New York Knicks’ Recent Struggles
After achieving a 23-9 record following a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on December 29, the New York Knicks appeared to be solid contenders in the highly competitive Eastern Conference. However, a troubling downturn has seen them secure only two wins out of their last 10 games, bringing their current record to 25-17. The team is now precariously positioned, leading the Toronto Raptors by just half a game for the third seed and only two games ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers, who currently sit in seventh place and would be forced into the NBA Play-In Tournament if the playoffs started today.
Frustration Among Players
This recent string of losses has undoubtedly led to frustration within the team. Star player Karl-Anthony Towns expressed his concerns after the Knicks fell to the Phoenix Suns 106-99, saying,
“A lot, a lot of frustration. That’s all I got.”
Towns stressed the importance of focusing on winning upcoming games, reflecting a sense of urgency to halt the team’s losing streak.
“I don’t like losing any games, so of course for me, the concern is winning the next one. Just staying focused on the task at hand, winning games, and giving our fans something to cheer for,”
he stated.
Coaching Perspective
Head coach Mike Brown echoed these worries but attempted to keep the situation in perspective, acknowledging the team’s struggles without sounding alarm bells.
“You don’t want to lose games at all, but especially going 2-8 in the last 10. There’s concern there, but not to the point where we’re going to overhaul everything,”
he remarked. Brown emphasized the necessity of reflection and hard work, stating that it begins with him and requires collective effort from the entire team.
“We got to keep trying to fight, like we did tonight, and if we do, we’re going to give ourselves a chance,”
he added.
Areas for Improvement
Improvement is crucial for the Knicks in several areas, particularly on defense, where they have ranked in the bottom five in defensive rating since December 1. Their overall season rating of 116.1 ranks 19th in the league. Additionally, the team has struggled with three-point shooting, hitting only 35.1% in their past 10 games, which places them 15th among NBA teams, according to StatMuse.
When prompted about potential areas for improvement, OG Anunoby remarked,
“I think everything. You can always get better at everything. Even if we were winning games, we would still be trying to improve everything.”
Upcoming Schedule
Fortunately for the Knicks, their upcoming schedule offers some reprieve, with matchups against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, and a challenge against the spirited Philadelphia 76ers set for next Saturday, providing an opportunity to regain momentum.
