The Knicks are thriving with Karl-Anthony Towns’ new style
There has been a lot of talk this season about the Knicks needing more from Karl-Anthony Towns.
But what if they actually need less of it?
This rise of the Knicks, who entered Tuesday’s game against the Pacers at Madison Square Garden having won nine of their past 10 games to save their season from spiraling away from them, has come with significantly less usage than Towns.
During that period, the Knicks were elite on both ends of the court.
Towns has gone from the Knicks’ obvious No. 2 option behind Jalen Brunson to a rebounding and perimeter scorer, often benched late in games due to his defensive shortcomings.
He missed one game in that span, as they went 9-0 in the nine games he played.
In those nine games, Towns averaged just 27.2 minutes and 14.2 points per game, well below his season average of 31.4 minutes and 19.7 points.
However, his rebounding average rose to 13.0 per game, an increase from his already Eastern Conference high of 11.9 for the season.
He took fewer shots, down to 11.0 per game during that span compared to 14.0 for the season. But this was not the case that cities became more efficient.
He shot 44.4 percent from the field and 32.3 percent from 3-point range compared to 46.3 percent and 35.3 percent for the season.
It’s not as if he’s become a playmaker or distributor either, as he averages 2.4 assists per game compared to 2.9 for the season.
There was simply… less involvement on the offensive side of the floor.
He has become more passive, directing his energy towards the glass.
“There’s a lot of ways he can impact the game,” coach Mike Brown said before Tuesday’s game. “The way he moved in Boston was probably his best game, he just moves. He doesn’t have the gravity that Landry (Shamet) has, but for a big guy, he has good gravity because he can score. And they pay a lot of attention to him. That’s one of the focuses. That’s why they put the four on him and try to double-team him with the five and all the other things.”
“When he moves the way he did at both ends – because he was good defensively as well – he is very influential.”
Towns became the Knicks’ fourth-leading scorer during that span — behind Brunson (23.6 ppg), OG Anunoby (19.6) and Mikal Bridges (14.9).
It’s hard to argue with the overall results.
The Knicks had an offensive rating of 117.5 during that span — sixth-best in the NBA — and a defensive rating of 110.8, best in the league.
Some of the change in minutes is a result of the foul trouble Towns continually finds himself in every night. But there has been a definite shift in his offensive style and how the Browns use him, especially late in games.
Too often, the Browns credited Robinson and his defensive prowess in tough times.
Towns was notably benched for the final 6:51 of the Knicks’ win over the Kings during that period.
In the eight games Robinson played during that span, he averaged 21.3 minutes per game, up from 19.8 for the season.
Right now, city sharing is working less well. But whether this will work in the playoffs, or if the Knicks will need a more aggressive Towns, is another story.
Townes accepting this role will be a story worth following.
