Defense, Road Gauntlet and G League Return Shape Knicks’ Post-Break Outlook
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The New York Knicks enter the second half of the 2025-26 campaign riding a dramatic defensive turnaround and eyeing the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed.
Defense climbs from 18th to best since Jan. 20
New York ranked 18th in defensive efficiency through its first 43 contests. From Jan. 20 to the All-Star break, however, the club posted the league’s top defensive rating, lifting its season mark to 11th overall. Assistant coach Darren Erman spearheaded a schematic shift that steers ball handlers toward the sidelines and baselines instead of funneling them into the paint.
The return of guard Landry Shamet and the trade-deadline addition of José Alvarado have strengthened point-of-attack resistance. Newly signed forward Jeremy Sochan adds another switch-capable defender with size.
Offensive wrinkle: corner-three volume soars
The Knicks now lead the NBA in both corner three-point attempts and makes after finishing 11th in those categories last year, providing a complementary boost to the stifling defense.
Targeting the No. 2 seed
Head coach Tom Thibodeau’s team sits a half-game behind Boston for second place in the East. Overtaking Detroit for the top spot appears unlikely, but securing home court through at least two playoff rounds is viewed internally as a key benchmark for a successful stretch run.
Daunting slate out of the break
The Knicks’ first 11 games after All-Star weekend feature seven road dates, two sets of back-to-backs and matchups with the top five Western Conference clubs along with three of the East’s top five. The run opens against the Pistons, who will be without suspended big men Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart.
T.J. Warren back with Westchester
Veteran forward T.J. Warren has rejoined the Westchester Knicks of the G League. Warren averaged 22.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 21 regular-season appearances for Westchester last year but did not receive an NBA call-up. His most recent NBA action came in 2023-24, when he logged 11 games for Minnesota.
Mixed All-Star weekend for New York’s representatives
New York captured the Shooting Stars competition, yet the All-Star Game itself provided limited highlights. Jalen Brunson’s squad reached the final but the guard deferred for most of the night. Karl-Anthony Towns was involved in two decisive plays that went against his team, though he and Brunson briefly drew attention when Brunson beat the center off the dribble for a layup that was ruled goaltending on Towns.
Source: Hoops Rumors
