In four straight losses, New York lost its defense again

Losing to the Raptors on Sunday night (125-116), the Knicks suffered their 4th straight loss. One defense’s offense in particular has become very fragile again. Although his team had the 24th-ranked defense in November (115.1 points per 100 possessions), Tom Thibodeau seemed to have found the right formula as his team ranked 3rd in December (108.2). Barring the return of bad habits in January, the team fell to 24th (118.3) in one month…

And the wound Mitchell Robinson it doesn’t help the coach’s job. Because the Knicks’ cornerback broke his thumb and will miss at least three weeks, leaving New York without a long-term perimeter defender.

“Obviously we have to improve, we have to be better” Jalen Brunson says. “Of the five positions on the field, it starts with me, but with all the others helping each other. We can’t say, “Oh, Robinson isn’t here.” We have to come together as a team.”.

Resisting as a team is the leader’s message to his teammates in this difficult time.

“We must prevent the storm” Jalen Brunson continues. “Every game you play against a great team with great athletes and great coaches. It’s a big battle every night. We just have to figure out how to bounce back quickly.”.

Defense alert in New York

But Mitchell Robinson’s injury is just one parameter, and the problems run deeper. Sunday’s loss to the Raptors is the latest example. It started early with a 37-22 lead in the 1st quarter, then the defensive deficiencies were confirmed early in the fourth quarter, with a 13-2 lead over three minutes. It wasn’t until the Knicks scored 39 points in the final quarter that they recovered.

“We put ourselves in another hole” Tom Thibodeau admits. “I know that we make fouls, we give offensive rebounds and we lose balls. That’s usually a recipe for a beating.”.

It’s the fourth consecutive game the Knicks have allowed at least 116 points. They were also careless with the ball, committing 16 turnovers that led to 26 Raptors points, most of them in transition. Moreover, in the third game, the Knicks allowed at least 35 points in the first quarter.

“I’m still worried. I worry every day” The Knicks hire their head coach. “But that doesn’t change the way you approach anything. We think, we have to develop, we have to perform better, we have to prepare for the next match. We are not too many. We know what we have to do. We have to go on the field, work and fix it.”.

The Knicks, now 25-23, have now lost four straight games, including three against opponents with a negative record.

This period was supposed to be a rewarding moment in the Knicks’ schedule before it got even more difficult, with six of their next seven games coming against teams with positive records. Thus, a period that will be decisive for the rest of the season for the players of the “Big Apple”.