The New York Knicks are in the midst of a strategic overhaul this season. Operating off the ball, they’ve exponentially upped their usage of handoff actions and three-pointer volume. The team is implementing different coaching approaches, while toying with significant player changes. They want to be a top-four team in the very competitive Eastern Conference. As the NBA season progresses, the Knicks’ adjustments raise the question: can this revamped version of the team secure a top position in the East?
Since head coach Mike Brown took over for Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks had made a shift to a faster, more uptempo offense. They’ve almost doubled down on their creative/strategic flips and handoff plays. Now, they run 43 handoffs per 100 possessions, a staggering increase from just 23 per 100 possessions last season. This shift breaks up their offensive rhythm. More importantly, it provides players like Jalen Brunson the opportunity to adjust to a different role on the floor.
Brunson’s personal statistics reflect this change. As the season has worn on, his total dribble counts have dwindled to just 431 dribbles per game. He’s at 7.7 minutes of possession average and 4.8 seconds per touch. This cut could be interpreted as a broader shift towards cooperation within the team ecosystem, focusing on progressive ball movement instead of iso ball.
Increased Focus on Handoffs
This focus on offensive handoffs has affected both how the Knicks look on offense as a whole and the players’ individual production. For his part, Mikal Bridges has substantially upped his handoff frequency this season. He went from 55 handoffs per 100 possessions last year to almost four times that rate currently. This crafty move gives him better looks to score and creates more opportunities for his teammates.
Guerschon Yabusele has gotten on the handoff-strategy bandwagon. Mitchell Robinson is benefitting from this trend. Because of that, Mitchell Robinson is on a pace to set a new career-high in handoff frequency. This collective effort showcases how the Knicks are utilizing their players’ strengths to enhance overall performance.
Despite such promising offensive evolution, many national writers and observers are still understandably hesitant to trust the Knicks’ ability to put this together for an 82-game season. An Eastern Conference scout noted, “The system stuff will be fine. But do they have the legs to get there in the end? So much of that comes down to having Mitchell Robinson and Josh Hart healthy.”
Three-Point Shooting Transformation
Besides their greater mileage with handoffs, the Knicks have made revolutionary gains in their three-point shooting tactics. So far this season, they have the fifth-highest three-point attempt rate in the league. As the numbers suggest, almost half (47.9%) of their field goal attempts are three-pointers. This is a huge departure from last year, when they finished the season 28th in three-point attempts.
At the same time, modern NBA offenses are dominated by three-point shooting. This approach forces defense to extend and open up driving lanes for other players. Despite these changes, the Knicks have underperformed their expected point total based on shot quality and shooter identity by a staggering 47 points. Their opponents have scored 45 points over their expected totals, a potential avenue for improvement.
If you are the New York Knicks, you are doing everything possible to prepare on the fly. Smart and timely shot-making will be the key to their hopes this season.
Player Movements and Coaching Changes
A lot has changed lately on the Knicks’ roster. The biggest moves by far were trading Julius Randle to the Minnesota Timberwolves and acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns in return. Towns’ acquisition provides him an opportunity to ground himself in Brown’s offense. He followed that with a resurgent, All-NBA first season in New York, and now he’s clearly geared to continue along that path.
Brown expressed optimism about the team’s growth potential, stating, “Knowing that we’ve got a lot of room to grow.” This sentiment reflects a belief that while early-season challenges exist, there is ample opportunity for improvement as the players acclimate to new roles and systems.
We’ve given the Knicks a hefty challenge to start this season. Last year they had trouble with the top teams in the Eastern Conference going 0-8, but pulled out a shocking second-round upset against defending champion, the Boston Celtics. This history exerts an upward pressure. They are hellbent on showing that the things they are doing differently can translate into big wins over top-flight competition.
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