• Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

NEW YORK – New York has been desperate for a win, as they headed back home to play the Atlanta Hawks for the 2nd game of a home and home. The Knicks were coming off a three game road trip where they lost to the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, and the Atlanta Hawks. Against Detroit, the Knicks allowed 11 three pointers (47% shooting) and let the Pistons get to the free throw line 33 times (22-33 69%). The against the Nets, they gave up 14 three pointers (58% shooting) and allowed Brooklyn to go to the free throw line 26 times (20-26 76%). Then in the 1st game of the home and home against Atlanta, the Knicks allowed them to go to the line 36 times (28-36 77%).

Credit: Saed Hindash/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com ... Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks have struggled in their 5 game skid
Credit: Saed Hindash/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com … Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks have struggled in their 5 game skid

If you can tell, the trend is that the Knicks are fouling way too much, and not guarding the three point line well. This can be very problematic when you give opposing teams free points from the charity stripe. Often times as well over this losing streak, the timing of the three ball against them has been the daggers. The Knicks haven’t been able to secure timely defensive rebounds, which then get swung around to an open man for wide open threes time and time again. In the Detroit and Atlanta games the Knicks played well to begin in the first half, but another recurring theme has been coming out flat in the 2nd half. The Knicks haven’t been able to come out with the same intensity and hustle that they do to begin games, then opponents take advantage and dig hard holes to come out of for the Knicks.

 

Monday night the themes outlined were among the same problems that led to the Knicks 5th straight loss, as they fell to 2-6 on the season. The Knicks have shown bright spots in moving the ball within the offense, but once teams pick up the pressure it seems as though the Knicks stop trusting the offense and revert back to habits of past years. This was the case today as the Knicks again struggled to score, as they only had 85 points (91-85). The other side to this though is that the Knicks defense played better yesterday. They held Atlanta to just 38% shooting (27-71) and outrebounded the Hawks 40-38. But, the Hawks in this game had 10 three pointers, making timely threes every time the Knicks seemed to get close in the 2nd half. Also, they allowed Atlanta to the foul line 28 times (27-28) and as said earlier, if that happens it will be tough to win games.

 

Carmelo Anthony did his job as the franchise player trying to get his team a win. He had 25 points with 9 rebounds and 7 assists. This is twice in the past four games that Anthony has been the high man for assists. Iman Shumpert kept up his consistent good play by having 18 points with 5 assists and 3 rebounds. Tim Hardaway Jr. made his third straight start of the year, adding 15 points. This has made 4 straight games that Hardaway Jr. has scored over 15 points, but he needs to work on his efforts on the defensive side.

Credit: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) ... Carmelo Anthony trying to score in last night's contest
Credit: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) … Carmelo Anthony trying to score in last night’s contest

The Knicks desperately need to fix their three point line defense and could look to push the ball more to create better quality opportunities in transition. They have only scored double digits in fast break points twice all year, and one of those games they won (Cleveland). New York also needs some consistent bench play. Former 6th man award winner JR Smith added 14 points yesterday, but hasn’t been a consistent threat. Jason Smith has been a bright spot, but is limited as just a catch and shoot threat. They will need to find an answer to get some production from their role players, or they very well could lose their 6th straight game to the Orlando Magic (2-5) on Wednesday night.

Barry Holmes/Pure Sports NY

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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