The Knicks' Offensive Woes: Beyond Jalen Brunson's Injury

Luna Greco

4 min read

Post on May 17, 2025

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Lack of Offensive Creativity and Playmaking Beyond Brunson

The Knicks' over-reliance on Jalen Brunson has been painfully evident this season. His injury exposed a critical weakness: a dearth of reliable secondary playmakers. When Brunson is sidelined, or even just having an off-night, the offense grinds to a halt. This stems from several interconnected issues:

• Insufficient secondary ball-handlers: Beyond Brunson, the team lacks consistent and effective ball-handlers capable of creating scoring opportunities for themselves and others. This leads to stagnant possessions and predictable offensive sets.
• Limited off-ball movement and cutting: The Knicks' offense often lacks the fluidity and off-ball movement necessary to generate open shots. Players stand around waiting for Brunson to create, rather than actively seeking opportunities.
• Predictable offensive sets: Opponents have easily adjusted to the Knicks' limited offensive playbook, making it challenging to consistently find high-percentage shots.
• Lack of effective pick-and-roll variations: The pick-and-roll is a cornerstone of modern NBA offenses, but the Knicks haven't shown enough variation or effectiveness in executing this fundamental play.
• Individual Struggles: Players like [insert player name] and [insert player name] have struggled to consistently contribute offensively, further exacerbating the team's playmaking woes.

Inefficient Shot Selection and Shooting Slumps

The Knicks' offensive struggles aren't solely about playmaking; poor shot selection and shooting slumps play a significant role. The team often settles for contested shots, particularly three-point attempts from players who lack consistent accuracy.

• High percentage of contested shots: Far too many Knicks shots are taken with a defender in close proximity, resulting in low percentages.
• Too many three-point attempts from low-percentage shooters: While the three-pointer is a valuable shot, the Knicks need to be more selective, choosing better opportunities instead of forcing long-range shots.
• Lack of efficient mid-range scoring: The mid-range game has been largely neglected, limiting the team's ability to score efficiently when three-point attempts aren't falling.
• Shooting Slumps: Individual players have experienced prolonged shooting slumps, compounding the team's overall offensive inefficiency. Their eFG% (effective field goal percentage) reflects this struggle.

Offensive Rebounding and Second-Chance Points

The Knicks' struggles extend beyond their half-court offense; their offensive rebounding is consistently subpar. This directly impacts their ability to generate second-chance points, a crucial element of any successful offense.

• Low offensive rebounding numbers: The team's offensive rebounding numbers are among the league's lowest, indicating a lack of effort and strategy on the glass.
• Lack of physicality in the paint: A lack of physicality and determination in the paint prevents the Knicks from securing crucial offensive rebounds.
• Impact on second-chance points: The inability to secure offensive rebounds significantly limits the team's second-chance scoring opportunities.
• Individual contributions (or lack thereof): While [insert player name] contributes to offensive rebounding, more players need to show greater commitment in this area.

Coaching Strategies and Adjustments

The coaching staff's offensive strategies and in-game adjustments also deserve scrutiny. There's a clear need for improved play-calling and more dynamic offensive systems.

• Criticism of offensive play-calling: The offensive play-calling has been criticized for its predictability and lack of creativity.
• Lack of in-game adjustments: The coaching staff hasn't consistently made effective in-game adjustments to counter opponents' defensive strategies.
• Potential changes needed in the offensive system: A more versatile and fluid offensive system, incorporating more off-ball movement and varied play types, is needed.

Addressing the Knicks' Offensive Woes

The Knicks' offensive problems are multifaceted, extending far beyond Jalen Brunson's injury. Improvement is needed across several areas: playmaking beyond Brunson, shot selection, offensive rebounding, and coaching strategies. Addressing these issues requires a combined effort from players, coaches, and the front office. The team needs to find better offensive balance, improve their efficiency on both ends of the floor and adapt to different defensive schemes.

What are your thoughts on how the Knicks can address their ongoing offensive woes? Share your insights in the comments below!