BOSTON — The most effective predictor of Knicks success or failure within the common season sits entrance and heart on this sequence.
It’s 3-point protection.
The Knicks had been horrible at defending the trey in video games they misplaced, the worst within the NBA, truly. It’s why the Celtics matchup feels so daunting past the apparent issue of going through the defending NBA champion.
Joe Mazzulla and Brad Stevens constructed their roster and id round creating and burying 3s. Tom Thibodeau constructed the Knicks protection for years round defending the paint, leaving the skin susceptible. That modified a bit this season with the addition of Karl-Anthony Cities, who’s hardly the identical imposing presence on the rim as Isaiah Hartenstein or Mitchell Robinson.
