Tom Thibodeau is pushing back against the idea the Knicks’ have defensive issues.
Yes, there are areas that could be better, but the team’s coach believes they are progressing.
“I think we’re top 10 in points allowed, we’re [12th] in points in the paint, we’re fifth in fast-break points allowed, we’re top five in second-chance points allowed, so those are all good markers,” he said. “Defensive field goal percentage the last 10 games has been good. I think we’re 13th [overall]. It’s all moving in the right direction. Can it be better? Yes, and that’s what we’re aiming for.”
Part of the reason the Knicks’ numbers are where they are is they play at the fourth-slowest pace in the league, so there are fewer possessions per game.
The Knicks are 16th in defensive rating, allowing 113.7 points per 100 possessions. A year ago they were ninth, at 112.4.
Obviously, this is a new team with different strengths.
The Knicks are one of the premier offensive teams in the league, second in offensive rating at 120.2, after adding Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, while losing Donte DiVincenzo, Julius Randle and Isaiah Hartenstein.
They also don’t have Mitchell Robinson, a rim-protecting and offensive rebounding force who has yet to appear in a game as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery.
That’s part of the reason the Knicks have gone from leading the league in offensive rebounding percentage a year ago to 19th this season.
But Thibodeau believes they are in a good spot all things considered, and thinks the defensive numbers will improve as the year goes on.
“There are a number of markers I look at,” Thibodeau said. “I’ve always said the No. 1 thing for me is NET rating or scoring margin. So how many are you scoring and how many are you giving up? We’re plus-6.5, which is sixth in the league. That’s the most important one. Defensive rating systems, those things are hard to judge because it’s different value systems that people have.”
He added: “When you have a NET rating that we have, it says that you are doing good things.”
It’s also only been 25 games.
The Knicks have started slow every year under Thibodeau.
In fact, this is their best record at this point in the season under Thibodeau.
Last year’s team was 14-11 at this juncture, and would look vastly different following the trade of OG Anunoby.
These Knicks would obviously get better with a healthy Robinson on the defensive end and on the glass.
“This group is still figuring it out. We’re progressing every single day,” Jalen Brunson said. “There’s ups and downs of the season, and we’re finding our way. It’s a fairly new team. We’re going to continue to get better throughout the entire year all the way to April.”
“Yeah, we’re 25 games in, but it still takes time for us to gel and figure it out. I think the best part about this is we’re nowhere near a finished product from all facets. It’s just a mindset, knowing we’re not there yet, and we have a long way to go.”
