Knicks Defense MIA in MIA

This is just the second time in the past four decades that a Knicks team has allowed opponents to shoot above 56% from the floor and above 56% from 3PT territory in consecutive contests.

The Heat have failed to live up to expectations this season, primarily because of their struggles on the offensive end. Miami is the only team in the NBA averaging fewer than 110 points per game in 2022-23. They rank 27th in the league in overall FG% and 28th in three-point percentage, converting less than 34% of their attempts from behind the arc. 

Yet, you wouldn't have known it based on their execution last night vs. the Knicks. The Heat shot 57% from the field and 57.1% from downtown en route to a 127-120 victory. It was the first time in over a decade that Miami scored north of 125 points in a game while shooting at least 57% from the floor and from deep.

Unfortunately for New York, it's the second straight game they have been sieve-like on defense. In Monday's loss to Minnesota at MSG, the Knicks allowed a Timberwolves team, playing without their two leading scorers (Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony Towns), to put up 140 points while converting 61.4% of their FG attempts and 58.3% of their triple tries.

Incredibly, according to Basketball-Reference, this is just the second time in the past 44 years (BR data tracks back to the start of the 1979-80 season) that the Knicks have allowed opponents to shoot above 56% from the floor and above 56% from three-point territory in consecutive contests. It's the first time they've done so while allowing more than 125 points in both games. 

Earlier in the season, I frequently pointed out that New York allowed far too many wide-open looks on the perimeter. To their credit, the team did a better job on that front beginning in December, when they started playing far better on both ends of the court. However, the Knicks allowed the Wolves and Heat to knock down a combined 18 wide-open triples (no defender within six feet) this week. 

Another common theme in these past two games was both Minnesota and Miami making a concerted effort to attack Jalen Brunson defensively.

We've sung Brunson's praises early and often in this space since he arrived in New York, and deservedly so. He's been beyond excellent on the offensive end, exceeding any and all expectations. On the season, the dude is averaging 23.8 points, 6.2 assists (vs. just 2.0 turnovers) and 1.9 three-balls per game while slashing 49/41/83%. Those are jaw-dropping numbers.

However, if we're being honest, his defense, especially of late, has been worse than expected - and expectations weren't high. 

Over Miami's first 11 games in March, Gabe Vincent was averaging 7.3 points on 37% shooting. Wednesday night, he lit up the Knicks for 19 points, knocking down 8 of his 12 FG attempts. Kyle Lowry, hampered by a nagging knee injury, has been awful this season. Coming into last night, he was averaging 7.3 PPG on 39% shooting dating back to December. On Wednesday, Lowry scored 14 points (5-of-9 FGs). 

Monday at MSG, 35-year-old Mike Conley turned back the clock, racking up 24 points and 11 assists. Brunson was often asked to defend Jaden McDaniels in that game, but that also backfired.

Brunson's inability to defend the point of attack has been an issue all season, but New York had done a solid job of covering up for his limitations defensively. That has not been the case this week. It's something the Knicks need to address ASAP. 

Following Monday's defeat, Brunson took accountability, telling reporters: "They didn't miss. But we didn't make them miss. Offense wasn't our problem today. Defensively, I was terrible. I gotta be better. Yeah, it starts with me; I just gotta be better on defense."

The same could have been said Wednesday night. 

Looking at the standings, the Knicks' lead over Miami and Brooklyn is now down to two games. 

And there is no rest for the weary. New York travels to Orlando on Thursday to complete their 12th and final back-to-back of the season.

Given the Magic's overall record (30-43), some fans may view this as a relatively easy matchup. They would be wrong. Not only does Orlando have a rest advantage, but they've also been playing better of late. Last weekend, they beat the Clippers in LA. And the prior Saturday, they beat the Heat in OT. Dating back to early December, Orlando is two games above .500 (25-23). They rank 11th in the NBA in Defensive Rating during this stretch, just behind the Denver Nuggets and ahead of the Knicks. 

The Knicks have fallen behind by double digits in four consecutive contests, and they can expect a tough fight Thursday in what is suddenly an important game. 

New York's magic number to clinch a top-6 seed in the East is seven games. 

About Last Night:

🏀 One really positive takeaway from last night's loss was the play of RJ Barrett, who finished with 26 points (8-of-13 FGs, 7-of-7 FTs), six rebounds, five assists, and three 3-pointers in 36 minutes. It was the fourth straight game in which RJ shot at least 50% from the floor, which is a very encouraging sign. During the stretch, he slashing 60/40/80% on 11.8 FGA attempts. Over New York's past five games, he's averaging 22.4 points on 54% shooting. 

🏀 In Tuesday's post, I called for New York to re-integrate Quentin Grimes into the offense. Well, the Knicks did just that on Wednesday and QG delivered, tallying 22 points (7-of-12 FGs) and six 3-pointers in 26 minutes vs. Miami. The Knicks offense is much more dangerous and less predictable when Grimes gets plenty of touches. 

🏀 I also noted earlier this week that Mitchell Robinson wasn't being properly utilized. His teammates found Mitch Rob for a few lobs early on in the first quarter in Miami, but he was limited to just 25 minutes due to foul trouble. He finished the evening with 10 points, eight boards and three blocks. He was also limping late in the game after falling on his knee in the fourth quarter. Hopefully, that's not an issue going forward. 

🏀 After exploding for 57 points vs. Minnesota, Randle returned to earth in Florida, registering just 15 points on 16 FG attempts. However, he did dish out a game-high nine assists. The other concern about having to finish the regular season strongly is forcing Randle, Brunson, and company to continue logging heavy minutes. 

🏀 Mike Breen made an interesting comment during the broadcast last night. Speaking of Miles McBride, Breen stated, "I've had a couple of assistant coaches come up to me and say, 'Boy that Deuce McBride - I wish we had him on our team.'" Deuce has not been a part of the rotation in each of the Knicks' past three games. With the team struggling defensively and on the second night of a back-to-back, I wonder if Thibs might dust off Deuce tonight and throw him in the mix. 

🏀 Looking at the schedule, the Nets (riding a four-game sling streak) host the Cavs tonight in Brooklyn. The Heat are off until Saturday when they take on the Nets in Miami. Heat guard Tyler Herro called that game a "must-win" for Miami. 

🏀 Last but not least, I want to take a moment to pay tribute to The Captain, Willis Reed, who passed away Tuesday morning. 

Reed grew up on a farm in tiny Bernice, Louisiana, in the segregated South in the early 1940s before enrolling at Grambling State University. As a senior, he averaged a whopping 26.6 points per game and 21.3 rebounds per game. New York nabbed him with the eighth overall selection in the 1964 draft.

Reed was a stud right out of the gate. He finished his rookie season averaging 19.5 points (seventh in the NBA) and 14.7 rebounds per game (ranking fifth) en route to being the first Knick to be named NBA Rookie of the Year.

In 1969-70, the Knicks won 14 of their first 15 games to start the year and went on to notch 60 regular-season victories for the first time in franchise history, including a then-record 18-game winning streak. Reed averaged 21.7 points that season, taking home MVP honors at the 1970 All-Star Game and being named the league's Most Valuable Player. 

And, of course, Reed will be forever remembered for authoring one of the greatest moments in NBA history when he limped out of the tunnel at MSG at approximately 7:34 pm on May 8th, 1970, fifteen minutes before the start of Game 7 vs. the Lakers. Willis scored the first two buckets of the contest, and the Knicks never looked back, recording an epic 113-99 victory and capturing the first title in franchise history.

We've all seen that moment repeatedly replayed over the past couple of days. But I think it's worth pointing out that Reed had to put the Knicks on his back and carry them through a gauntlet to arrive at that moment. 

In the first round of the 1970 postseason, the Knicks beat a super-talented Baltimore Bullets team, featuring Wes Unseld and Earl Monroe, in seven games. In the series, Willis averaged 21.3 points and 17.3 rebounds, while holding Unseld (who was the reigning NBA MVP!) to just 10.4 points per game on 41% shooting.

In the crucial Game 5 of that semifinals series, Reed poured in 36 points and ripped down 36 rebounds at the Garden. In Game 7, Willis limited Unseld to just two points on 1-of-8 shooting. 

After beating Unseld and The Pearl in Round One, next up was, oh, just some guy named Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

However, the Knicks made easy work of  Kareem and his Bucks, beating them in five games. In that Eastern Conference Finals series, Willis averaged 27.8 points (on 54% shooting), 12.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists.

Next up: Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and the seemingly unbeatable Lakers in the NBA Finals. 

Reed erupted for 37 points, 16 rebounds and five assists in Game 1 to carry New York to the victory. He went for 28/15/5 in a Game 2 loss. In a must-win Game 3 in LA, Reed racked up 38 points, 17 boards and three dimes to give NY the edge in the series.

As we know, Reed was injured badly in Game 5, as his quad muscle tore off the bone. And, as we know, he limped onto the court with no feeling in his leg in Game 7. He drained his first two jumpers, and Clyde took care of the rest.

Amazingly, if you speak to those that knew him well, Willis was an even better person than player, if that's possible. 

Rest In Power, Captain. You will be missed.