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Knicks Reflect on Poor Shooting Performance

The New York Knicks have to shoot better, but that isn't the only thing in need of improvement.

Jeremy Brener

Nov 4, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) and New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) react after Green scores a basket during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Nov 4, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) and New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) react after Green scores a basket during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
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The New York Knicks won't always shoot the ball well, but that isn't an excuse to not being able to win games.

The Knicks are hovering around the .500 mark for the first few weeks of the season, but that isn't where the team wants to be.

In Monday's loss against the Houston Rockets, the Knicks shot under 40 percent, which makes things difficult to win. However, they had a chance if they were better in other areas.

"Yeah, we can’t say, ‘Shots weren’t falling and that’s why we lost.’ We need to be able to win games when shots aren’t falling," Brunson said h/t Posting and Toasting. “I think we fought a good amount, just not enough. We needed to play harder. The first half, they outrebounded us and had a step on us. We needed to play harder from that aspect. I think we closed out the second quarter well to an extent. That’s how we need to play all the time.”

The Knicks have played well in stretches during games, but it will take a full 48-minute effort to pull out these wins as the season goes on. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau also believes in the same thing.

“When you’re not shooting well, you want to count on your defense and your rebounding," Thibodeau said. “Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t.”

Going into Wednesday night's action, the Knicks are in fifth in the NBA in shooting percentage. The only teams that rank higher are the Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers and undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers. This means that shots are falling, but the wins aren't coming at the same rate.

In order for the win total to grow, the Knicks will need to improve in all areas, not just shooting the basketball.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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