What Went Wrong In Most Recent Loss To Bucks?
Too many open looks by opponents on the perimeter is killing the New York Knicks right now and this was very apparent in their 112-100 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
Storming back from being down by as many as 24 points, the Knicks tied the game at 89 with 5:06 to go in the fourth quarter, but then every time they needed to get a stop or had some momentum building, they would relinquish a three-point shot to Milwaukee.
Down 22 points with 5:52 to go in the third quarter, Thibodeau pulled R.J. Barrett then pulled Mitchell Robinson out with down 20 with 4:28 left in the third and then Julius Randle down 18 with 2:01 to go in the third. The Knicks bench got them back into this game against the defending NBA champions, but nobody on this roster could get a stop when they needed it most.
After allowing just 7 points on 2-10 shooting from the floor and forcing three Bucks’ turnovers in the first 6 minutes of the fourth quarter, the Knicks allowed the Bucks to shoot 8-11 from the floor the rest of the way and seven of these eight made shots came from beyond-the-arc.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: New York Knicks Starting Five Becoming Serious Issue
The Knicks’ reserve lineup of Immanuel Quickley, Derrick Rose, Alec Burks, Obi Toppin and Taj Gibson that led them back into this game against the Bucks have only played a total of 61 minutes together this season, but they have been one of the most efficient lineups this team has had.
This group has a net rating of 19.9 and a defensive rating of 93.5 even though they have seen limited minutes together to begin the season.
Figuring out their rotations and getting guys on the same page is going to be extremely important for the Knicks moving forward.
Five of their next seven games are in Madison Square Garden and four of these games are against teams with a losing record currently, so now is the time for New York to get back on-track.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: New York Knicks Starting Five Becoming Serious Issue
They can add all the offensive talent in the world, but this Knicks team was built on defense. Believe it or not this New York Knicks team has the capability to contend in the Eastern Conference Finals and potentially go on a deep playoff run, but until they find their true identity of being one of the best defensive teams in the league, they are going to continue to look like an average team in the Eastern Conference.
