• Tue. Mar 19th, 2024

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. – Monday night, the New York Knicks looked to bounce back from a tough road loss to the Toronto Raptors. Luckily for New York, the struggling Los Angeles Clippers were next on the schedule. Los Angeles had lost eight straight games, prior to their match-up with the Knicks in Madison Square Garden. The Clippers desperately miss Chris Paul, and it showed Monday night against the Knicks. New York disrupted Clipper shooters and played solid perimeter defense, which stymied Los Angeles’ scoring attack. The Knicks built a big lead, and unlike in earlier games to the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers they kept the lead for good. New York handily defeated the Clippers 107-85, and improved to a 9-7 record on the season. Here are two key takeaways from the Knicks win over Los Angeles:

Defense Reigns Supreme

(Photo Credit: Barry Holmes) New York held Austin Rivers to just two points (1-9 FG)
(Photo Credit: Barry Holmes) New York held Austin Rivers to just two points (1-9 FG) Monday night.
  • The Knicks have played exceptionally well defensively, to start this season. Monday night marks the fourth time this season, that the Knicks have held an opponent under 100 points. Three of those defensive performances have come at home. New York has done a great job of becoming much more active on the defensive end than in years past. You see more guys with their hands in passing lanes, fighting over or under screens, and providing consistent help defense.  Monday night, the Knicks recorded 11 steals and each person in the starting lineup had two steals (except Jared Jack). That is a winning formula, and something that the Knicks need to continue to build on moving forward. As a team, New York held the Clippers to just 37% (30-80 FG) shooting on the night. That same tenacity needs to be brought Wednesday night against the Raptors.

Full Team Effort

  • Many people have voiced concerns, that the Knicks are too reliant on the scoring of Kristaps Porzingis (25 points). Monday night, we saw glimpses of just how good the Knicks can be when everyone contributes offensively. New York had six players (all five starters) score in double figures, to complete an all around team effort. Enes Kanter (12 points, 16 rebounds) has become a fan favorite, and the team feeds off of the way Kanter plays with emotion. Doug McDermott (16 points) had his best game as a Knick this season. Coach Jeff Hornacek spoke on how everyone knows McDermott can shoot, but that he was surprised with just how well defensively McDermott played. If McDermott can continue to play solid defense, he will step up as New York’s premier sixth man off the bench.

Barry Holmes is a Senior Writer for PureSportsNY.com. Follow him on Twitter @BHO732

(Featured Photo Credit: Bobby O’Hara/PureSportsNY)

By Barry Holmes

Graduate of Millersville University, with a BS in Communications focused in Broadcast. Senior Writer & Social Media Manager for PureSportsNY.

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