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New York Knicks: The 5 areas in which NYK most desperately needs to improve

By Maxwell Ogden

SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 23: Kevin Knox #20 and RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks high five after a dunk against the San Antonio Spurs on October 23, 2019 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photos by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 23: Kevin Knox #20 and RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks high five after a dunk against the San Antonio Spurs on October 23, 2019 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photos by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 29: Mitchell Robinson #23 and Maurice Harkless #3 of the New York Knicks (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

1. New York Knicks area of need: Defensive Consistency

Try to name a New York Knicks team that did anything of significance without playing with exceptional defensive prowess and intensity. I’m sure the temptation is to reference the New York Knicks of 2012-13, which may not have tested as elite in advanced metrics as other memorable units.

The fun fact to dispel that theory, however, is that New York went 6-0 in the 2013 NBA Playoffs when it held opponents to 80 points or fewer—and 0-6 when it didn’t.

Trace it back to the 1990s, when Patrick Ewing and the Knicks were one of the most revered defensive teams in NBA history. Go back to 1984, when New York ranked No. 1 in defensive rating and pushed Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics to seven games.

The story continues through the 1970s, when the Knicks won two championships and ranked as one of the premier defensive teams of their time.

Fast forward to 2019-20 and defensive consistency simply hasn’t been present since the aforementioned 2012-13 campaign. New York ranks No. 19 in scoring defense and No. 23 in defensive efficiency, and that only begins to reflect the inconsistency with which the team has played as far as intensity is concerned.

If the Knicks want to become relevant, let alone prominent, then they’ll need to embrace defense as the primary aspect of their identity.

Must Read. Jason Kidd "wowed" the Knicks in his coaching interview. light

It’s then, and only then, that the New York Knicks can return to relevance.

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