The defending champions are struggling on offense.
The New York Knicks have looked shaky on that side of the floor over the past seven games.
They’ve shown some signs of promise, mostly thanks to Jalen Brunson. He scored a season-high 38 points last week against the Chicago Bulls.
Still, Brunson’s shooting efficiency, alongside other players in the starting lineup, is not up to par for a roster looking to win back-to-back NBA titles.
“Jalen Brunson is shooting worse than 40 percent from the field. OG Anunoby is barely clearing 30 percent from deep.
“Mikal 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). The track records say they’re due for a bounce-back, but this offense will continue to struggle until that happens,” Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley wrote.
Bridges looks lost on offense, often settling for contested mid-range jump shots.
Even if he helped the Knicks end a title drought, 6.1 points per game is very troubling for a player who was traded for five first-round picks.
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Eventually, Brunson’s shooting should return to form. Remember, he’s still trying to get back into a groove after undergoing left wrist surgery during the offseason.
New York isn’t panicked by a 3-4 start, and it should pick up more wins against below .500 teams even with poor shooting.
However, that won’t be a winning formula against the top Eastern Conference opponents, no matter how well their defense performs.
