After losing at home to the Warriors, the Knicks suffered four straight losses, with 2 wins and 8 losses in their last 10 games. With recent wins and losses, the Knicks' rankings have also plummeted, and currently, they are only fourth to last in the East, or 12th.
The Knicks' performance was unexpected. Just last season, they had just returned to the playoffs under former best head coach Thibodeau, and before that, the last time they made the playoffs was in the 2012-13 season.
This season, the Knicks renewed their contracts with Randle, and also signed Fournier and Walker, while renewing their contracts with some of the team's role players. With last season's success, the Knicks are also expected to take it a step further this season.
However, the Knicks' performance is now rather sluggish. As the Nets' city rivals, they are now completely inferior to the Nets led by Durant and Harden. This game with the Warriors, they also became Curry's background. In recent times, in addition to beating the Spurs and Eagles, they have only beaten westbrook and Davis-led Lakers (James is absent).
What caused the Knicks' performance to decline? It's defensive. This season, the Knicks have a defensive efficiency of 110.6, ranking 24th in the league. For comparison, their defensive efficiency last season was 107.8, ranking 4th in the league. The decline in defensive efficiency in two seasons is so pronounced that it is difficult for the Knicks to replicate the success of last season.
Compared to last season, the Knicks' roster change this season is not much, so what caused their defense to decline?
As we all know, in addition to a certain talent and awareness, defense relies more on hard work and attitude. That's why coaches often say it's okay if you can't shoot, but you have to work the defensive end.
Last season, defensive guru Thibodeau coached the Knicks for the first time, and the Knicks, who have been in the doldrums for many seasons, have been playing harder and harder in the process of winning by defense, but more often, they still rely on a lot of energy. When this novelty fades, the drawbacks of playing for an old-school coach like Thibodeau that requires high-intensity stress resistance will continue to be exposed. If you're a former group of his subordinates on the Bulls and can accept his reprimand or guidance unconditionally, that's okay. But the Knicks aren't on that lineup.
Meanwhile, the Knicks had some players last season who were contract-years, such as Burks and Knoll, who eventually got big contracts with good performances. This season, the level of effort of these players has declined. In addition, the core of the team, Randle, has encountered more and more strict defenses this season, and the new Fourniers is not known for defense, and defense is a weak underbelly. Walker is also not good at defense, and some time ago he fell out of the rotation lineup, and all kinds of factors added together, coupled with the catalysis of consecutive defeats, the Knicks' various problems also began to appear.
At this time, the Knicks had better have someone who can stand up and show leadership, but at the moment, they don't seem to have such a person. Ross has always been bad at words, and Randall has been reported by the media as too quiet in the dressing room. So, it depends on how far the Knicks can stand? If they can withstand the pressure to rebound strongly, they are likely to start rebounding. On the contrary, it is not easy for them to make the playoffs.