Knicks Face Defensive Challenges With Towns, Brown Assesses Roster

The New York Knicks had a strong 2024-25 season, finishing as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals before being eliminated by the Indiana Pacers. Despite Jalen Brunson's impressive individual performance, averaging 30.7 points and 5.7 assists per game in the series, the Knicks struggled under full-court pressure, revealing offensive flaws and raising concerns about Brunson's durability. Former player Baron Davis and analysts suggest the Knicks need to add another guard to alleviate pressure on Brunson. Karl-Anthony Towns, a key offensive contributor, faced criticism for his defensive inconsistencies during the playoffs, but the late-season use of a double-big frontcourt with Mitchell Robinson showed promising defensive potential. With new head coach Mike Brown taking over, the Knicks are expected to explore different rotations and strategies to address these issues and build on their promising core for a deeper playoff run. Brown emphasizes daily improvement and acknowledges the work needed despite the team's status as Eastern Conference contenders.