3 Knicks Trends to Watch in the 2024-25 NBA Season
The Knicks are showcasing impressive offense and rebounding trends this season, but bench scoring remains a concern for the team
New York, NBA, Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges
New York: The Knicks have just wrapped up their first 28 games of the season, and a few trends are really standing out. Their offense is looking sharp, and Karl-Anthony Towns is playing like a star. With an 18-10 record, they’re sitting pretty in third place in the Eastern Conference. Let’s dive into what’s been happening and see if these trends can keep rolling.
First off, their offense is on fire. They’re second in the league for offensive efficiency, racking up 119.7 points for every 100 possessions. Jalen Brunson and Towns are a killer duo, both scoring over 24 points a game. Plus, they’ve got four other guys chipping in double digits, which is pretty solid.
What’s fueling this offensive success? Great shooting! The Knicks are second in three-point shooting at 39.6 percent and true shooting at 60.9 percent. Towns is a big part of that, hitting nearly 46 percent from beyond the arc. This has opened up the floor for everyone else, making it easier to drive to the basket. They’re also moving the ball around more than ever, which is a nice change.
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The bench is struggling big time, ranking dead last in bench scoring. They’re only averaging 20.4 points from their reserves, while the Lakers are just ahead at 24.9 points. The starters are doing most of the heavy lifting, scoring a whopping 98 of the 104 points in a recent game against the Pelicans.
Coach Thibodeau has been juggling minutes for Brunson and Towns, but he’s also keeping two of his starters on the floor during tight games. This strategy limits bench time, which is why the bench scoring is so low. Miles McBride is doing okay off the bench, and Cameron Payne has been a nice surprise, but overall, the depth just isn’t there. Unless they make a trade or bring in another player, it looks like they’ll finish at the bottom for bench scoring.
Now, let’s talk about Towns. He’s not just scoring; he’s also grabbing boards like a beast. He’s on track to set a career-high with an average of 14.0 rebounds, which is the best in the league right now. At the start of the season, there were worries about rebounding without Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson, but Towns has stepped up big time. The Knicks are actually doing well on the boards when he’s in the game.
In his previous seasons with Rudy Gobert, Towns averaged 8.3 rebounds. With the Knicks, he hasn’t played much alongside another big man. When Robinson comes back, they might try a two-big lineup, which could change things a bit. I think Towns will still set a career-high in rebounds, but he might drop out of the top spot in the league.