Knicks Seek Consistency After Rollercoaster Performance This Season

New York: Jalen Brunson really hit the nail on the head. After the Knicks bounced back from a tough 25-point loss to the Thunder with a solid 34-point win over the Bucks, he shared some thoughts. He said he doesn’t want to keep having to bounce back. Instead, he wants the team to improve consistently every day.

This season has been a bit of a rollercoaster for the Knicks. They’ve struggled against the top teams, going 0-5 against the Cavaliers, Thunder, Celtics, and Rockets, but they’ve done well against everyone else, with a 26-9 record. They had a great nine-game winning streak but then lost four out of five games, including three in a row.

As they prepared for a game against the Pistons, the Knicks were sitting at 4-4 in their last eight games, with most of those games being decided by double digits. Coach Tom Thibodeau emphasized the importance of daily improvement, saying that even if they fall short one day, they need to come back stronger the next. It’s a long season, and the goal is to be at their best when it matters most.

However, it won’t be easy. The Knicks have the toughest remaining schedule in the league, facing the Cavaliers and Celtics multiple times. They really need to work on a few things to get better.

First off, they rely heavily on their starters. No other team uses their starting lineup as much as the Knicks do. Their main five players have logged a ton of minutes together, which is great for chemistry but could lead to burnout. In recent games, they’ve struggled in the fourth quarter, showing signs of fatigue.

Then there’s the bench. The Knicks’ bench depth has taken a hit, especially after trading for Karl-Anthony Towns. While Towns has been a great addition, the team didn’t have much time to build up their bench. Plus, injuries to players like Mitchell Robinson haven’t helped. Right now, they’re last in the league for bench scoring and rebounding.

Lastly, their shooting has been off lately. During their recent slump, they struggled to hit their shots, especially from beyond the arc. They’ve been one of the better shooting teams overall this season, but recent games have seen them fall below 30% from three-point range. Coach Thibodeau reminded everyone that it’s just a small sample size and they’ve shot well for most of the season.

So, the Knicks have their work cut out for them if they want to find that consistency and make a strong push as the season rolls on.