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New York Knicks: Don’t Blame The Triangle, Blame The Defense

By Jonathan Bates

Apr 6, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks general manager Phil Jackson watches during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks general manager Phil Jackson watches during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (1) leaps in the air in celebration of hitting the game winning after hitting the game shot against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 98-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (1) leaps in the air in celebration of hitting the game winning after hitting the game shot against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 98-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Missed Opportunities

There were several occasions when the New York Knicks could have won ball games at the end, but let the opponents score easy baskets. The Knicks lost ten games by three points or fewer this season.

In many of these examples, before the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, the Knicks had a five-plus-point lead. The Knicks’ defense allowed the opponents to stay in the game and win.

Against the Philadelphia 76ers, New York was up by eight points with just under five minutes to play. The Knicks allowed the 76ers to come back up from an eight-point deficit and win off a buzzer-beater.

The Knicks had the lead heading into a crucial possession of the game against the Phoenix Suns, but Rose couldn’t stay on Devin Booker.

The Knicks were up five points with five minutes to play and up three points at the two-minute mark against the Atlanta Hawks.

New York has a team that’s almost primarily offense, from the veterans to the younger core. It paid the price for it.

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