Enclosed Within Limits: Knicks Overpowered by NBA's Elite Echelon
The New York Knicks haven't had much success against the NBA's elite teams this season. They've fallen to 0-7 against the league's top three squads, including a 118-105 loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday. That puts them at 0-3 versus the reigning champions, 0-2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and 0-2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Knicks splurged on upgrades, trading away five first-round draft picks for Mikal Bridges and dishing out a $212.5 million, five-year deal to OG Anunoby. These moves were primarily aimed at competing with Boston, but so far, the results haven't shown.
In their season series against the Celtics, the Knicks have only led for 50 seconds out of a total 144 minutes. Bridges is shooting at 43.8% from the field and 31.3% from three-point range. Anunoby, in his career-high 24 games against Boston, hasn't managed to score 15 points or more, according to NBC Sports Boston's Dick Lipe [1].
It's not just Bridges and Anunoby, though. Jayson Tatum has wreaked havoc on the Knicks' defense, scoring 25 points, 10 rebounds, and dishing out 9 assists against them on Sunday. The Celtics thrive on pressuring opponents' weakest defenders, a strategy head coach Joe Mazzulla likens to Orca Whales hunting seals [2].
Tatum put up an impressive 37 points and 10 assists when the Celtics visited Madison Square Garden earlier this month. He scored 40 points in their 132-109 victory on opening night, too. No matter who the Knicks assign to guard Tatum, they've struggled for answers, often praying for misses instead of exploiting size advantages against opponents like Jalen Brunson [2].
Despite their struggles against top-tier teams, the Knicks are having a fantastic overall season. They've climbed to third in the Eastern Conference with a 37-20 record and share the same mark as the Denver Nuggets, whom they've bested in both of their matchups [2]. But their performance against the NBA's elite teams remains a glaring issue.
"It's probably a combination of things," Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau admitted. “One, they're elite, and I think the volume-3-shooting teams, you can do a good job, but it just takes two or three minutes of not getting it right, and they can go on a run on you. So, it's something that we got to continue to work on, and that's the test of the league. So, learn from each game [and] get ready for the next one. And that's where we want to focus.”
Relevant Enrichment Data [1][2]
- Bridges' Performance: Mikal Bridges struggled against the Celtics, shooting slightly below 44% from the field and 31.3% from beyond the arc. It's noteworthy that his performances against top-tier teams have been inconsistent, as pointed out in the data.
- Jayson Tatum’s Torching of the Knicks: Jayson Tatum has been particularly impressive against the Knicks, putting up 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists on Sunday, and in the past, registering as many as 37 points and 10 assists in a single game. This data highlights how difficult it has been for New York to stop him, contributing to their overall struggles against the top teams in the NBA.
Jalen Brunson has also had success against the Knicks, scoring 28 points and dishing out 12 assists in their last matchup. This dominant performance by the Boston Celtics' guard further highlighted the Knicks' struggles against elite players.
The New York Knicks may need to rethink their defensive strategies, as malware-like efficiency from opponents like Jalen Brunson can prove detrimental to their chances against top teams. Karl-Anthony Towns, a potential acquisition for the Knicks, could add another dimension to their defense if they make a move for him.
Despite their challenges against elite teams, the Knicks can take solace in their preparedness for future encounters. Their overall record and performances against lesser opponents suggest they are probably ready to bounce back and put up a better fight against the NBA's best.
However, until then, the Knicks will continue to search for answers against teams like Boston, hoping for improvement and a shift in the tide of their head-to-head matchups.
