Knicks Preview: Keys to Defeating Toronto Raptors
Oct 31, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; New York Knicks head coach
Derek Fisher(L) talks with Knicks guard
Jerian Grant(13) against the Washington Wizards in the fourth quarter at Verizon Center. The Knicks won 117-110. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
4. Ball Movement
The New York Knicks have been pushing the pace with far more regularity than in 2014-15. New York is averaging 6.3 more possessions per game than it did a season ago, jumping from 93.7 to 100.0.
Unfortunately, the Knicks haven’t been moving the ball very efficiently in the half court.
The Knicks are tied for No. 21 in the NBA in assists per game. They’re No. 19 in assist percentage, which measures the number of field goals converted off of assists compared to those unassisted, per NBA.com.
Perhaps detrimentally, New York has fallen back into its isolation tendencies.
According to NBA.com, the Knicks are No. 3 in isolation field goal attempts per game. New York is No. 7 in field goal percentage in such situations, but that luck tends to run out.
Against a stout Raptors defense that’s allowed just one opponent to reach 100 points in 2015-16, the Knicks need to trust one another and work the ball into high-percentage scoring situations.
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