At least the Knicks can’t blame Elfrid Payton anymore for their offensive sluggishness.
Entering Tuesday’s contest against the Lakers, the Knicks had averaged less than 100 points in their previous seven games (99.7). They hadn’t scored more than 106 points in any game during that span and were 2-4 in their last six outings.
Coach Tom Thibodeau can preach all he wants about his team’s defense backsliding from last season, but the starting five’s inability to sustain a spark was also a big issue in their so-so 9-8 record.
The Knicks’ first 17 games were cupcakes compared to what’s ahead of them starting with the Lakers on Tuesday, so there are alarm bells ready to be clanged.
Even their tougher foes — two games each against Milwaukee and the Sixers — were against opponents woefully undermanned. For the most part, the Knicks have remained healthy.
Because of their hot start, the Knicks’ offensive efficiency rankings are still middle-of-the-pack. They entered play 13th in the league at 105 points per 100 possessions. Their 3-point shooting percentage also is decent, ranked sixth at 36.4 percent.
However, in their last two losses entering Tuesday, the Knicks were 23 of 76 from 3.
The Knicks had a league-high amount of cap space and added a new backcourt in Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier. Neither has excelled and neither are relied upon to close out games. Meanwhile, RJ Barrett is in a mystifying and disastrous 10-game shooting funk.
Thibodeau is as confused as anyone, recalling former coach David Fizdale’s issues. Ironically, Fizdale will be in the house Tuesday as a Lakers assistant.
Walker had a thriving third quarter in Chicago on Sunday, finally gaining a trifle of chemistry with Julius Randle in the pick-and-roll. But Walker still sat out the fourth quarter. Fournier never gained a rhythm against the Bulls and was on the pine, too, for the game’s final 13 minutes.
“Whoever is going good,” Thibodeau said after that game on how he picked his closers. “We’re just searching. The starters gave us a good lift to start the third. Our starters played really well to start the third. That was important. We went with a group that had a surge at the end of the third, early fourth and we tried to ride that as much as we could.”
It backfired as the Bulls romped for 37 points in the final frame, leaving Thibodeau clipped with his answers late in the Chicago night.
“We fought like crazy to get into position to win, then we have to find a way to close it out,” Thibodeau said. “We didn’t get it done but we take the positives. We have to build consistency and understand what went wrong, what we did well. The challenge [in this] situation is not to change.”
After his recent remark that it was “a bunch of bulls–t” the starters need time to jell, Thibodeau has since softened and talked about players like Fournier finding their way.
After a practice eight days ago in which Thibodeau installed more plays for the starters to get better ball movement, the Knicks coach has seen an increase in sharing.
He’s seen more penetration from Walker where the ball is being, as Thibodeau calls it, “sprayed out.” That is key to Walker’s success in getting into the paint to create and not just be a 3-pointer shooter.
Randle is looking forward to this step up in class. After Tuesday’s Lakers showdown, the Suns, Hawks, Nets, Bulls and Nuggets are their next foes.
“They’re a team with championship aspirations, that’s what we’re trying to get to, so yeah, I’m always looking forward — every time you step on the court it’s a blessing, so I’m looking forward to it,” Randle said of the Lakers. “It makes me happy just because I know we’re going to come in ready, mentally sharp, ready to compete. Yeah, I like those games.”
