Knicks’ Championship Dreams Rely on Stepping Up Their Defense Game

This Tuesday, after suffering consecutive defeats against key conference rivals, New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau hinted at a potential game-changer, the nearly 7-foot tall Mitchell Robinson. Since undergoing surgery on his left ankle last May, Robinson hasn’t played this season. However, he is on the verge of making his season debut, having participated fully in recent team activities and showing significant involvement, according to Thibodeau.

The Knicks have had a notable season thus far, boasting a record of 38–20 after narrowly defeating the struggling Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. This gives them the highest winning percentage (65.5%) since Thibodeau took over, and they securely hold the third spot in the Eastern Conference, well on their way to potentially reaching the conference semifinals for the third consecutive year.

However, the team’s ambitions extend beyond just making a decent playoff run. With their offseason acquisitions, including trading five first-round picks for Mikal Bridges and acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns after breaking up the ‘Nova Knicks duo, the Knicks have positioned themselves as a team aiming for the championship.

On the offensive front, the Knicks excel, ranked third in offensive rating according to NBA.com. They are among the top teams in shooting from the field and beyond the arc, and they’ve improved in assists while reducing turnovers. Towns has proven his worth, especially from three-point range, hitting a career-high 43.2%. Jalen Brunson continues to impress throughout his time with the Knicks.

Contrastingly, their defensive performance has been lacking. The Knicks rank 19th in defensive efficiency, struggle with opponent shooting percentages and are particularly vulnerable to three-point shots. Recent games against top offensive teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics have exposed these weaknesses, with the Knicks giving up significant points in these matchups.

Towns has received a fair share of criticism for these defensive shortcomings. Although he’s capable in one-on-one situations, as seen in last year’s playoffs against Nikola Jokic, he struggles in dynamic defensive scenarios, particularly in pick-and-roll situations. This was exploited by Boston, who targeted Towns in their offensive strategy extensively in recent encounters.

This defensive vulnerability isn’t a new revelation. The Minnesota Timberwolves, aware of Towns’s limitations, brought in Rudy Gobert in 2022 to bolster their defense, which showed significant improvement with the new addition, especially when Towns was sidelined.

The Knicks are likely hoping Robinson can have a similar impact. Thibodeau praises Robinson as an “elite” defender in the pick-and-roll and at the rim, as well as an impressive offensive rebounder. His return could be pivotal, as evidenced by the team’s better defensive performance in his last full season alongside key players like Julius Randle.

“Considering Mitch was projected as the starting center, we’ve managed without him for [58] games,” said Thibodeau. “Our guys have stepped up well in his absence. Could we improve? I believe so.”

Robinson’s imminent return could significantly enhance the team’s defensive capabilities, especially in terms of rim protection where the Knicks currently rank low in the league. Last season, he averaged just over one block per game and contested seven shots per game.

Yet, Robinson’s frequent injuries raise concerns. Last season, he only played 31 games and has only surpassed 60 games in three of his six seasons. His integration into the lineup, especially alongside Towns, will likely require some adjustment. With only about six weeks left in the regular season, whether there’s sufficient time for this integration remains uncertain.

Despite not having a winning record against teams like Boston and Cleveland—and extending to include Oklahoma City, a top team from the Western Conference—the Knicks maintain that they are still evolving. Towns described the team as a “work in progress,” a statement that holds some truth especially with Robinson’s absence. However, expecting Robinson to single-handedly transform the struggling Knicks defense to compete with top teams might be overly optimistic.