It has been the flaw hanging over this staff for some time, a priority that has typically been masked in opposition to dangerous groups within the common season or by the miraculous finishes within the playoffs.
Because the Knicks are so reliant on their starters — so totally reliant that no different five-man lineup got here near the quantity of minutes performed collectively than New York’s group — it’s susceptible on protection.
Why? It’s exhausting to masks one poor defender. Nevertheless it’s more durable to masks two, which is the conundrum dealing with the Knicks with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Cities. Meaning the Knicks want full dedication to defending the pick-and-roll, full dedication to speaking on switches, full dedication to getting again in transition (ahem, Cities), full dedication to creating the proper rotations.
Sadly for the Knicks, they’re not doing these issues in opposition to the Pacers. Particularly not Cities, who was on the courtroom for 28 minutes whereas the Knicks have been outscored by 19.
