3. New York Knicks area of need: Defending The Three-Point Shot
If the New York Knicks aren’t going to shoot the three-ball with consistency, they’ll at least need to be able to defend it. In recent seasons, that combination of flaws has proven more costly than almost anything else that’s plagued the Knicks.
That’s continued in 2019-20, when New York have been the second-worst team in the Association at defending the outside shot—all while being the worst at converting it.
New York currently ranks 28th in three-point field goals allowed at 13.3 per game. Two teams may sit below the Knicks in that regard, but the Milwaukee Bucks rank where they do because of volume—a league-high 38.6 attempts against per game—over efficiency—18th in percentage.
New York, meanwhile, ranks 29th in the NBA in opponent three-point field goal percentage at 38.1 percent—an inexcusable number for a team that’s struggled in this regard for far too long.
The Knicks ranked 24th in opponent three-point field goal percentage in 2018-19 and 20th in 2017-18. That’s a disappointing truth when one considers New York was eighth in opponent three-point field goal percentage in 2016-17—albeit another losing season.
It may not be the fix-all, but if the Knicks can defend the three-point shot with consistency, even the slightest signs of improvement on offense will be magnified.