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New York Knicks: 5 keys to defeating Phoenix Suns on Nov. 3

By Maxwell Ogden

PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 13: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against Marquese Chriss #0 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 13, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Knicks 113-111. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 13: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against Marquese Chriss #0 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 13, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Knicks 113-111. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 1: Jarrett Jack #55 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball against the Houston Rockets on November 1, 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 – NOVEMBER 1: Jarrett Jack #55 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball against the Houston Rockets on November 1, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. Ball Movement

When the New York Knicks commit to moving the ball, the offense comes together in a beautiful way. Head coach Jeff Hornacek knows how to run a successful motion offense, and the players have the collective skill to execute at a top-10 level.

The loss to the Houston Rockets may have been discouraging, but a commitment to ball movement is exactly what enabled the Knicks to win three in a row.

Jarrett Jack and Frank Ntilikina are proving to be a strong 1-2 punch of facilitating point guards. Jack is currently averaging 5.6 assists to just 1.2 turnovers per game, while Ntilikina is contributing 3.6 assists in just 17.6 minutes per contest.

Those numbers may not jump off the page, but they translate to 7.8 assists per 36 minutes for Jack and 7.4 per 36 for Ntilikina.

Beyond the presence of two pass-first point guards who know how to find their teammates, however, is a need for the rest of the team to buy in. That hasn’t been a problem overall, but situationally, the Knicks have a tendency to lose sight of the system.

If the Knicks are going to avoid another second half collapse and defeat the Suns, they must trust that the ball moves faster than a defender when Phoenix inevitably goes on a run.

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