Loss to Grizzlies highlights mediocre Knicks’ most dire need
Despite a fantastic performance from Jalen Brunson, coupled with a moderately efficient game from RJ Barrett, the New York Knicks just couldn’t get it done against the Grizzlies in a 127-123 loss.
With the loss on Sunday, the Knicks have now lost four out of their last five games and sit at 9-11 on the season. While this is certainly not the best start, things could be much worse.
The Knicks have been outmatched in almost all of their recent games. A lot of it has to do with the team’s poor defense and lack of a consistent star outside of Brunson. These two factors have killed the Knicks more than anything this season and the front office must make a change soon.
The Knicks’ lack of a star is crushing them and something needs to change
We have seen the Knicks’ lack of star power bite them in the butt all season long. Not only does the team lack someone outside of Jalen Brunson who can consistently match the scoring output of another team’s star, but they also lack a player that is capable of defending said player.
It is difficult to defend a star, but in general, New York’s defense has been rather putrid all season. While they have a couple of solid defenders in Cam Reddish, Quentin Grimes, and surprisingly enough Immanuel Quickley, that is just about it.
Yes, the Knicks have some solid paint presence defensively with Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein, but they can only provide so much.
Regardless, the Knicks simply lack the star power to overcome an opposing team’s best player. Even without an opponent’s best player, New York still gets cooked. I mean, Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons, and Jusuf Nurkic looked like the second coming of the Jordan-era Bulls against the Knicks in Friday’s loss.
With New York’s disappointing start and clear lack of a star, I could see the team looking to make a move of some sort to change things up. Whether it’s to tank for generational prospects like Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson or to bulk up and push for the playoffs, something must be done.
Brunson can only push a team so far when he is the only one consistently playing well. While we’ve seen flashes of greatness out of Julius Randle and RJ Barrett, we have yet to see them do this consistently.
New York has plenty of pieces to pull together a great package for a disgruntled star if need be. Even if it is just a re-haul of role players, Derrick Rose and Evan Fournier could be moved for a new set of bench players.
There are too many issues with this current roster to pinpoint one solution, which is why a massive change could potentially be on the way. Regardless, the Knicks’ schedule is not going to get any easier in their upcoming matchups, so a continuation of their struggles could very well be on its way.
