Knicks Struggle to Compete With East’s Best Teams This Season
The New York Knicks have positioned themselves as one of the stronger teams in the Eastern Conference, but their performance against the elite competition tells a different story. So far this season, the Knicks are 0-5 against the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, the two teams they must overcome if they want to make a deep playoff run.
While New York has shown flashes of brilliance, their inability to beat the East’s best has raised questions about whether they truly belong in the conference’s upper echelon. Let’s break down why the Knicks are struggling against elite competition, what they need to improve, and whether they can turn things around before the playoffs.
Knicks’ Struggles Against the East’s Elite
The Knicks have enjoyed a solid season overall, but their record against top-tier opponents leaves much to be desired. Their matchups with the Celtics and Cavaliers have been particularly troubling, highlighting key weaknesses that must be addressed.
Season Head-to-Head Record
- New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics: 0-3
- New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: 0-2
While New York has managed victories against middle-tier and lower-seeded opponents, their inability to secure wins against the Celtics and Cavaliers suggests they still have a gap to close.
Common Themes in Their Losses
A closer look at these defeats reveals recurring issues that have plagued New York all season:
- Defensive Breakdowns: The Knicks are known for their defensive grit, but both the Celtics and Cavaliers have exposed weaknesses. New York has struggled to rotate effectively against sharp perimeter shooting teams, leaving shooters with open looks.
- Inconsistent Offense: While Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle have played well, the Knicks have struggled with offensive consistency. At times, they rely too heavily on isolation plays, making their offense predictable and easier to defend.
- Depth Concerns: Injuries and a lack of production from key bench players have hurt New York in these big matchups. Without reliable scoring options off the bench, they’ve found it difficult to keep up with the East’s better teams.
What the Knicks Must Improve
To truly cement themselves among the East’s top teams, the Knicks must address their shortcomings. Here are the key areas they need to improve as the playoffs approach:
Sharpening Their Defensive Rotations
New York’s defense has been one of their strengths, but they’ve struggled against teams with high-powered offenses. The Celtics, for example, have torched them from beyond the arc by finding open shooters off quick ball movements. The Knicks must improve their defensive communication and rotations to close out shooters more effectively.
Developing a More Dynamic Offensive Approach
The Knicks’ offense often becomes stagnant in big games, relying too heavily on isolation plays from Brunson and Randle. Against top-tier defenses, this approach has been ineffective. They need to integrate more ball movement and off-ball screens to create better high-percentage scoring opportunities.
Bench Production Must Improve
Depth is key in playoff basketball, and the Knicks will need better contributions from their role players. Players like Josh Hart and Immanuel Quickley must step up offensively to provide reliable scoring when the starters rest.
Can the Knicks Close the Gap by Playoff Time?
Despite their struggles, the Knicks remain a dangerous team with a chance to fix their issues before the postseason. They have a talented roster and one of the better defensive units in the league. However, if they don’t start proving they can beat the top teams in the East, their playoff ceiling may be lower than they hope.
New York still has time to respond, but the clock is ticking. If they truly want to compete for a deep playoff run, they must start showing they can go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the East.