forward DeMar DeRozan is having an incredible season, averaging 25.9 points, 4.2 assists, and shooting nearly 50% from the field. With an impeccable mid-range game, limiting DeRozan will be a focal point.

However, New York can’t allow Zach LaVine to get hot from deep either, as he connected on 10 shots from the field against Charlotte. He’s shooting 38.4% from deep this season and averaging and 25.3 points per game.

The Knicks have stepped up considerably with their perimeter defense lately, and they need to maintain consistency moving forward.

2.) High energy play

The Knicks have had issues maintaining high energy levels, especially to start games and at the beginning of the second half. Against Brooklyn on Tuesday, they found themselves in a near 20-point deficit in the third quarter, having to crawl their way back slowly before ultimately losing in the final moments.

When the Knicks are playing with gusto and showing aggression, their efficiency on defense usually increases significantly. That is primarily why Obi Toppin has made an impact this year, providing a high work rate on both sides of the floor.

3.) Stifle DeMar DeRozan

As stated above, limiting DeMar DeRozan is a priority for New York. His ability to finish close to the basket and connect from mid-range makes him an incredibly difficult player to stop.

DeRozan likes to do a lot of the dirty work on his own, with 75.4% of his field goals made coming unassisted. Expect to see plenty of Julius Randle and RJ Barrett on DeRozan, who can easily tantalize the Knicks all on his own.

However, New York also has to be wary of Vucevic, who is a fantastic modern center who can shoot from range.

Knicks’ Julius Randle has legitimate beef with officiating Vs Brooklyn

by
knicks, julius randle

The New York Knicks lost a shoot-out with a Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday evening 110-112, but it wasn’t without its controversial takes. Even the Knicks were disappointed with the officiating in the defeat, specifically regarding power forward Julius Randle and the lack of calls that went his way despite barreling toward the rim, looking to score from close range.

However, the contact Randle received in the process went unnoticed, as players like James Harden and Kevin Durant enjoyed 10 total trips to the free-throw line.

Despite enduring incredibly light contact, Brooklyn received star treatment while Randle was forced to fight through defenders committing obvious fouls on the former All-Star.

“Got to ask them,” Randle said of the officiating Vs Brooklyn. “I don’t know what they’re watching or what they’re seeing. As aggressive as I played, attacking the paint, I can’t be penalized for just being stronger than people. And that is an answer that I got today.”

“They said because certain contact doesn’t affect me like it affects other players,” Randle said. “Because I am stronger, they miss the calls.”

The justification by the officiating crew makes no sense. Indicating that Randle is simply stronger and therefore impervious to fouls is hard to comprehend. In fact, he suggests that being weaker and reacting more emphatically to contact is preferred if a player is looking to get to the free-throw line — AKA flopping.

“It pisses me off even more,” Randle said. “To be honest with you, because that is not how you officiate the game.”

Randle has a solid argument and will likely be fined nonetheless by the NBA for his reaction toward the officiating. The Knicks’ best player finished the game with 24 points, eight assists, and nine rebounds. He just marginally missed a triple-double, but the impact of new point guard Alec Burks has bolstered the starting unit tremendously. Randle did his best to step up and lead the team to victory, coming up just short of a much-needed win.

One big silver lining in Knicks’ shootout loss to Nets

by
alec burks, knicks

The New York Knicks fell to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday evening by a score of 110-112. Despite the defeat, the Knicks showcased stellar offensive capabilities, falling to a team that ranks 2nd in three-point percentage and is one of the NBA’s powerhouse squads.

However, head coach Tom Thibodeau and star forward Julius Randle blamed the officiating on the loss after the game. Randle specifically made a hostile remark toward the referees, indicating they don’t understand the game of basketball.

“I’m not going to talk about [the officiating], I’m going to talk about the game, what the players are out there doing,” Randle said. “I’m not going to talk about [the referees] because they clearly don’t understand the game.”

There were a few suspect decisions made by the referees throughout the contest, especially as James Harden racked up opportunities at the free-throw line, earning 10 shots. Kevin Durant also tallied nine of his own, while the only Knick to reach three was Alec Burks.

Speaking of Burks, he was one of the big silver linings in the loss, scoring 25 points, five assists, and five rebounds. He shot 9-of-21 from the field and 4-of-10 (40%) from three-point range, displaying efficient shooting as the team’s starting point guard.

With Thibodeau dropping Kemba Walker from the starting team, Burks has earned the right to feature as the team’s primary PG. This is his second consecutive game with over 20 points, as he posted 23 against the Atlanta Hawks in his first game after the switch.

It is clear that Alec presents a far more dynamic scorer this season, but his defense is also a big reason Thibodeau has entrusted him with the starting gig.

Nonetheless, the Knicks will turn around on Thursday against the Chicago Bulls, who have won two of their last three games and are coming off a 133 point performance against the Charlotte Hornets. The Knicks recently dropped a game to the Bulls, and with DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic playing stellar ball as of late, it will be difficult to take them down.

However, the shift in starting unit could give the Knicks a surprising boost, but they must perform better in the defensive category moving forward. Stopping James Harden and Kevin Durant is virtually impossible, and they did the majority of the damage against New York in the defeat, but better officiating may contribute toward a fair contest at MSG.