Knicks Spiraling as Midseason Slump Raises Serious Questions
The New York Knicks are stumbling into dangerous territory. Monday night’s 114-97 loss to a depleted Dallas Mavericks squad marked their fourth straight defeat and their ninth in the last 11 games. For a team that entered the season with championship aspirations, this stretch has been anything but encouraging.
Let’s be clear - this wasn’t Luka Dončić lighting up Madison Square Garden. He’s long gone.
But you wouldn’t have known it by the way the Mavs torched New York. Max Christie, one of the players acquired in the Dončić trade, erupted for 26 points, burying 8 of his 10 shots from deep.
With Anthony Davis sidelined due to a hand injury and Kyrie Irving still yet to suit up this season, Dallas came in shorthanded - and still dropped 75 points in the first half alone.
That’s not just a bad night - that’s a red flag.
Coming into the season, the Eastern Conference landscape looked wide open. With Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton both sidelined by Achilles injuries during last year’s playoffs, New York and Cleveland were expected to rise. But while Boston has quietly taken control of the East with a 26-16 record, the Knicks are sliding, now sitting at 25-18 and just a game and a half out of the dreaded play-in zone.
A Coaching Gamble That’s Not Paying Off
The Knicks made a bold move last offseason, parting ways with Tom Thibodeau after he led them to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years. The front office then turned to Mike Brown, hoping his experience and leadership would push the team over the hump.
So far, that bet hasn’t paid off.
The team looks disjointed - offensively stagnant, defensively porous, and emotionally flat. They’ve lost their edge, the gritty identity that carried them through last season’s playoff run. And with the trade deadline approaching, the pressure is mounting.
Karl-Anthony Towns Trade Rumors Swirl
One of the biggest question marks surrounds Karl-Anthony Towns. According to league chatter reported by Steve Popper of Newsday, the Knicks could be exploring a move involving KAT ahead of the deadline. Towns has struggled to find consistency in New York, and his numbers reflect that - 46.7% shooting from the field and 35.8% from three, both down from his career averages.
Add in his well-documented defensive limitations, and it’s no surprise his fit has come under scrutiny. Body language matters, too - and right now, Towns doesn’t look like a player enjoying his time in the Big Apple.
A Midseason Crisis, or Something Deeper?
Every team hits a rough patch during the grind of an 82-game season. But what’s happening in New York feels different.
This isn’t just a cold shooting streak or a few bad matchups. It’s a team that looks lost - offensively, defensively, and mentally.
They’re not getting stops. They’re not generating easy looks. And most concerning of all, they’re not showing the same fire that made them so dangerous last spring.
If there was a high point this season, it might’ve been eliminating Boston in last year’s playoffs - a series the Knicks celebrated like a championship. But the glow from that moment has faded fast.
With half a season still to play, there’s time to right the ship. But the clock is ticking, and the problems are piling up.
The Knicks came into the year talking title. Right now, they’re just trying to stay out of the play-in.