Knicks' Defense: Protecting Paint, Giving Up Threes

The New York Knicks are employing a "shifting" defensive scheme under new head coach Mike Brown, prioritizing paint protection. This strategy has proven successful, as the Knicks allow the fewest opponent touches in the paint in the NBA. However, this defensive focus comes at a cost, as it also leads to opponents taking and making a high volume of three-point shots.

This trade-off was evident in a recent close game against the Miami Heat, where Miami's proficiency from beyond the arc, shooting 40 percent from three, proved decisive. While the Knicks' defense successfully deterred drives into the paint, they struggled to contest perimeter shots effectively, leading to open looks for opposing shooters.

Coach Brown acknowledges the inherent risk of giving up threes but emphasizes the importance of protecting the paint. The team is actively working on improving defensive rotations and closeouts to mitigate the impact of this strategy, aiming to become more effective at contesting three-point shots without compromising their paint-defense principles.