A Key Aspect Of The Knicks' Identity Faces An Uncertain Season

The New York Knicks’ opponents might be able to grab more defensive rebounds this season.

Over the past two seasons, the Knicks have been one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the NBA. They led the NBA in offensive rebounding percentage last year and finished second the year before. They led all playoff teams in offensive rebounding percentage in both seasons and by a good margin last year.

It’s become something of a trademark for this iteration of the Tom Thibodeau-led Knicks. It wasn’t uncommon to see the Knicks’ big men destroy offensive rebounds for putback baskets or threes, or to see Josh Hart coming in to snag a key offensive rebound late in the game. The Knicks’ ability to gain extra possessions on offense was key to their first-round wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023 and the Philadelphia 76ers last season.

But that ability suddenly seems in danger this season.

The Knicks lost Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency this summer. On Monday, it was reported that future starting center Mitchell Robinson would miss the start of the season while recovering from foot surgery and likely wouldn’t return until December or January.

As a result, a Knicks team that often intimidated its opponents on the glass finds itself without its two biggest and best rebounders.

Robinson finished second in offensive rebounding percentage last year among players who appeared in more than 30 games. Hartenstein finished seventh.

With Hart still on the team and perhaps the best rebounder in the league, the Knicks face major questions about how they will manage their center rotation.

Precious Achiuwa was good at collecting offensive rebounds, finishing 22nd in offensive rebound percentage among players who appeared in more than 30 games. But Achiuwa is slightly undersized to play center full-time. According to Basketball-Reference’s position, the divisionsAchiuwa spent 63% of his minutes as a power forward and 36% of his minutes as a center with the Knicks, meaning he was often fighting for rebounds against smaller players. This year, as a center, he would play against opposing centers.

The Knicks will likely play Jericho Sims big minutes this season. But even though Sims is bigger than Achiuwa and an explosive jumper, he hasn’t shown himself to be a dominant offensive rebounder like Robinson or Hartenstein or even Achiuwa so far.

While this may not seem like a crisis for the Knicks, their ability to score points on second chances was a big part of their offense last season. The Knicks were second in the NBA in second chance points per game with 16.3. They averaged 17.8 second chance points per game in the playoffs last year.

Their 19.2 second chance points per game in the first round against the 76ers was one of the key factors in a series decided by one total point through six games.

The Knicks could make a point of having perimeter players crash the offensive glass more often, even though it would make them more vulnerable to giving up fast break points on the other end. With the exception of Hart, who often just chased after rebounds, the Knicks’ offensive rebounding ability was due in part to the natural skills of Robinson and Hartenstein, but also to the fact that they often kept their strong men parked close of the basket, making sure someone is close to the basket. rim.

Perhaps the return of Julius Randle and the addition of Mikal Bridges will be enough to bolster the Knicks’ offense, making the need for offensive rebounds less glaring. (Randle, it should be noted, is a solid offensive rebounder).

On paper, the Knicks should be a better shooting team and a better perimeter defense. If these two elements hold true on the court, it could be enough to compensate for a decrease in offensive rebounds.

But the Knicks’ ability to create extra possessions through sheer force might also be lacking early this season.