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

1. Defend The Three-Point Line

Through victory and defeat, the one area in which the New York Knicks have displayed an inability to excel is in defending the three-point line. New York has defended at a respectable level overall, but in this era of three-point infatuation, its closeouts simply won’t suffice.

The Phoenix Suns aren’t as dependent on the three-ball as their reputation implies, but the Knicks won’t be able to get away with lazy closeouts on Friday.

New York will enter the Suns game at No. 29 in the NBA in three-point field goals allowed at a dreadful 13.1. The optimistic take is that it’s holding opponents to a somewhat manageable 36.4 percent shooting—a bad, but not terrible mark by early standards.

The realistic evaluation, however, is that the Knicks have a tendency to become discouraged by the three-point shots that the opposition knocks down.

Phoenix ranks in the bottom third of the NBA in three-point field goals made per game, but it has a genuine sharpshooter in Devin Booker. Even if Booker doesn’t get hot, the likes of Dragan Bender, Mike James, and TJ Warren are threats to do so.

Regardless of whom Suns head coach Jay Triano goes with, the Knicks won’t get away with the lazy closeouts they’ve been guilty of in 2017-18.

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If the New York Knicks are going to make it four wins in five games, defense must be the top priority.