Visibly Annoyed Karl-Anthony Towns Gives Knicks Fans Realty Check After Tom Thibodeau’s Accusations

The Atlanta Hawks’ underdog story in the NBA Cup lives on another day. Trae Young gave the Madison Square Garden another heartbreaker, leading the Hawks to an 8-point win in the quarterfinals. After leading in the first half, the Knicks slipped in the third quarter. From that point on, Atlanta showed their calmness on the road to close the show. As for the home side, it was an agonizing loss.

The media caught up with Karl-Anthony Towns after the disappointing result. They wondered what the Knicks lacked in their pursuit of consistency. For Towns, it’s all about continuing to build and learn the ways of his teammates. However, with the pain of the loss still on his mind, his answer reflected those sentiments.

“Miami Heat years ago with LeBron had a whole year it took before they figured out how to put a banner up… I don’t know man. I don’t have a crystal ball. I can tell you that every day we’re working to be the best version of ourselves,” he told the reporters present.

It’s far different from the way his head coach Tom Thibadeau saw the game. In his post-game press conference, he was asked about his thoughts on the officiating crew. In particular, referee Jaclyn Goble called a ludicrous foul on Brunson during a matchup between the Knicks and the Rockets last season. The foul call at the very last second denied New York the opportunity for overtime after fighting back from a sixteen-point lead.

Despite the crew admitting to their faults right after the game, Thibadeau doesn’t seem to have forgotten what transpired that night. “I looked at who was refereeing. I knew what it was going to be like,” he said in his post-game press conference.

The Knicks are yet to find the right balance

The loss tonight was more than just a reflection of the Atlanta Hawks’ resistance. It also sounded like a glaring issue that the Knicks have faced all season. As far as the starting five is concerned, the Big Apple arguably has the most fascinating unit. Each position offers them three-dimensional scoring and is capable of leading an attack on any given night.

However, what they lacked against the Hawks was depth. Outside of the starting five, the Knicks only generated 14 points off the bench The Hawks, who have experienced Young’s growth into a generational playmaker rely on utilizing the roster. They answered with 43 points off the bench. That proved to be decisive.

While the New York Knicks have a charismatic lineup, there is always a chance they run out of steam. That’s where the bench becomes vital. Unfortunately, the Knicks do not have the right depth this season. Their mark of 20.8 points off the bench is the least in the NBA. For the regular season, when oppositions vary, such an approach can get them through to the postseason.

Sitting as the fourth seed in the East is the ideal proof. However, it’s hard to withstand the brutal nature of the postseason with only five players being the mainstay of the team. The playoffs are tiring and gruesome. Thibs’ style of play further piles on fatigue for the players. Hence, aside from continuing to find their footing as a team, it’s also vital for the front office to think beyond the stars.

Having a productive bench unit separates the good teams from the great ones in this league. Tonight, the Hawks’ multiple points of attack disoriented the usually composed Knicks side. That’s amongst the areas that, if changed, could dramatically improve the chances of New York becoming a championship hub with the degree of talent they boast on their roster.