After playing their 28th game on Saturday night, the Knicks has completed the first trimester of the 82-game season. A few trends have stood out, with the team’s offense scintillating and the individual game Karl-Anthony cities. With the club in third place in the Eastern Conference with an 18-10 record, let’s take a look at these trends and if they will continue the rest of the year.
Effective offense
The Knicks offense has proven to be dominant. After 28 games, New York is second in offensive efficiency, scoring 119.7 points per 100 possessions. Jalen Brunson (25.1 points) and Towns (24.5 points) was a one-two punch for New York. The Knicks also had four other players score in double figures.
New York City’s well crime has been driven by well guns. The Knicks are second in three-point shooting (39.6 percent) and true shooting (60.9 percent). City’s perimeter threat (45.9 percent on 133 three-point attempts) has created a great opportunity for New York area players to cut to the basket. The Knicks are moving the ball more than ever Tom Thibodeau– time of the team.
New York’s offensive success is not just gun luck. The Knicks moved the ball but didn’t turn it over much. They are fourth in the NBA in assist-to-turnover rate, averaging 2.11 assists per turnover. The Knicks should be a top-three offense as long as the Knicks continue to play lines with three shooters playing around Brunson and Towns.
Bench drought assessment
The Knicks are currently in last place in bench scoring in the NBA. New York reserves combined for only 20.4 points. Next to last is the Los Angeles Lakers who averaged 24.9 points. New York relies on its starting lineup to play heavy on offense, as the Knicks have the five highest starting lineups in the NBA. In Saturday night’s win against the New Orleans Pelicans, Knicks starters accounted for 98 of the team’s 104 points.
Although there has been a lot of focus on coach Thibodeau wondering about the minutes of star players Brunson and Towns, there has been another theatrical strategy. Two of the starters Michael Bridges, AND Anunoby we had Josh Hart has been on the ground throughout the close games. Playing rounds like that has limited the minutes available to the bench as all three wings are in the top-10 in minutes per game.
The seat is not completely available. Miles McBride is averaging double figures off the bench and Cameron Payne has been a show off the bench, as well. However, the depth is lacking. Expect the Knicks to finish last in bench scoring this season. There may be some improvement after New York agree to return Landry Shamet on Sunday or if the Knicks make another deal or add another rotation player, but not enough to change their position.
City rebounding rampage
As mentioned before, offense has not been a problem for Towns. In addition to his scoring streaks, City has been a ravenous innovator. He is on pace to set a career high in strikeouts with a league-high average of 14.0 rebounds. One of the concerns for the Knicks at the start of the season is how they can perform on the glass without rebounding Isaiah Hartenstein we had Mitchell Robinson.
Finding cities on the boards has been more than adequate. The Knicks are tenth in defensive rebound rate and the team gets more defensive rebounds when Towns is on the floor compared to when he is off.
In two seasons City started as a power forward as well Rudy Gobert in Minnesota, he averaged 8.3 rebounds. With the Knicks, City has played a few minutes with another great. When Robinson returns from injury, the possibility of a big two-line with Towns at the four and Robinson at the five. That could keep Towns out of the paint and drop his rebounding numbers a bit. I predict City will set a career high in total return but fall short of its league lead.
