3. Defense Should Improve

While the offense was a work in progress for the New York Knicks starting unit, it was the defensive side of the floor that they struggled on. The organization knew there would be a slight drop off given the change in personnel, but they struggled mightily.

While not all Kemba Walker’s fault, he has struggled mightily on that end of the court. He was never the best defender, but with injuries sapping his lateral quickness, he has become a target for opponents to pick on consistently.

With Walker being replaced by Alec Burks, the defense should improve with the starters. Burks will help take pressure off of Barrett as the only strong 1-on-1 defender on the perimeter.

While the Knicks offense produces the same net rating with Burks on and off the court at 107, their defensive rating is nine points worse when Burks is off the court.

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That change could be the spark that the team needs at the beginning of games and in the third quarter when they have struggled the most. Burks’ versatility on the defensive end of the court will enable Thibodeau to use more of his schemes on that end of the court as he can replicate what Elfrid Payton did more than Walker could.