The New York Knicks are heading into the All-Star break looking like a team reborn-and they’ve got the numbers to back it up. Winners of 10 of their last 12, the Knicks aren’t just hot-they’re locking teams down with the best defensive rating in the league over that stretch. For a squad that started the season with more questions than answers on that end of the floor, this turnaround has been nothing short of impressive.
Defense: From Liability to Identity
What’s changed? In a word: trust.
That’s what Josh Hart emphasized on The Roommates Show, the podcast he co-hosts with teammate Jalen Brunson. Hart pointed to the growing chemistry and communication on defense, crediting a mindset shift sparked by guard Deuce McBride.
“The one thing that Deuce said, it was like: we gotta make sure we trust each other,” Hart explained. “Especially defensively … it’s just a line of communication and trust, and I feel like we’ve been doing a really good job with that.”
That trust is showing up in the box score and on the tape. Over the last dozen games, the Knicks have held opponents under 90 points four times-a rarity in today’s high-octane NBA.
They’re rotating with purpose, closing out hard, and contesting everything. It’s not just about effort; it’s about cohesion.
This isn’t a team scrambling to cover mistakes. It’s a group that knows where each other will be, and trusts that help is coming when it’s supposed to.
Offense Still Holding Strong
While the defense has taken center stage, the offense hasn't taken a backseat. Jalen Brunson continues to be the engine, orchestrating the attack with his usual blend of poise and precision. Karl-Anthony Towns is giving them a versatile scoring punch, and Hart has been the glue guy-doing a little bit of everything, just as Knicks fans have come to expect.
It’s that balance-stifling defense paired with steady offensive production-that’s making this team look like a real contender in the East. They’re not just beating teams; they’re dictating the terms of the game on both ends of the floor.
The Road Ahead
Of course, the NBA season is a marathon, not a sprint. And while the Knicks have been one of the league’s hottest teams heading into the break, the schedule isn’t about to get any easier.
Their first game out of the gate? A showdown with the Detroit Pistons-the team with the best record in the league.
That matchup will be a litmus test. It’s one thing to dominate during a hot stretch, but it’s another to carry that intensity into a game against the NBA’s top team. If the Knicks can bring the same defensive grit and offensive rhythm they’ve shown over the past few weeks, they’ll have a chance to make a serious statement-not just to the Pistons, but to the rest of the league.
For now, though, the Knicks have every reason to feel good about where they are. They’ve found an identity.
They’ve built trust. And they’re playing like a team that believes in itself-on every possession, on every play.
The second half of the season is shaping up to be a compelling ride in New York.