As the challenging third quarter neared its end at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the New York Knicks, already down by 13 points in the decisive Game 6 on Saturday, had an opportunity. Wing Josh Hart led a 3-on-1 fast break, hoping to cut into the deficit before the final period. Following a steal by Knicks guard Deuce McBride from Indiana`s Tyrese Haliburton, Hart received the pass. He needed to make a smart play to secure points, but in a sequence characteristic of the Knicks` struggles that night, Hart attempted an errant lob pass to Karl-Anthony Towns that hit the backboard, effectively turning the ball over to Indiana.
True to form for the entire game, the Pacers capitalized on the turnover, initiating a fast break. Haliburton quickly sprinted down the court for a dunk, extending Indiana`s lead to 15 points going into the fourth quarter, where the Eastern Conference champions decisively finished the game.
The night epitomized the Knicks` performance; following a nearly flawless Game 5 that staved off elimination at home, they appeared frustratingly careless in Game 6. This defeat, encompassing both the single game and the series outcome, will likely weigh heavily on the team and its supporters throughout the offseason.
Despite the missed opportunities against the Pacers, including a chaotic collapse in Game 1, it`s undeniable that the Knicks exceeded expectations in their inaugural season with a revamped core group of players.
The team`s strategic shift in New York City, marked by two significant trades (Mikal Bridges in July and Karl-Anthony Towns right before training camp), unexpectedly led to a breakthrough postseason performance. The immediate focus now shifts to how the Knicks can build upon this to finally reach the NBA Finals, a feat not accomplished since 1999.
Here are three crucial areas likely requiring attention for the Knicks to take the next step towards championship contention.
Consider a permanent starting lineup shift
Surprisingly, the Knicks` primary starting lineup, which was used more than any other in the NBA, finished with a negative plus/minus, being outscored by nine points from January 1st through the end of the regular season.
Despite this statistical deficit, New York surprisingly came close to reaching the Finals. This was often thanks to Jalen Brunson`s crucial shots and the team`s determined late-game efforts, which frequently allowed them to overcome slow starts and win games, thereby masking the starters` poor performance data.
Although this starting unit has potential for improvement after their inaugural season together, coach Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks should consider making adjustments to the lineup. This is particularly relevant since Thibodeau did make a tweak late in the postseason, influenced by Josh Hart`s suggestion to increase center Mitchell Robinson`s playing time, notably during their series victory against the Boston Celtics.
The recent stretch provided insight into how starting Robinson might impact the team: New York`s offensive rebounding immediately improved, and Towns gained a defensive anchor capable of protecting the rim and even stepping out to contest three-pointers. However, replacing Hart with Robinson does slow down the Knicks` transition game, an area where Hart excels, and exposes the team to potential intentional fouls against Robinson due to his free-throw struggles.
Deepen the bench rotation
Coach Thibodeau made several effective decisions during the Eastern Conference Finals. A notable move was integrating guards Delon Wright and Landry Shamet into the rotation. This adjustment proved beneficial as the Knicks began accumulating defensive stops relatively quickly against an Indiana team that had previously appeared unstoppable.
While Thibodeau deserves commendation, the successful integration of Wright and Shamet in high-pressure Eastern Conference Finals games suggests he could have potentially utilized these reserves more throughout the regular season, especially given their ability to perform effectively when the stakes were highest.
This observation is not intended to cast doubt on Thibodeau`s position this offseason. His ability to guide the team to such playoff success warrants praise, even if alternative strategies regarding player minutes could have been explored during the regular season. Mikal Bridges, known for his durability, echoed this sentiment in March, acknowledging players` desire to play but also suggesting that other team members could handle additional minutes.
Nevertheless, the significant minutes played by the starting five (Brunson, Hart, Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Towns) and the late-season statistics indicated a potential decline in effectiveness at times. This suggests that allocating minutes more widely among other players on the roster could be beneficial.
Improving the Knicks` bench depth faces limitations, primarily relying on attracting experienced veteran free agents who prioritize championship contention, potentially signing for less than their market value.
The Knicks` reserves logged the fewest minutes and scored the fewest points across the league this season. A substantial 93% of the team`s salary cap is allocated to the top six players (the starting five plus Mitchell Robinson). Beyond Deuce McBride, who is under contract, the team`s next four players in terms of usage – Delon Wright, Landry Shamet, Cameron Payne, and Precious Achiuwa – are all set to become unrestricted free agents this offseason.
Find ways to better utilize the Brunson-Towns pairing
Given that Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns reached the All-NBA team and the Knicks were just two wins shy of the Finals in their first season playing together, offering critique might seem counterintuitive.
However, optimizing this partnership is crucial for determining the team`s ultimate success next season. The collaboration faced initial difficulties. Early in the season, Towns took the fewest shots among the starters. After this was noted following a loss to Cleveland, Brunson made a point of finding Towns repeatedly in the subsequent game against Miami, where Towns scored 44 points. His shot volume became less of a public talking point for the rest of the regular season.
Instead, discussion shifted to the quality of Towns` shot attempts. Roughly halfway through the season, opponents started assigning their centers to guard Hart due to his inconsistent shooting. Conversely, opposing teams tasked smaller guards and wings with defending Towns, better equipped to challenge his three-point shots on the perimeter.
The first-round series against the Detroit Pistons, where Towns was defended by both Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren, served as a particularly clear illustration. As was the case in the regular season, Towns tended to be more effective against traditional big men than against agile wing defenders. Inserting Deuce McBride into the lineup could potentially aid the offense by preventing defenses from collapsing into the paint as they do when guarding Hart.
However, the defensive challenges of this pairing became evident throughout the conference finals. Constructing a top-tier defense is inherently difficult with an undersized guard like Brunson and a center like Towns, who is prone to fouls. While this might have been anticipated, the reality was starkly demonstrated in the East Finals, where Brunson, Towns, or both frequently encountered foul trouble as opponents repeatedly targeted them in pick-and-roll actions.
The player occupying the final starting position will influence the defensive support provided: either more rim protection for Towns (if Robinson starts) or better perimeter defense for Brunson and Bridges (if McBride starts). However, it`s notable that even with elite wing defenders like Anunoby and Mikal Bridges (a former DPOY runner-up), the defense often struggled to get stops. This is largely attributable to the inherent defensive limitations posed by the Brunson-Towns pairing at the guard and center positions.