Knicks Get Waxed by Wizards in Preseason Finale

Okay, let me start here: If you are looking for proof that preseasons can be meaningless, I shall remind you that the 2008 Detroit Lions were a perfect 4-0 in the preseason, holding every opponent to 10 points or fewer. The fanbase was excited and optimistic. Those same Lions would go on to lose every regular season game they played, becoming the first 0-16 team in NFL history.

It's also worth noting that the 2015-16 Warriors, who would record the best regular-season record in the history of the NBA at 73–9, lost four preseason games in October of 2015. 

So, yes, overreacting to preseason results, whether they be impressive wins or dispiriting losses, is unwise.

With all that said, let's acknowledge the fact that the Knicks looked AWFUL last night. 

In their preseason finale (which Thibs and the players intimated they planned to treat as a dress rehearsal for the regular season), New York played their rotation regulars close to their full allotment of minutes and was blown out of the building 131-106 by a Wizards squad that is projected to be the worst team in the league this season. 

The Knicks were uncharacteristically inefficient on the offensive end vs. Washington, shooting below 44% from the floor and converting just 57% of their free throws. Jalen Brunson was off, hitting just 3 of his 12 FG attempts and committing five turnovers. Josh Hart (2-for-3) and Mitch Rob (6-of-9) were the only Knicks to shoot above 50% from the field. 

Still, I don't think there's much to worry about in terms of offensive production over the course of an 82-game season. New York finished the 2022-23 regular season ranked tied for third in Offensive Efficiency. 

However, defense remains a pressing issue. As a reminder, the Knicks ranked 19th in the NBA in Defensive Efficiency last season (just ahead of the Charlotte Hornets and behind the Orlando Magic). In Wednesday's loss, New York's inability to defend was on full display. Washington, a team that traded away its two best players (Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis) and was playing without its leading returning scorer (Kyle Kuzma), exploded for 131 points at MSG. Jordan Poole poured in 41 points in just 27 minutes.

Speaking about Poole's production, Randle said the young shooting guard "didn't feel any type of resistance from us on the defensive end as a team."