New York Knicks: Keys to defeating the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 21

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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 12: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2017 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Lakers 113-109 in overtime. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Defense: The Three-Point Shootout

To say that the New York Knicks have improved on defense since 2016-17 would be a gross understatement. It ranked No. 13 in opponent field goal percentage, No. 23 in points allowed per game, and No. 25 in points allowed per 100 possessions.

In 2017-18, however, the Knicks rank No. 4 in opponent field goal percentage, No. 12 in scoring defense, and No. 15 in defensive efficiency—drastic improvements.

For as well as the Knicks have played overall, a glaring flaw remains: Three-point defense. It’s improved significantly as the season has progressed, but it still ranks No. 25 in the Association in three-point field goals allowed per game.

New York ranks No. 11 in opponent three-point field goal percentage, but with the presence of an elite rim protector comes an abnormally high volume of three-point field goal attempts.

Knowing that to be true, the Knicks must do an adequate job of running the Los Angeles Lakers off the three-point line. The Lakers rank No. 24 in three-point field goals made, but that doesn’t make them any less of a threat to go off.

Los Angeles converted 13 three-point field goals against the Knicks in December, with four different players converting at least two—reason enough to be concerned.

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