The Athletic NBA Daily What is wrong with the Knicks?
Apr 1, 2026
James Edwards, NBA reporter and columnist, breaks down the Knicks' slump and roster issues in concise, sharp analysis. He examines why the starting five underperforms and how lineup fit clashes with the system. Conversation covers Karl-Anthony Towns' offensive struggles and whether a late-season lineup shift could help.
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Starting Lineup Fails To Match Talent
- The Knicks' starting five has underperformed relative to the talent and resources invested, producing only a barely positive net rating across two seasons.
- James Edwards and Zena Keita point to repeated struggles when opponents sag off Josh Hart and load up on Karl-Anthony Towns, exposing spacing and creation issues.
Knicks Lose Games With Slow Starts
- Knicks frequently start games cold, producing a negative 46 point differential in first quarters during March and forcing late comebacks.
- The cold starts leave them with no legs late and make losses to strong teams like Houston nearly unrecoverable.
Cat Versus System Tension
- There's organizational dissonance between what Karl-Anthony Towns wants (post-up/inside-out touches) and the team's read-and-react principles under Mike Brown.
- That mismatch shows up as inconsistent looks for Towns and opponents doubling him when he posts.