The Knicks had another abysmal defensive performance on Saturday.
They allowed the Sixers to hit 47 percent of their three-point shots (36 three-point FGAs). They put up little resistance against Philadelphia’s starters. The trio of VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid combined for 88 points on 62 percent shooting (53 FGAs).
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It was another game in a growing stretch where the Knicks struggled to get stops.
How does it get fixed?
Maybe it’s as simple as getting Josh Hart and Landry Shamet back in the lineup?
New York is 2-3 without Hart, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury.
They have fared well in Shamet’s absence but they look like a team that can use his on-ball defense.
New York’s point of attack defense has been bad over the past two games.
If you go back a bit further, they are giving up 122 points per 100 possessions over the past five games. That’s the fourth-worst defensive rating in the NBA. And it’s not a coincidence that the five-game stretch coincides with Hart’s absence.
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The Knicks had Hart in the starting lineup for about a month prior to his injury. In that month, they had the 11th best defense in the league (113 points allowed per 100 possessions).
When will Hart be back from his ankle injury? The Knicks said that he will be re-evaluated next Friday. As noted on Honda Sports Night, Hart is expected to return shortly after that re-evaluation, if not sooner. Shamet – out since Nov. 22 with a shoulder sprain – also should be back on the court in the next week. So barring any setbacks, the Knicks should be close to whole again very soon.
Will Hart and Shamet help straighten them out on defense? Can Mike Brown and defensive coordinator Brendan O’Connor make adjustments that yield better results?
The answer to those two questions will tell you a lot about this Knicks season. If the Knicks can be serviceable on defense, they have enough depth and talent to play into late May/June.
If they can’t sort through those defensive issues, the Knicks may fall well short of their goals this spring.
