“Unlocking Potential: Are the Knicks’ Surprising Stats the Key to a Playoff Push?”

As the Knicks gear up for their longest road trip this season, a palpable sense of optimism surrounds the team. Fans and players alike are buzzing with renewed energy, and it’s clear that New York is starting to find its offensive groove. “We’re starting to click,” remarked Josh Hart, encapsulating the team’s current vibe after a recent game. Fellow teammate Cam Payne echoed the sentiment, noting, “I think we’re starting to figure out how to play with each other.” The evidence supporting this newfound chemistry is compelling—not just from the players’ words, but also from impressive stats that showcase their evolution on the court. Leading the league in assist ratio over the last five games, the Knicks have made significant strides, an encouraging sign as they embark on this critical stretch. It’s all about continuity, building trust, and learning how each player fits into the puzzle, and it seems the pieces are finally coming together. With a keen eye on the future, let’s dive deeper into what this means for the Knicks as they hit the road. LEARN MORE.

“I think everyone’s cool with each other. That’s big for an NBA team,” he added.Jalen Brunson had nine assists per game in that span. His assist-to-turnover ratio (9-to-2) was strong.“That’s the unique thing,” Payne said Monday. “Everyone’s connected; you can joke around off the court, but when you get on the court, everybody holds each other accountable…. No one’s out there pointing fingers.“See him almost every day, see him all the time,” Payne said. “He’s getting better, his shoulder’s starting to feel a lot better.”Payne says it’s been easy to assimilate with this Knicks team.The Knicks averaged 31.5 assists per game over their four-game homestand.Let’s look at assist ratio, which measures the amount of a team’s possessions that end in an assist.You can also look at assists adjusted, which accounts for a team’s total assists, free-throw assists and secondary assists. The Knicks rank sixth in assists adjusted over the past five games. In the nine games prior to that? They were 20th.The Knicks waived Shamet prior to the regular season but selected him in the G League draft so he could rehab his shoulder injury within team confines.New York has scored efficiently on cuts (10th in points per play) so far this season. Cutting has opened up opportunities on other areas of the floor.Payne played a significant role in the Knicks’ 3-1 homestand. He averaged 11.8 points on 57 percent shooting and hit 59 percent from three on 5.5 attempts per game. Thibodeau has regularly praised Payne for his shot-making and ability to push the pace.Miles McBride has missed the past three games (one due to illness and two due to left knee inflammation, the Knicks say). He will miss Wednesday’s game against Phoenix due to the knee ailment. Tom Thibodeau has intimated that the injury is manageable and the Knicks just want the inflammation to subside. It’s probably an encouraging sign that McBride is on the road trip with the Knicks.I’d still expect the Knicks to sign Shamet if he can make it all the way back from rehab. He’s been at the facility regularly.When Thibodeau is asked about the bench play in his news conferences, he routinely mentions how well Landry Shamet fit into the group.Keep an eye on this trend as the Knicks hit the road.“They’re really good guys; they make it easy to go out there and play,” Payne said. “For new guys that’s coming in, that’s all you can really ask for. To have good guys on the team that really embrace you.”“Just gelling, continuity, getting more acclimated with each other,” Karl-Anthony Towns said on Monday. “Just understanding what everyone’s going to do and how they’re going to cut and just building trust with each other.”

MCBRIDE STATUS

Over the past five games, the Knicks lead the league in assist ratio.

CAM CHEMISTRY

In the nine games prior, New York ranked 13th in the statistic.“He’s finally passing the ball,” Hart joked on Monday night.The Knicks are shooting a league-leading 51.7 percent from the floor over the past five games.“We’re starting to click,” Josh Hart said late Monday night.The eye test and the numbers support that theory.As they embark on the longest road trip of the season, the Knicks look and sound like a team that’s finding a rhythm on offense.

ADDITIONS COMING?

“I think we’re starting to figure out how to play with each other,” Cam Payne said a few minutes later.What’s happened over the past five games? Nothing noteworthy, other than more time spent on the court together.“The energy’s flowing,” Hart said Monday. “The ball has energy, guys are able to shoot confidently or make plays confidently.”Payne said on Monday that the team has been able to balance having fun with holding each other accountable on the court.