
4. Losing The Rebounding Battle
The New York Knicks entered the 2016-17 NBA reglar season with the reasonable expectation that it would dominate the boards. The personnel is in place for the Knicks to be one of the best rebounding teams in the Association.
Through six games, however, the Knicks have been on the losing end of the rebounding battle more often than they haven’t been.
New York has been outrebounded by the opposition in four of its six games this season. That includes a 54-34 deficit against the Houston Rockets, which included the Kincks pulling down seven offensive rebounds to 19 by Houston.
Losing the rebounding battle that egregiously is all but certain to force the Knicks to lose, no matter the opponent.
Joakim Noah is an elite rebounder, Carmelo Anthony is the same based on his position, and Kristaps Porzingis has the potential to be dominant at 7’3″. Kyle O’Quinn is an excellent rebounder, as well, and the same can be said about Willy Hernangomez.
Yet, after six games, the Knicks have a rebounding differential of -5.0. Something needs to change for New York to turn the season around.