There is no way to sugarcoat it, the Knicks defense has taken an unimaginable step back this season. In fact, their defensive rating has fallen from 9th to 14th in the NBA rankings, putting any hopes of championship aspirations out of the question for the moment. In February, the Knicks finished at 29th in the league, allowing 121.76 points per 100 possessions. To add to their defensive woes, they’ve plummeted from being among the league’s best three-point defensive team in 2020-21 to towards the bottom of the league all season. Under no circumstances should a team with playoff hopes allow such a dramatic defensive decline. They need answers, and they need them quickly.
Points in the Paint
The latest defense stats reveal a concerning trend in their paint protection, a critical aspect of the team’s overall defensive strategy. Despite the presence of 7-footer Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks’ interior defense has shown mixed results, and inconsistencies allowing opponents to score an alarming 49.8 points in the paint per game. This vulnerability in the Knicks defense has become a significant issue, potentially undermining their playoff aspirations.
As Mitchell Robinson gets back to full speed, it offers a glimmer of hope for improvement, but fans should temper their expectations as he works his way back to game shape. The demise in rim protection is further emphasized by a drop in blocks to just 3.8 per game, placing the Knicks near the bottom of the league in this crucial defensive metric. As the regular seasons hits its final stretch, addressing these defensive shortcomings while Robinson makes his precense felt will be crucial for how the Knicks close the season.
Three-Point Defense hits all-time low
The perimeter coverage lacks elite talent. Opponents shoot 37.4% from beyond the arc against the Knicks, alongside a 44% conversion rate on corner threes. It speaks volumes that rotations come late in transition or the half court. Whether it’s teams using the tempo, or stretch forwards/bigs picking-and-popping, none of it is good. There was once a point where fans thought the Knicks established a defensive culture. This season, that narrative is completely out the window. Under Tom Thibodeau, here are the yearly opponent 3pt% rankings:
2020-21: 1st (33.7%)
2021-22: 6th (34.2%)
2022-23: T-11th (35.7%)
2023-24: T-16th (36.5%)
2024-25: T-27th (37.7%)
The Knicks’ defensive metrics paint a disgruntled picture alongside their championship aspirations. Dating back to last season’s ninth-ranked defense, their current standing requires immediate attention. Unfortunately, struggles only gets worse against quality teams. They sit second to last in stopping top-10 offenses, ahead of only lottery-bound Toronto. Communication issues manifest particularly in pick-and-roll situations. The drop scheme appears 48% against elite scoring teams. Personnel changes shifted their identity. Losing both Hartenstein and Robinson has downgraded last year’s top-10 unit to 21st. Despite highlighting fast-break prevention and second-chance points, the homegrown talent needs immediate improvement for playoff success.
Team Rebounding
In fact, the Knicks’ struggles mirror broader patterns seen across their season. Under no circumstances can their current output be considered acceptable for a team with championship hopes. To add to all of that, they’ve seem to have lost their gusto on the glass. It truly is beyond unimaginable incompetence for a team with their talent level. Karl-Anthony Towns’ arrival has brought its offensive power in sacrifice to mid-level defensive results.
The latest NBA team stats reveal a significant shift in the Knicks’ rebounding performance this season. Analyzing the NBA team rebounding stats, we see the Knicks struggling to maintain their previous dominance on the boards, currently ranking 24th in the league with 43.0 rebounds per game, a notable decline from their top-10 standing last season. In the 2023-2024 season, the team’s strong rebounding, led by Josh Hart (8.3 RPG) and Isaiah Hartenstein (8.3 RPG), created ample second-chance opportunities and secured crucial possessions. However, the current season paints a different picture.
Despite Karl-Anthony Towns’ impressive 13.3 rebounds per game, the team’s overall rebounding effectiveness has diminished. When examining NBA team rebounding stats, the Knicks’ decline becomes even more apparent, particularly in defensive rebounding. This shift has led to increased opponent second-chance points, directly impacting the Knicks’ offensive strategy. The reasons behind this downturn are multifaceted, including Mitchell Robinson’s minutes restriction due to injury and the team’s ongoing integration of new players like Towns. As a result, the Knicks’ rebounding rank has slipped, affecting their ability to maintain the high offensive efficiency that characterized their previous season’s success. This decline in New York Knicks rebounding stats highlights the need for strategic adjustments to recapture their former dominance on the boards and sustain their competitive edge in the Eastern Conference.
“Surviving Brunson” 🏥
— State from Harlem🇬🇭🗽 (@bmorelikestate) March 10, 2025
🔹 Priority #3: The Knicks need to lock in defensively & play faster 🚀. Precious Achiuwa must be reintegrated into the rotation to avoid further Injury and PJ Tucker
📊 Knicks Team Defense:
🔻 15th Def Rating
🔻 23rd Def Rebounding
🔹 11th Def… pic.twitter.com/t6O5pTjIqX
📊Knicks perimeter defense is a special kind of bad in 2025
— State from Harlem🇬🇭🗽 (@bmorelikestate) February 24, 2025
🔹Defensive Rating: 114.3 (20th)
🔹Defensive Rebounding: 25th
🔹Steals Per Game: 16th
🔹Blocks Per Game: 30th
🔹OPP Points In The Paint: 22nd
🔹OPP 3PT%: 30th
🔹OPP 3PM: 22nd
🔹OPP FG%: 24th
Defensive Scheme… pic.twitter.com/azGYUBmOe6
Impact on Playoff Chances
The Knicks’ timing offense presents a litany of excellent weapons, yet their postseason outlook raises critical questions amidst their refined route running schemes. Their 0-7 record against the Cavaliers, Celtics, and Thunder is not a good indicator of how things will go in May as the team currently stands. Boston’s dominance across three meetings, winning by 23, 27, and 13 points respectively, sets a new standard for their struggles. Cleveland’s performance proved even more telling, handing New York a 37-point loss.
Since 1995, only Houston captured a title while ranking outside the top-10 defensively. Their chain mover abilities mirror teams making early playoff exits. Holding the third seed offers promise, with 98% odds to maintain position. Yet championship probability sits at 1.8%.
Fixing Before the Playoffs
The Knicks setting themselves back defensively is to last season exposes their inability to compete at an elite level. Up to this point, opposing teams are getting easy shorts or firing away beyond the arc, flat out exposing New York’s malpractice in guarding the perimeter.
When their offense is clicking it hides these factors. This type of lip service on defense hasn’t yielded success in NBA history, and all fans have heard that “defense wins championships”. Fans can only hope with Brunson out they can create their offense through their defense. If they keep going on without addressing these fundamental flaws, these Knicks will have their hands on their heads wondering where it all went wrong with a playoff exit earlier than they hope.
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