2. Lack Of Defensive Intensity
The New York Knicks have a chance to be one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. Kristaps Porzingis is a phenom, Joakim Noah won the 2014 Defensive Player of the Year award, and Courtney Lee is a positionally versatile on-ball defender.
The Knicks have been the worst defensive team in the NBA through six games, however, and it all boils down to intensity and effort.
New York has allowed all six of its opponents to score at least 100 points and three of its six counterparts to score at least 110. It’s dead last in the Association with an average of 110.9 points allowed per 100 possessions.
For fans of more traditional statistics, the Knicks rank No. 26 in both points allowed per game and opponent field goal percentage.
The Knicks’ struggles aren’t because of the personnel; there’s size, length, and defensive prowess to be found throughout the roster. The issue is that New York is moving without a sense of urgency on the defensive end.
A combination of lackadaisical closeouts, slow rotations, and lackluster communication has inevitably led New York to its current slate of struggles.