The New York Knicks` 2025 playoff journey concluded in the Eastern Conference Finals, marked by a decisive Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers. A frustrating moment in the third quarter, where a potential fast break opportunity turned into an opponent`s score, seemed to encapsulate the Knicks` struggles in that final game. Despite the disappointing end and missed opportunities throughout the series, it`s widely acknowledged that the Knicks significantly overachieved in their first season with a reshaped core.
With the season now over, the focus for the Knicks organization shifts to building on this unexpected success and taking the crucial steps needed to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. Here are three key areas that likely require attention for the team to elevate its status.
Consider a permanent starting lineup shift
Surprisingly, the Knicks` primary starting five, despite being the league`s most-used lineup for a significant portion of the season, recorded a negative net rating from January onwards. While clutch performances and Jalen Brunson`s heroics often secured wins, these strong finishes sometimes masked the slow starts attributed to the starting group.
Even though the current starters have room to grow together, coach Tom Thibodeau might need to be open to adjustments, especially considering a lineup tweak was made late in the postseason, reportedly at the suggestion of Josh Hart. Inserting center Mitchell Robinson into the starting five demonstrated immediate benefits, particularly in offensive rebounding and providing crucial rim protection for Karl-Anthony Towns. However, this change could potentially slow down the team`s transition game, an area where Hart excels, and highlights Robinson`s vulnerability at the free-throw line if intentionally fouled.
Deepen the bench rotation
Tom Thibodeau deserves credit for successfully incorporating Delon Wright and Landry Shamet into the rotation during the Eastern Conference Finals, a move that paid off defensively against a potent Indiana offense. However, their effectiveness when the stakes were highest suggests that these reserves could have been utilized more consistently throughout the regular season.
The sheer volume of minutes shouldered by the Knicks` starters – Brunson, Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Towns – potentially led to diminishing returns by the end of the season. More playing time for bench players could have helped manage the starters` load. Improving the bench depth is a significant challenge for New York, primarily due to their salary structure, with a vast majority of the cap dedicated to the top six players (the starters plus Mitchell Robinson). Key reserves like Wright, Shamet, Cameron Payne, and Precious Achiuwa are set to become unrestricted free agents, limiting easy avenues for improvement for a bench unit that ranked last in the league in both minutes and points scored.
Find ways to better utilize the Brunson-Towns pairing
Given that Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns both made All-NBA teams and led the Knicks within two wins of the Finals in their first season together, it may seem counterintuitive to critique their pairing. However, optimizing their synergy is essential for raising the team`s ceiling next season.
Initially, integrating Towns offensively presented challenges regarding shot distribution, although this was largely resolved. A recurring issue observed during the season and playoffs was how opponents defended them: teams often guarded Hart with centers due to his shooting struggles, while using smaller, quicker players (guards or wings) on Towns to contest his perimeter shots. Incorporating a player like Deuce McBride could potentially open up the offense by preventing defenses from collapsing into the paint.
Defensively, the Brunson-Towns duo faces inherent limitations. Building an elite defense is difficult with an undersized guard like Brunson and a foul-prone center like Towns. This challenge was particularly evident in the Eastern Conference Finals, where both players were frequently targeted in pick-and-roll actions, sometimes leading to foul trouble. While the team boasts strong wing defenders in Anunoby and Bridges, the defensive vulnerabilities at the guard and center spots pose significant hurdles that need strategic solutions, whether through lineup adjustments or defensive schemes.
