The Knicks know they have a problem on their hands.
Their 5-1 start to the season feels more like a distant memory. They’ve lost five of their last seven games, there’s legitimate reason for concern.
The fan base has gone from “bing-bong” to “here we go again”.
Thankfully, the bing-bong craze is going away. However, the bigger issue at hand for the Knicks (7-6) is their recent struggles.
Defense, specifically with the starting lineup, is a liability for this team.
According to StatMuse, the Knicks starting lineup of Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson own the worst defensive rating (119.3) by a five-man unit in NBA history.
It’s an alarming stat which has sparked conversation on social media. Moreover, through 13 games, the lineup has played more minutes together than any other five-man combination in the league.
No one needs to tell head coach Tom Thibodeau this is a problem. He’s likely not sleeping enough as it is, he’s probably a zombie by now trying to figure out how to fix it.
“I think I can help my teammates be better at the start of games. I think I can use my voice a little more,” Walker said after the team’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, on Wednesday. “I don’t think I’m energetic enough. And that needs to be my role. I need to get my guys going. I will definitely take some onus on that aspect. I gotta do it.”
Benching Walker and Fournier won’t happen, at least not right now. The Knicks knew they’d be built differently with the addition of more offense to the lineup. The sacrifice was their identity on defense.
Any lifelong basketball fan will agree playing good defense is just as much attitude as it is technique and skill.
But it’s not just on the defensive side of the ball. The starting lineup is also struggling to find a consistent rhythm on offense.
“It seems we don’t have a lot of chemistry right now,’’ Randle said after Friday night’s disappointing loss in Charlotte. “We have to keep working through it. Yeah it’s frustrating.’’
The challenge for Thibodeau and his guys is to figure out how to stop the bleeding.
Walker and Fournier are not known for their abilities on defense, but they have pride in their respective games. Both, along with Randle, are veterans on this team. They have to lead by example — on both ends of the court.
If the struggles continue, Thibodeau will make changes accordingly. Fournier and Walker’s contracts pricey contracts won’t matter. For now, let’s see if the sense of urgency coming from the team is as real as it appears.
Image: Getty Images
