The Knicks are a team that’s been a bit of a puzzle this season. With a 37-21 record, they’re sitting pretty in the top five of the league.
Their offense is firing on all cylinders, ranking in the top three, and their defense is flirting with a top 10 spot. Yet, despite these impressive stats, there’s an air of disappointment around this squad that had championship dreams from the get-go.
One of the thorns in their side has been their inability to get past the Pistons, who’ve been a step ahead in the Eastern Conference standings. The bench has been a rollercoaster, and Mikal Bridges has had moments where he’s just not there.
Even the starting lineup, despite improved numbers, struggles against elite defenses. But perhaps the most talked-about issue has been Karl-Anthony Towns’ season.
The question is, are the fans being fair in their criticism?
Sure, there’s some truth to the frustration. Towns has been a scoring machine over his career, averaging 23.1 points on 52.4% shooting and 40% from deep. His blend of size and shooting is rare, but his defensive lapses can be maddening.
This season, though, Towns hasn’t quite looked himself. Whether it’s an undisclosed injury or adapting to Mike Brown’s new offensive scheme, Towns has seemed hesitant and off his game. Through 49 games, he’s posting 19.7 points per game, hitting 46.3% from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc-numbers that are noticeably down for him.
It’s not just about missed shots; Towns has been less involved in the offense. He’s had to adapt to reading defenses and finding his moments to strike, a task he and his teammates have struggled with.
However, there’s been a spark lately. Towns has put up 20 or more points in five consecutive games, averaging 23.4 points on 56.6% shooting, including 47.8% from three. He’s been more aggressive, taking 15.2 shots per game, and looks more at ease and decisive.
But let’s not put all the blame on Towns. His teammates have had a hard time finding him, especially off screens.
Recently, Jalen Brunson has made a concerted effort to get Towns more involved. While their chemistry isn’t quite what fans hoped for, there’s been progress.
So, is the criticism of Towns fair? It seems a bit overblown. While Towns isn’t without fault-his shooting struggles, defensive hiccups, and those hair-pulling offensive fouls-he remains a key player for the Knicks and, surprisingly, one of the league’s most impactful.
Stats can be misleading, but Towns has more rebounds than Nikola Jokić, more points than Stephen Curry, and more threes than Devin Booker. His estimated plus-minus (EPM) is in the 90th percentile for both offense and defense, highlighting his overall impact.
Despite his flaws, Towns leads the Knicks in plus-minus with +336, ahead of Brunson’s +266. The team is 10.7 points per possession better with Towns on the floor, ranking first among players with significant minutes.
Towns might not be the Knicks’ best player, but he’s been solid. He shouldn’t shoulder all the blame for the team’s issues. The Knicks have their weaknesses, and Towns can’t fix them all.
For the Knicks to chase the championship dream, Towns will need to elevate his game. If he and his teammates can bring out the best in him come playoff time, they might just make that leap they’ve been eyeing.