The Knicks are in a serious slump since winning the NBA Cup. How concerned should they be?
A highly anticipated clash between Eastern Conference contenders turned into a one-sided demolition on Monday night. Despite missing starters Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris, the Detroit Pistons delivered a resounding 121-90 victory over the New York Knicks at Little Caesars Arena, further solidifying their hold on the conference's top spot.
The Pistons, fueled by the memory of their playoff elimination by New York last season, dominated from the second quarter onward. Cade Cunningham orchestrated the offense with ease, generating 61 points through scoring and assists against a porous Knicks defense. Detroit, a below-average three-point shooting team, capitalized on New York's breakdowns by hitting 16 of 31 attempts from deep.
The Knicks' struggles were comprehensive. Their offense, once a powerhouse, sputtered to a season-worst efficiency. They managed only six makes in the restricted area, committed 20 turnovers, and saw their All-NBA duo of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combine for 12 of those giveaways. Brunson, while scoring 25 points, failed to record an assist for the first time in a full game since 2022.
The loss extends New York's losing streak to four games, its longest in nearly a year, and marks a dramatic reversal from the high of winning the NBA Cup in Las Vegas just three weeks ago. Since that victory, the team has gone 5-6 with plummeting rankings on both offense (17th) and defense (27th), being outscored by a margin comparable to the league's worst teams.
The crisis has prompted internal meetings, with players acknowledging the severity of the slump. "This is a bad, bad time," Towns told reporters. "You can't have it be this bad." Brunson echoed the need for improvement, stating, "If we want to be the team we say we want to be, we have to be better, simple as that."
The downturn starkly contrasts with the public expectation set by owner James Dolan, who recently stated his belief that the team "absolutely" must reach the NBA Finals and "should win."
Reinforcements could provide a lift. The impending returns of Josh Hart (ankle) and Landry Shamet (shoulder) are anticipated. Hart's defensive versatility, rebounding, and transition play are sorely missed, while Shamet offers reliable three-point shooting and perimeter defense.
However, schematic and philosophical issues need addressing. Coach Mike Brown pointed to stagnant ball movement and a reversion to isolation-heavy play, particularly from Brunson, whose usage metrics have spiked during the losing streak. This has disrupted the quick-decision, ball-sharing identity that fueled the team's early success.
The Knicks now face the challenge of breaking a vicious cycle: stagnant offense leading to turnovers and misses, which fuels opponent transition opportunities and further pressures a struggling defense. Reigniting their early-season identity—winning the possession battle through defense, rebounding, and collective offensive flow—is the clear prescription, but executing it amid a crisis of confidence is the immediate hurdle.
As Brown summarized, the solution lies not in panic but in a collective return to fundamentals. "It’s not time to panic," Brown said. "But we have to make sure we’re doing what we can do to help this group."
