The Knicks are a team full of shooters who have persevered through injuries, losing streaks, and locker room drama in January. Winning streaks come and go much like scoring runs in a game. Also, with their last two victories, they have won back-to-back games for the first time this month. Will they be able to build on these wins against the Kings? They play tomorrow, and Zach LaVine is a game-time decision while Keegan Murray is definitely out. The Knicks have a 6-game stretch before they face the Nuggets, Pistons, and Celtics in a five-day gauntlet early next month. It is important for each Knicks player to show their excellence to find success in the coming days. Let us explore who has been the leader in various stats for the New York Knicks this season.
New York Knicks Stat Leaders Halfway Into Season
Three-Pointers
Miles McBride is the only player on the team with over 100 three-pointers made while shooting over 40%. He currently stands at 42.6%, which is good enough for 16th in the league.
McBride should be the New York Knicks’ stat leader in three-point attempts, but Jalen Brunson has played 427 more minutes than he has. Brunson is 58th in the league, shooting them at 38.4%. McBride also has arguably the purest stroke on the team, and he shoots with a high arc that is difficult for even Victor Wembanyama to block.
Assists to Turnovers
Mikal Bridges is a historically consistent player and has the best turnover ratio on the team with 4 assists for every turnover, while OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Ariel Hukporti round out the bottom, with 1 assist for every turnover.
Coach Brown has repeatedly stated in press conferences that he is focused on “sprays”, which are when you drive to the rim and pass out to the open perimeter man for an uncontested three. When Towns drives to the rim, there’s a chance that it results in a turnover or offensive foul. This has resulted in Towns getting into foul trouble early and often, while leaving a team full of shooters unfed.
Rebounding and Blocking
Towns leads the league in rebounding, but this is mostly because Nikola Jokic has been out for almost a month. Mitch Robinson continues to have the ball gravitate towards him on the offensive glass, and leads the league with 4.9 offensive rebounds per game. He also leads the team with 1.2 blocks per game.
If Robinson can stay healthy in the playoffs, he will need to play more than his current 19.5 minutes average. He has played 70% of games this season, and played more than 25 minutes only 4 times. In the playoffs, Robinson needs to play close to 30 minutes against physical teams like Detroit and Boston. His durability will be a huge factor in the Knicks’ success.
Minutes Per Game
Last season, under Tom Thibodeau, the floor for starting player minutes was 35. Additionally, two bench players averaged over 20 minutes. With three weeks left until the all-star break this season, that floor became the ceiling as the highest sits at 34.6 from Bridges. Josh Hart’s 30.5 minutes per game is the lowest among starters, but he has played in 19 games, whereas his fellow starters have played at least 34 games.
Players are subject to injuries, minute restrictions, or the coach’s decision. It only really matters come playoff time, but the Knicks will need to be careful not to find themselves competing in the play-in tournament come April.
Steals and Defense
The hustle on defense by Anunoby and Bridges is a key factor in the Knicks’ defense. In fact, Bridges is fourth in the league with 70 steals this season.
The hard truth the Knicks face is that their defense is average compared to other teams. They are 18th in the league in points allowed, sitting at 116.4 points per 100 possessions. For context, the Thunder lead the league, allowing 106.2 points per 100 possessions.
The Knicks will need to fight their way out of the East to compete in the NBA Finals this season. Most East contenders have better defensive stats than the Knicks. Defense will be the difference in a seven-game series with teams such as the Pistons, Celtics, Sixers, Raptors, and Cavaliers.
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