New York Knicks: 3 Team goals to achieve this season on offense

New York Knicks: Shoot over 47% from the field

While the Knicks need to increase their volume on threes, they need to increase their efficiency on shots inside the arc. The team as a whole shot 45.6% last season, ranking just 21st in the NBA.

This improvement should go hand in hand with shooting more threes, as the uptick in shooting should open up opportunities for open looks at the rim.

Last year’s starting lineup contained just one player who shot over the team average of 45.6%, rim-running center Nerlens Noel who took nearly all of his attempts directly at the basket.

The additions of Walker and Fournier should help bring the team number up, and it’s not hard to imagine Barrett taking yet another leap in his scoring efficiency. Randle will also get more looks attacking downhill instead of relying almost solely on tough mid-range jump shots like he did last season.

The team’s depth should help bring the overall field goal percentage up even further, as both Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickly look poised to make the sophomore leap that many players often do. Toppin has especially looked sharp after a rollercoaster rookie year.

The New York Knicks will also be getting full seasons from Mitchell Robinson and Derrick Rose, who both missed large chunks of last year due to various injury and trade-related reasons. Rose shot 48.7% as a Knick after getting dealt from Detriot, and Robinson broke Wilt Chamberlain’s single-season field goal percentage record when he hit 74.2% of his shots back in 2020.

Efficiency is key when it comes to offensive firepower, so it’s no surprise that 3 of last year’s top 5 teams in field goal percentage ended up making the Conference Finals. This includes the reigning NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks. If the Knicks can fight their way into the top ten, it’s going to drastically improve their odds of going on a run in the 2022 postseason.