While we were praising the qualities of the Knicks' attack after their defeat against the Nuggets, Tom Thibodeau's players have just coughed against the Mavericks and the Hornets. In Dallas, it ended in a big defeat. In Charlotte, Jalen Brunson's partners won by a small point, without reaching the 100 point mark. Like against the Mavericks, the Knicks only scored 15 points in the first quarter.
“The stats show how good our offense is. On points per possession, we are number 1” underlines Thibodeauwhich rather suggests a problem of fatigue. And when a journalist asked him if his team was bothered by defenses that were constantly “switching,” this is what he replied.
“Switching is nothing new. All the teams we face change in defense” he continues. “Most teams change positions 1 to 4. If you have size at position 1, you can change positions 1 to 4. Some teams even change positions 1 to 5. We see this all the time, and That's why I say that all of your work reflects who we are. The stats show who we are. »
Faster decision making
The stats show that the Knicks still have the 2nd best offense in the NBA with 121.4 points scored per 100 possessions. Only the Celtics are doing better, and since last night, with 121.5 points on 100 possessions. For Josh Hart, every night, the Knicks must adapt, and it can take a quarter to find the right tempo.
“We must adapt accordingly, whether by involving myself in the actions while still involving the [pivot] or by playing faster, with more energy,” explains Hart. “We have to force teams to make mistakes on changes. We have a talented team, with players capable of shooting. So, when we play slowly, we are easy to defend, because we face established defenses. »
Same analysis from Jalen Brunson who insists on the speed of decision-making. “Obviously, they switch on defense… and when that’s the case, you probably have to play a little faster. It's a mix between the fact that the balls don't arrive, and the fact that they defend well. Honestly, it shouldn't be like this. »
