During the upcoming season, the New York Knicks will be going through some tough times. However, there are some things that can be said about the team that can help them to succeed in their games.
Atlanta Hawks vs Dallas Mavericks
Neither the New York Knicks nor the Dallas Mavericks are a lock to make the playoffs this season, but there is enough talent on both sides to compete for a playoff spot. On Sunday, they will face off in a game that is worth a wager. The total is 233 points. Both teams will be sluggish early on, but the Mavericks are slightly more likely to cover the spread.
The Mavericks are a much deeper team than the Knicks, and their defense is better. They have allowed only 115.0 points per game this season, ranking 19th in the NBA. However, they allow opponents to shoot 45.1% from the field, which is the second worst in the league.
The Hawks are also in good shape, but they have lost key players. They are without De’Andre Hunter, John Collins, and Onyeka Okongwu. The Hawks have only won four games on the road this season.
Point guard Jalen Brunson
Earlier this month, the New York Knicks signed free agent point guard Jalen Brunson to a four-year, $104 million contract. His arrival is the latest sign of hope for the franchise, which has been mired in a cold streak.
Brunson, a former second-round pick of the Mavericks, is a good fit for the Knicks, who have struggled to find a playmaker at the point guard position for the past 15 years. He’ll bring leadership, solid ball handling skills and a willingness to pass. He’s not going to be a superstar, but he’ll add depth at the point guard spot and play a big role in the team’s offense.
The Knicks have had a longtime goal of adding a viable point guard to their roster, but they’ve had trouble finding a reliable replacement for Elfrid Payton. Now, with the addition of Brunson, the Knicks are poised to get back to the playoffs.
Big guard Quentin Grimes
During the first half of the Knicks’ recent game against the Detroit Pistons, Quentin Grimes was a very active player. He had five points on 1-of-3 shooting, along with two assists and a steal. He was also a major contributor on the rebounding end, with six rebounds.
During the last five games, Grimes has been a productive player, averaging 4.0 assists and 9.2 points. He also showed flashes of being a very good defender, and defensive prowesses. He has also had his best scoring game of the season so far, with 16 points in the win over Detroit.
This past summer, the Knicks were on the verge of trading Donovan Mitchell, and had been heavily linked to the trade. However, the trade fell apart. Now, they are in talks with the Utah Jazz. As such, they could potentially get a good deal for the Knicks’ big guard.
Strengths on both sides of the floor
Despite a disappointing record, the New York Knicks have a few strengths on both sides of the floor. They’ve shown a strong offense, which leads to a solid shotmaking and three-point shooting team. The defensive side of the ball has been weak, but they’ve won two games by less than 90 points.
The Grizzlies were the #4 3-point shooting team in the league last season, but they’re struggling to prevent opponents from making threes. In fact, they rank 19th in defensive rebounding. In addition, they’ve been outscored by an average of seven points per game in the paint.
The Knicks also lead the league in three-pointers made with 10.7 per game, and they rank sixth in three-point percentage with 37 percent. They’ve also been above-average in second-chance points allowed and free throw attempts.
Losses in past five games
During the Knicks’ recent five game road trip, the team hasn’t performed as well as they would have hoped. The team has lost four of their five games. They were unable to make a big comeback and have given up a number of open looks from the long range.
The Knicks haven’t been able to put away their opponents in the fourth quarter. They’ve scored just seven points in the last 12 minutes and have allowed their opponents to shoot 41.2% from three over the past four games.
Jalen Brunson has emerged as the most important player on the team. He leads the team with 6.5 assists per game and is averaging 21.8 points. He was also named to the All-Star game and led the Knicks with a 27 point performance.