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New York Knicks: Keys To Defeating The Denver Nuggets

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 8, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) dribbles the ball against Denver Nuggets forward Darrell Arthur (00) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets defeated the Knicks 110-94. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) dribbles the ball against Denver Nuggets forward Darrell Arthur (00) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets defeated the Knicks 110-94. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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December 15, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) and New York Knicks center Joakim Noah (13) fight for the rebound during the second half at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Knicks 103-90. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 15, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) and New York Knicks center Joakim Noah (13) fight for the rebound during the second half at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Knicks 103-90. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Rebounding

The Denver Nuggets may not have an established star down low, but the interior is flush with strong and promising players. Nikola Jokic has star potential, Jusuf Nurkic can be a force on the boards, and Kenneth Faried is called The Manimal for a reason.

On the strength of that depth, the Nuggets are the best rebounding team in the NBA—a sign that the New York Knicks will need to be relentless on the glass.

Denver is pulling down 48.7 points rebounds per game—the highest number in the NBA. Denver is also corralling 13.1 offensive rebounds per game—No. 2 in the Association—and has a league-best rebound differential of +7.3.

New York isn’t too bad itself—No. 3 in the NBA in rebounds per game and offensive rebounds per game—but it has a rebound differential of +0.2 and a tendency to be out-rebounded by physical teams.

New York has been out-rebounded in 12 of 26 games, going 3-9 in those outings. Most recently, it lost the rebounding battle by 18 in a two-point overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns and by eight in a 13-point loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Considering New York is 11-3 when it out-rebounds its opponent, the blueprint for success outlines the need to win the battle on the boards against Denver.

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