The Knicks defense started as their strength to the season as Tom Thibodeau’s scheme focused on limiting paint points with great success.
But against the cream of the East the past two games in Milwaukee and Boston, the defense has been bad.
Really bad.
Atrocious.
The Knicks gave up a combined 279 points in the pair of defeats while producing the league’s worst defensive rating, by far, during that stretch. For the entire season, they rank a respectable ninth in defensive rating.
“I think the intensity [needs to be better], first and foremost. Other teams aren’t feeling us as much,” Donte DiVincenzo said. “I think we’re trying to do the right thing. We started off the year really strong defensively. I think we have to get back to that intensity. And focusing on getting to the ball. Making them feel us early. Taking them out of their sets so they’re not so comfortable.”
The Bucks and Celtics combined to shoot 42-for-85 (49.4 percent) from beyond the arc in just two games against the Knicks.
“Our commitment level has to be picked up, intensity, recovering to the 3-point line,” Julius Randle said. “All that stuff.”
DiVincenzo’s latest crack at the starting lineup seemed to back up Quentin Grimes’ contention that it isn’t easy to find shots.
The guard took just six attempts over 22 minutes in the 133-123 defeat to the Celtics, the fewest amount of shots he’s taken with that many minutes all season. There are theoretically less opportunities with the starters since Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett and Randle are all ball-dominant, but DiVincenzo, the $50 million guard, didn’t seem to mind.
“I’m a basketball player. I’m not worried about that. I’m trying to win the game,” DiVincenzo said. “The way the league goes, there’s ways to tend to everybody. I think we did a good job of that.”
Grimes, on the other hand, became more aggressive with the second unit while scoring 13 points on 10 attempts. It was Grimes’ most points since Nov. 3.
“Quentin played his [butt] off,” DiVincenzo said. “I think he played well.”
Obviously Grimes felt better offensively, but the defense suffered with the starters. It’ll be interesting to see how Thibodeau handles the situation going forward. The starters were blown out by the Celtics, and Grimes is a better defender.