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New York Knicks: Keys to defeating the New Orleans Pelicans on Dec. 30

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 15: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks defends the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans during the game on November 15, 2015 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 15: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks defends the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans during the game on November 15, 2015 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 27: Darius Miller #21 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after a shot against the Brooklyn Nets at the Smoothie King Center on December 27, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 27: Darius Miller #21 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after a shot against the Brooklyn Nets at the Smoothie King Center on December 27, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

Defense: Three-Point Defense

As previously established, the New York Knicks must be able to knock down the three-ball with volume and efficiency. On the other end of the floor, the Knicks must be able to step out and defend the outside shot.

The New Orleans Pelicans may have built the offense around two dominant big men in DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis, but they’re too dangerous from distance to overlook.

The matchups between Davis and Kristaps Porzingis, and Cousins and Enes Kanter should be solid down low. Porzingis and Kanter will have their hands full, but they’ll receive help in isolation situations from perimeter players.

In order to defeat the Pelicans, the Knicks must minimize the contributions of the supporting cast by running the shooters off the three-point line.

New Orleans ranks No. 3 in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage and No. 8 in three-point field goals made per game. The outside shot is a foundational aspect of the offense, as it creates space for the superstars, and forces the opposition to account for the supporting players.

Davis and Cousins are all but guaranteed to post big numbers, which means New York must find a way to limit the supporting shooters’ output.

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