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New York Knicks: 5 areas in which NYK should improve over 2016-17

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 27: Willy Hernangomez #14 and Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks high five each other during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on January 27, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 27: Willy Hernangomez #14 and Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks high five each other during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on January 27, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 13: Ron Baker #31 of the New York Knicks looks down the court against the Washington Wizards in the second half during their Pre Season game at Madison Square Garden on October 13, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 13: Ron Baker #31 of the New York Knicks looks down the court against the Washington Wizards in the second half during their Pre Season game at Madison Square Garden on October 13, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Ball Movement

No issue was more damaging for the New York Knicks on offense than the borderline refusal to move the ball. The veterans seemed convinced that isolation was the best method of scoring, and the younger players didn’t yet have the authority to stand up to them.

With a young and impressionable roster, one can fairly expect the Knicks to move the ball with a greater sense of urgency and understanding in 2017-18.

New York ranked No. 19 in assists per game, No. 15 in turnovers per game, and No. 20 in assist-to-turnover ratio. Those are troubling numbers, but they only begin to scratch the surface of how damaging a lack of ball movement truly was.

New York finished 2016-17 at 26-21 (.553) when it had at least 21 assists and was 5-30 (.143) when it had 20 assists or less.

That massive disparity in wins and losses is a clear indication of what was wrong with the Knicks in 2016-17. Defense was the biggest issue of all, but the Knicks were a postseason-caliber team when the ball was in active rotation.

If the players prove more committed to creating for others and place less emphasis on isolation ego plays, the Knicks will turn heads.

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