After suffering an early loss at home against the Cavs, fans were seeking more from KAT, who had only eight shots in 32 minutes. His low shot count raised concerns about his offensive involvement. Thankfully, Knicks fans didn’t have to wait too long to see some quick strategic adjustments.
Before his offensive explosion in Miami, his averages of 15.3 points and 10.7 rebounds highlighted his limited opportunities in the first 3 games. Towns has only averaged 9.3 field goal attempts per night with the Knicks. Explaining why his offensive scoring output hasn’t been the same. Since coming into the league in 2015 he has averaged 16 shots per game.
The 8-Shot Dilemma: Analyzing the Cleveland Game
The Cleveland Cavaliers game on Monday night revealed a worrisome pattern in Towns’ offensive game. The All-Star center shot only 4-of-8, as his team fell 110-104. Towns made the most of his limited shooting, but only accumulated 13 points and 10 rebounds. Not exactly the production the Knicks fans were looking for right out of the gate.
The Cavaliers executed a brilliant defensive plan against Towns. Making him ineffective and appeared missing at times. Jarrett Allen led the defense and used his quickness and defensive IQ. The Cavs hot defensive start to the season includes limiting Towns and winning at MSG.
Bouncing Back In Miami
Not having to wait long for a bounce back game. We saw KAT dominate with 44 points against the Heat. He shot an exceptional 17-25 from the field, leading to a convincing 116-107 win. Towns grabbed 13 rebounds and excelled beyond the arc and made 4-of-5 three-point attempts. This is exactly what New York got when they gave up a whole ton. Whether you liked Julius Randle or not, you know he was always willing to be aggressive to score the basketball.
KAT became the first Knicks player to achieve 40+ points, 10+ rebounds with 65% shooting since Carmelo Anthony did it in 2014. His 44-point explosion stands as the highest scoring game by a Knicks center since Patrick Ewing in 1995. Towns showcased his deadly catch-and-shoot ability by making 11 such shots – a personal best since 2018. It is safe to say the Knicks have their most talented center since the 90’s, just four games into his Knicks career.
Feeding Him The Ball
Brunson and Towns’ pick-and-roll partnership creates unique opportunities. The volume of shots by Towns suggests the intent behind their two-man game. Making Towns’ the center of the offensive gameplan allowed him to show off his complete offensive package. He attacked recovering defenses off catches and found mismatches effectively. Doing such against an elite defender in Bam Adebayo.
The offensive system puts emphasis on paint touches and drive-and-kick opportunities. They were able to execute down the stretch knowing he can operate from multiple spots on the floor. New York’s record now stands at 2-2 this season. The win serves as a perfect start to their four-game road trip. Their defensive strategy has shown slight improvement holding Miami to just 45.7% shooting from the field.
Consistent Assertiveness
The team’s victory against Miami showed why the Knicks are emerging as legitimate championship contenders. In many facets, the team can still get better with each game. Basketball fans can see the powerful offensive potential between Brunson and Towns. Their exceptional shooting abilities create several scoring opportunities in high pick and roll situations. His skill to play from multiple spots allows to create matchup nightmares. Whether it through post-up opportunities against smaller defenders, pick-and-pop actions with Brunson and then weak-side plays with Anunoby or Bridges.
all hands on deck 🙌
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 31, 2024
KAT 44 PTS | 13 REB | 2 AST
Jalen 22 PTS | 9 AST
Mikal 17 PTS | 6 AST | 2 STL
Josh 10 PTS | 14 REB | 6 AST
OG 11 PTS | 3 REB | 2 STL
Deuce 10 PTS | 3 REB | 2 AST pic.twitter.com/KY9QiACAWK
Thibs on KAT (44 & 13): "I love his approach…not forcing anything…very confident in his ability…He's a lot stronger than he was 5 years ago…There's nothing he can't…Skillset of a guard in a center's body…The more this team goes thru things together the better it'll get" pic.twitter.com/5DF8tmtS1D
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) October 31, 2024
Easy Offensive Changes
To simply put it, when Karl-Anthony Towns doesn’t take enough shots, the Knicks won’t live up to these new expectations. He is an absolute offensive weapon and he needs the constant reminder to assert himself and be dominant. Any trip with him roaming carelessly around the three point line bails out the defense.
With proper intent and execution, his impressive shooting percentages show he’s ready to shoulder more of the offensive load. The Knicks’ offensive system should adapt quickly with the help of Brunson. The coaching staff aggressive in their offensive approach while continuing to fine-tune their defense. This Miami matchup showed the untapped potential. The fans of New York can hope this intent is consistent. Hopefully with this boost of confidence, the Knicks can continue gelling into an offensive juggernaut.
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