Often too limited offensively last year, the Knicks are turning a corner. Talking about New York as one of the best attacks in the NBA is now possible!
With a fourth place in the East in 2021, the Knicks had high hopes for their return to the Playoffs. Unfortunately for Big Apple fans, the Hawks have been there and New Yorkers were soon sent back to school. The doctor’s diagnosis? The defense can take the blows but it still lacks the cam ‘in attack to hold out over time. Too dependent on Julius Randle, the Knicks sank at the same time as their leader and no one knew how to take up the torch to go and tease Trae Young and his gang. To avoid such a scenario in the future, the board decided to bet on the Free Agency. Result of the races? Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier, two great pickaxes and two players who can provide additional cartridges to Tom Thibodeau. The results after four games? 3 wins, 1 loss and an attacking face that seems otherwise more threatening for any team showing up at the Garden. According to StatMuse, expert in advanced stats, New York is fourth in offensive rating, third in points scored and no one in the League is planting more parking shots (they even tied an NBA record after 4 games). So, the Knicks in steamroller mode, do we believe it?
The Knicks this season:
— 1st in 3PM per game
— 2nd in 3PA per game
— 3rd in points per game
— 4th in offensive ratingBing Bong. pic.twitter.com/XoSexJpHYC
— StatMuse (@statmuse) October 27, 2021
When we see the figures of last year (22nd in the offensive rating, 26th in points scored), we are not even talking about simple progress but a real storm in the heads of all observers. The positive point to remember is above all this new possibility of increasing the danger for the opposing team.. In 2021, locking Julius Randle was almost validating the victory at 90%, now it’s far from done. At the forefront of these new threats, we find Evan Fournier, perfect lieutenant of the New York star and author of a cleaner start to the season than the big bald man of the pub (19 points average, 47% shooting including 46% away!). Our national Vavane was eager to don the blue and orange uniform and, for now, he is putting all the Big Apple fans in the pocket. As far as Kemba Walker is concerned, we start with a small ignition delay but his match against Philly last night augurs well for the future. If in addition to all that, Tom Thibodeau can always count on the contribution of Derrick Rose or even a few young people with long teeth (Quickley, Toppin?), The opposing defenses will begin to not know where to turn. The only small question perhaps concerns RJ Barrett, a little less comfortable at the start of the season and who can not find his spots. It’s up to him to correct the situation (literally) to join in the fun.
The Knicks have been in fireworks mode every night since the start of the school year and it’s a real change from last season. If, in addition to that, they manage to find a big solidity behind (only fourteenth in the defensive rating for the moment), we could well attend a masterclass on the side of Gotham.
Text source: StatMuse
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