The New York Knicks have been on a metaphorical roller coaster since coming off the NBA All-Star break.
This brief stretch of extreme highs and lows began with a loss to the Detroit Pistons, who swept New York in three regular-season meetings. The 15-point defeat widened the gap in the Eastern Conference standings.
In their next game on home court, New York found itself facing an 18-point deficit against the Houston Rockets. With another loss looming, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns led a comeback effort that put them back in the win column.
That night, Towns led the team with 25 points, shooting 10-for-15 from the field. The All-Star center then jumped over another hurdle against the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 22.
His 28 points, 11 rebounds and five three-pointers gave his team the edge in a tight finish in which he scored 11 points in the fourth quarter. This was enough to fuel the Knicks going into their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Feb. 24.
New York has had Cleveland’s number all season, winning their first two matchups going into the third and final one. They had their sights set on sweeping the series until the game started.
The Cavaliers were in control throughout, taking an early lead and never looking back—their entire starting five scored in double figures, which propelled them to a 15-point triumph.
New York, on the other hand, vanished in the face of adversity. Towns couldn’t find success against the Cavaliers’ frontcourt, tallying just 14 points against one of the league’s more talented units. But Towns’ disappearance isn’t the only reason for New York’s struggles.
Trade deadline acquisition Jose Alvarado scored five points in 22 minutes. Landry Shamet, who has provided consistent scoring on numerous occasions, scored just once. These performances came as guards Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson spent a combined four minutes on the court.
With 23 games left until the playoffs, there is some uncertainty regarding whether or not this team can compete with fellow title contenders. There’s no question that the Knicks are bound for postseason basketball, but before then, some things need to change.
For starters, head coach Mike Brown should find ways to get Towns more involved in the offense. Next to Brunson, he is the team’s go-to scoring option, but he needs to be given the same opportunities.
When Towns got time to shine, he was able to take over ballgames, similar to what he did against the Rockets and Bulls. If Brown can find a way to do this regularly, the Knicks could have a more coherent offense.
At the same time, Towns is also at fault for his inconsistent performances. He has become more hesitant when taking three-pointers, as his shooting percentage declined from 42% last season to 37% this year.
Brown should also consider giving more playing time to depth pieces Clarkson and Kolek. Both can shoot three-pointers well under pressure, which they did in the NBA Cup and against the Cavaliers on Christmas when the duo was the Knicks’ driving force.
With Miles McBride likely out until the playoffs, Brown has an opportunity to give both players more chances. More three-point shooting could be beneficial when a playmaker like Alvarado is on the court, too.
If the Knicks can integrate these decisions into their system, this could be what helps them get over the hump come playoff time. Competition might be tough, but New York can have an upper hand if everything plays out accordingly.
