The New York Knicks defense is showing significant improvement

The New York Knicks looked much stronger on the defensive end of the floor in them 123-98 win against the Indiana Pacers than they did in their first game of the year.

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau prides himself and his teams on being defensive-minded, so he was certainly pleased with New York’s effort against Indiana.

“I like the way our guys responded in the game” Thibodeau said h/t Posting and Toasting. “I just thought the fight was a lot bigger, together, and I thought helping each other was a lot better. And as communication improves, I think we’re still a work in progress, we have to feel. but the way we played together and the guys did a lot of different things.”

The Knicks they’re still trying to create an identity and chemistry, and that will take time given the new additions to the roster. Games like the one against the Pacers, though, help build one as time goes on.

Karl-Anthony Towns is also a big believer in this theory.

“Look, if we play defense the way we played tonight — we had no trouble scoring the basketball, but the defensive team — if we can have an identity, I think we could be a really good team and do some magical things.” , Towns said.

Among the last 26 teams to win an NBA title, all but two were ranked in the top 11 in defensive rating. Only the 2023 Denver Nuggets (15th) and the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers (22nd) have won a championship, though they did not meet that criteria.

So if Knicks want to join that club, they need to start building their defensive identity.

The Knicks will have a chance to continue improving on that side of the ball on Monday when the Cleveland Cavaliers come to Madison Square Garden.

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