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New York Knicks Defense Could Make Or Break Their Playoff Chances

By Evan Caulfield

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The New York Knicks must get their defense in check before even thinking about a playoff run

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All it takes is one glance at the New York Knicks roster to realize they’re not going to be a top defensive team.

In fact, other than Samuel Dalembert, Iman Shumpert, Quincy Acy and Pablo Prigioni, it’s tough to argue that any player on this roster is beyond average on the defensive end of the floor.

Up to this point, so much hype has surrounded Derek Fisher’s implementation of the triangle offense, which has struggled severely, given the New York Knicks lackluster rankings in several offensive categories.

The Knicks are 20th in offensive rating (100.2), carry only the 21st best total shot percentage (51.4) and are dead-last in points per game (92.0).

However, little has been said about the team’s shortcomings on the defensive end, which has a large part to do with their uninspiring record of 2-5.

"Per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork:“We’re getting too frustrated seeing how other people score and how easy it is, and we are not taking it as personal.” Knicks sixth man J.R. Smith said following Saturday night’s loss to the Nets.“We are just looking for our offense to bail us out and that is not how it is… In order for us to get out of the hole we need to play defense.”"

And Smith couldn’t have worded it any better.

Through seven games, New York is 16th in the league in opponents points per game (99.4), dead-last in opponents three-point percentage (42.7 percent) and 20th in total opponents field goal percentage (45.6 percent). They also carry the second-worst defensive rating in the NBA, allowing 109.8 points per 100 possessions.

What’s worse is their inability to stop opposing teams from getting to the charity stripe, ranking 28th in opponent’s free throw attempt rate, giving up nearly 30 free throw attempts to their opposition per night.

Much of that last statline can be attributed to their lack of defensive-minded big men.

Other than Samuel Dalembert and Quincy Acy, their two primary interior players Jason Smith and Amar’e Stoudemire have combined for an abysmal defensive rating of 114.65.

And although the season has just gotten underway, those numbers above should raise red flags about their inability to stop opponents from scoring both inside and out.

There’s still plenty of time for the New York Knicks to correct their issues on the defensive end of the floor but, until that actually happens, it will be tough for them to sneak into the upper ranks of the Eastern Conference or even contend for a playoff spot.

*all statistics courtesy of NBA.com

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