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New York Knicks: Takeaways from the loss to the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 22

By Maxwell Ogden

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 22: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks reacts thinking he was fouled on a second half shot while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on December 22, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 104-101. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 22: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks reacts thinking he was fouled on a second half shot while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on December 22, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 104-101. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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AUBURN HILLS, MI – DECEMBER 22: Jarrett Jack #55 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Detroit Pistons on December 22, 2017 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI – DECEMBER 22: Jarrett Jack #55 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Detroit Pistons on December 22, 2017 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. New York Must Get To The Line

The New York Knicks have a number of efficient free throw shooters who have put their money where their mouth is. An issue in 2017-18, however, has been the fact that the Knicks have struggled to consistently get to the charity stripe.

Against the Detroit Pistons, the massive disparity in free throw attempts was a deciding factor in which team controlled the pace of the game.

The Knicks attempted a grand total of six free throws during the three-point loss to the Pistons. Detroit shot just 72.0 percent from the charity stripe, but it still managed to get 18 points from the charity stripe via its 25 free throw attempts.

That massive disparity played a direct role in the outcome of the game, as the Pistons’ plus-12 differential was nine points greater than the difference in the final score.

It’s admittedly common for the home team to get the benefit of the whistle. That vast of a disparity is anything but common, however, even if the Knicks have struggled to get to the line with much consistency in 2017-18.

New York is one of nine teams averaging fewer than 20.0 free throw attempts per game, which is inevitably making games more difficult to win.

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