Todd Kirkland/Getty Pictures
It is protected to say the New York Knicks are formally in a rut.
They misplaced their third consecutive recreation on Friday evening, a 139-124 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks. It is the second-most factors the Knicks have given as much as an opponent this season, trailing solely the 145 scored by the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Nov. 13.
The Hawks weren’t precisely a defensive juggernaut on this recreation. They allowed 124 factors and let the Knicks shoot 59.0 % from the sphere, together with 13-of-30 from three-point vary.
However this was an embarrassing defensive effort from head coach Tom Thibodeau’s squad. It is also the third consecutive recreation they’ve allowed an opponent to attain a minimum of 116 factors.
Previous to this tough stretch, the final group to attain a minimum of 116 factors in opposition to the Knicks was the San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 29. That recreation additionally got here on the finish of a season-high five-game shedding streak.
Trae Younger did not have his greatest recreation with 27 factors on 9-of-21 taking pictures from the sphere, six assists and 4 turnovers. Dejounte Murray was wonderful with 29 factors, 12 assists and three steals in 36 minutes.
NBA followers had loads to say in regards to the Knicks’ abysmal effort on the defensive finish of the courtroom in opposition to the Hawks:
Lengthy Island Life(Dave) @D_DezUSA4Life
Knicks refuse to play any sort of protection as soon as once more this yr. It is so irritating to observe.
2023 sucks @AnthonyBialy
It is that new model of lockdown protection that concedes 70 per half. #Knicks #NewYorkForever https://t.co/RVy3Mh4ELe
Lengthy Island Life(Dave) @D_DezUSA4Life
I do not care that the Knicks scored 124 factors tonight. Giving up 139 factors is an absolute shame. Thibs was purported to be a defensive coach and has all the time preached protection. For some cause that has simply not occurred right here in NY. It is time to transfer on.
Papa G @papa_gardner11
Knicks may need a particularly brutal stretch and fully damage that nice 20-game stretch they’d solely as a result of they misplaced essentially the most very important half to their protection on the worst attainable time.
Should be what the Suns felt like.
Did the Knicks Win? @knickswintrack
Tom Thibodeau taking part in drop protection in opposition to Trae/Dejounte pic.twitter.com/M3NTc7pUl4
OYOMA MCCARLEY @yodafresh1
124pts as soon as once more I’ll say scoring isn’t our downside however protection positively is individuals 😤👉🏾 We want a 2way Defender that may nonetheless shoot the ball 🏀 Go Knicks ✊🏾
Donald Stewart @DStewart267
This can be a full joke from the Knicks. Hawks with 131 factors with time nonetheless to go to get loads extra, farcical protection. #Knicks
Seán Hartnett @SeanLikesSports
I believed the id of the Tom Thibodeau Knicks was purported to be grit and hard D. Despite the fact that Mitchell Robinson was out, 139 factors in opposition to is inexcusable.
It is in all probability not a coincidence the Knicks had this defensive efficiency of their first recreation with out Mitchell Robinson. The group announced he might be re-evaluated in three weeks after present process surgical procedure to restore a fractured proper thumb after struggling the damage in Wednesday’s loss to the Washington Wizards.
“Mitch is the anchor for our protection,” RJ Barrett told reporters after the Wizards recreation. “Him going out is an adjustment for positive.”
Robinson ranks fifth within the NBA with 1.8 blocks per recreation and second on the group with 8.9 rebounds per contest. Jalen Brunson had all three of New York’s blocks in opposition to the Hawks, however the group was outrebounded 39-34 with Atlanta’s edge approaching the offensive glass (14-9).
The Knicks entered this recreation ranked seventh in factors allowed (111.4) and eleventh in defensive ranking (112.8).
There isn’t any cause to hit the full-blown panic button but, however three straight losses have the Knicks simply 0.5 video games forward of the Hawks, who’ve now received 5 consecutive video games, for the No. 7 seed within the Japanese Convention.
New York is off tomorrow earlier than taking over the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Area on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.
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