One of the key points coach Tom Thibodeau has emphasized with the Knicks this season — using their proficiency from the outside to increase their 3-point shooting volume — is starting to bear fruit.
Monday's blowout win over the Wizards marked the second straight game in which the Knicks scored 40 tries from beyond the 3-point arc, but it also came after a slow start with a revamped starting lineup. It was a byproduct of increased density.
The Knicks were near the bottom of the league in long-range shots through their first six games with just 31.8 shots per game, but have averaged 38.1 in their last eight games. That includes winning four of their last five games and improving to 8-6 heading into the opener of a five-game road trip Wednesday night in Phoenix.
“I think what gives us momentum is the way we play. We're playing good basketball right now,” center Karl-Anthony Towns said. “We obviously have a lot of things we can improve on, but the fact that we were able to win four out of five nights really speaks to our progress and tells us we're heading in the right direction.” There is.”
The 7-foot Towns leads the Knicks with 2.6 treys per game and is connecting on a whopping 51.5 percent from long range through 13 appearances, seventh in the NBA entering Tuesday's league game. He has a record of reaching the top.
His effectiveness propelled the Knicks to third in the league in percentage shooting at 38.8 percent leading up to Monday's win against the Wizards, behind the Cavaliers and Warriors.
“The league has changed. Not just the league, but the philosophy has changed,” Towns said. “The players have changed. The players have evolved. The great guys are being asked to do more than they've ever been asked to do before.
“The game is looking different and we're all adjusting as we go along. The philosophy we're trying to bring to the NBA right now is having a lot of success. We are striving for a championship.”
Like Towns, Mikal Bridges was also inserted into the starting lineup after an offseason trade. He shoots just 31.1% from downtown, but has the most attempts on the team at 6.4 per game.
Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby are also making at least five 3-pointers per game, and reserve guards Myles McBride (5.3) and Cam Payne (3.9) are totaling 9.2 from the bench. I'm letting you do it.
Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks watches his shot during the first half.
Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks watches his shot during the first half.
“I think our guys are starting to play in a good rhythm. We have good chemistry. We're pushing the ball up the floor and moving on to the next action right away,” Thibodeau said. “As long as we keep moving and attacking space, I think good things will come from that.”
Thibodeau likes to say that “the game will tell you what to do,” even though that's easier said than done than simply taking more shots in a team's offensive flow.
However, by design, that number is definitely increasing.
“Certainly when people say, 'They need to hit more threes,' it's not just black and white,” Josh Hart said. “It's not like, 'Oh, let's go out and shoot more threes.' You've got to go out and shoot good threes, you've got to produce good threes. So it's definitely It's a change.
“Obviously, JB is really good in the post and midrange. Mikal is really good, same thing. KAT can obviously score. [inside or outside]. … So we obviously don’t want to take away from their game … but we do want to make the right shots. ”
