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New York Knicks: Keys to defeating the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 12

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 6: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game on February 6, 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 - FEBRUARY 6: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game on February 6, 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 – NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Jeff Hornacek of the New York Knicks talks to his team during a timeout in the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden on November 27, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Jeff Hornacek of the New York Knicks talks to his team during a timeout in the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden on November 27, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /

Offense: Trust The System

The New York Knicks seem to have abandoned the offensive system over the course of the past two games. That ultimately resulted in the Knicks being upset by the Chicago Bulls and narrowly escaping the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden.

Against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Knicks must get back to trusting the system and moving the ball to create easy and efficient offense.

New York currently ranks No. 9 in the NBA in assists per game, but the team’s ball movement has been unpredictable. It’s finished 16 games with upwards of 20 assists, but it’s also recorded 10 games with 20 or less—and that imbalance has played directly into its 13-13 record.

Thus far in 2017-18, the Knicks are 10-6 when they record more than 20 assists, and 3-7 when they fail to reach that magic number of 21.

Although the Lakers may be 10-15, Luke Walton’s crew currently ranks No. 9 in points allowed per 100 possessions. That level of defensive proficiency borders on elite, which means the Knicks will need to work as a team to create offense.

Jeff Hornacek’s newly installed system has been working for the Knicks in 2017-18, but it becomes obsolete if the players refuse to buy in.

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