The defending champions are out here struggling on offense. Yes, you heard that right. The New York Knicks have looked seriously shaky on that side of the floor over their last seven games, and if you’re looking for why, you don’t have to look far past some big names.
Jalen’s Battle Back
Jalen Brunson, one of the main guys, has shown some flashes, sure. He dropped a season-high 38 points just last week against the Chicago Bulls. But honestly, his shooting efficiency, and that of other starters, just isn’t cutting it for a squad trying to win back-to-back NBA titles. Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley put it bluntly: Brunson is shooting worse than 40 percent from the field right now. We know he’s trying to get back in rhythm after that left wrist surgery in the offseason, and his shot should eventually return to form. But “eventually” doesn’t help them win tonight, does it?
The Bridges Disaster
And then there’s Mikal Bridges. Man, oh man. Buckley calls it like it is, saying Bridges is “barely involved in this attack (6.1 points per game) and looks awful when he is (30.8 percent shooting overall, 26.9 percent from three).” You read that right: 6.1 points per game. This is the player who helped end a title drought, who was traded for FIVE first-round picks! He’s out there settling for contested mid-range jumpers, and that 6.1 PPG is “very troubling.” This isn’t just a slump, it’s a full-blown crisis for a guy they paid that much for. OG Anunoby isn’t exactly lighting it up from deep either, barely clearing 30 percent from beyond the arc.
With a 3-4 start, the Knicks aren’t panicked yet. They probably will rack up some wins against teams below .500, even with this kind of shooting. But here’s the real talk: this isn’t a winning strategy against the top dogs in the Eastern Conference. Not at all. Their defense can be elite, but if the offense keeps clunking like this, those back-to-back championship dreams are gonna hit a brick wall. They need those track records to “bounce-back” and fast, or this season could go sideways quicker than anyone expects.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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