1. Defense, Defense, Defense
The New York Knicks are currently the worst defensive team in the NBA. New York checks in at No. 26 in scoring defense and opponent field goal percentage, and is dead last in points allowed per 100 possessions.
The Brooklyn Nets aren’t exactly an offensive juggernaut, but any assumption that the Knicks will shut an opponent down would be unfounded.
The Knicks have allowed all six of their opponents to score at least 100 points in 2016-17. Three of those six teams have scored at least 110 points, including the 118 points the Houston Rockets scored at Madison Square Garden.
Though most attention has gone to the offense, New York is 2-1 when it holds opponents below 110 points and 0-3 when it fails to.
New York has the personnel to play Top10 defense with the likes of Justin Holiday, Courtney Lee, Joakim Noah, Kristaps Porzingis, and Lance Thomas. The results matter more than the hypotheticals, however, and the results haven’t been in the Knicks’ favor.
The Knicks need to finally step up on defense against the Brooklyn Nets.
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With back-to-back road games against the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors looming, New York needs to defeat Brooklyn and build momentum.