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New York Knicks: Statistical Explanation Of What’s Holding NYK Back

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 17, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek reacts after a play in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek reacts after a play in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 9, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; New York Knicks guard Brandon Jennings (3) dribbles the ball past Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. The Knicks defeated the Kings 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 9, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; New York Knicks guard Brandon Jennings (3) dribbles the ball past Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. The Knicks defeated the Kings 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Ball Movement

Jeff Hornacek is attempting to install a motion offense that enables players to work without the ball and exploit openings in an opposing defense. When the New York Knicks have attempted to run the offense, it’s been a beautiful sight to see.

Unfortunately, the Knicks have a tendency to relapse, overvalue isolation basketball, stop moving without the ball, and fall apart offensively.

The Knicks are 6-1 when they dish out at least 25 assists and 15-5 when they have at least 20 assists. That means New York is 1-9 when they fail to reach 20 assists, which is as easy a statistic as any to interpret.

The Knicks have a win percentage of .750 when they accumulate at least 20 assists and .100 when they fail to reach that attainable number.

For as clear as it is that the Knicks—and teams in general—win when they move the ball, they won’t stop going ISO. New York run isolation plays with the third-highest frequency of any team in the NBA and rank No. 21 in field goal percentage in said scenarios.

When the Knicks commit to moving the ball, they win. When they refuse to move the ball, they lose.

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