What Do You Write About When There Are Supposed "Locker Room Issues"?

Trying to Talk Basketball

I haven’t even touched the Dallas game from a schematic-tracking standpoint yet, and honestly, I’m not sure I need to (I will). We all saw the problems unfold in real time, and the postgame comments confirmed them. Falling behind by thirty points to a Mavericks team missing an entire rotation isn’t just a bad night; it’s a snapshot of where this group currently stands. This team is like a car sputtering on the shoulder, you can argue about the engine later, but first you have to admit you’re not moving. They say acknowledging the struggle is the first step toward understanding what actually needs fixing, but I can’t say it’s an easy task to identify.

Despite the noise, I still have the itch to talk basketball, so we’ll do exactly that. I’ll lay out three basketball-specific takeaways from last night’s game as a sort of challenge, no speculation, no gossip, just basketball. If it’s not for you, do not continue to read.

Clarkson playing 2 minutes

Because of everything that’s gone on, this move has flown a bit under the radar, but it’s extremely telling, especially considering he’s played a sizable chunk of the season. Mike Brown, whether consciously or not, seems to understand that Clarkson has been hurting the defense. And yet, you wouldn’t have guessed that from the recent Phoenix game, where he chose to close with Clarkson down the stretch, a decision that proved costly.

So why should Clarkson’s minutes be cut? Simply put, he’s been one of the worst defenders in the league, and the Knicks already have more than enough compromised defenders as it is. Clarkson currently sits at a -1.8 Defensive DPM, which places him in the 1st percentile at his position. That’s almost impressive recalling he was in the 0th percentile in Utah, so yes, I suppose that counts as improvement.

Unfortunately, the film doesn’t bail him out either. While it’s not a lack of effort, teams can actively hunt him with their best offensive players, and given his size and limitations, he doesn’t provide much as a helper on the back line or in the gaps. Couple that with what they have on the roster, and it would be no surprise to see his minutes dwindle if they’re fully healthy, physically at least.

Defense? Optional

It was hard not to notice the Knicks suddenly flip the switch defensively in the second half, holding Dallas to just 39 points. They can play defense, sure they have flaws, but the team also has capable defenders who have seemed to treat this month like a break period. I expect far more from those players than what we saw in the first half of this game, which was genuinely pitiful to watch. As I’ve said before, I’m not going to debate what more Brown can do to motivate this group. Instead, let’s focus on the things we can discuss: scheme specifics.

This mirrors much of what the Knicks have run this season, and it’s no coincidence. Jay Triano, a former Sacramento assistant, clearly has his fingerprints on the offense: the 45-cut to clear a gap, the relocation to the opposite side, and maintaining the space throughout the possession. Brunson gives nail help off Caleb Martin, which immediately puts the Knicks into a scramble. In these situations, I’d much rather see Towns positioned to handle the coverage in some form than rely on Brunson to stunt and recover to a spot-up shooter. That’s a losing bet.

I might’ve torn my eyes out watching this live, because I remember this play all too well. Brunson goes for the steal, but once he doesn’t get his hands on the ball, I have no idea why he stays to double Powell at the top of the key. If you don’t get the steal, leave. You didn’t steal it.

The Knicks have played high coverage nearly all season, trying to limit easy pull-up shots from star players. I get that Max Christie isn’t a star, but the guy can shoot, and up to that point in the game, he’d already made three triples. There’s no reason to play drop coverage on him and let him walk into an open pull-up three, especially when the screen is set that high. It’s a defensive choice that just doesn’t make sense in the context or flow of the game.

The Mavericks finished the game with 32 fast-break points to the Knicks’ 4. Yeah… that pretty much tells the story. The Knicks clearly have no idea what they’re doing in transition, and I can’t even pretend to figure it out. Caleb Martin out-sprints EVERYONE while Brunson, Bridges, and KAT are jogging back. Bridges even gestures to KAT before he himself is near a man, and by the time he turns to Martin it’s two-points. 9:13 in the first quarter, and the signs were already showing exactly how this game would go.

Dallas did an excellent job attacking Brunson multiple times. In the first contest they attacked him at an 18% rate compared to the other screeners’ defenders. That is one of the higher numbers on the season for any team and they continued that onslaught using their more advanced handlers and creators.

Floppy is Back… Yay, I Guess

As insignificant as this may seem, I do find it fascinating that they’ve gone back to this action as an off-ball, on-the-move option. Read more in depth below:

‘24–2025 New York Knicks | Floppy

Brown, as a more play-call–heavy coach, seems inclined to run this action more frequently than Thibodeau did. That can work, but only if it doesn’t become predictable. Thibodeau tended to deploy it selectively, often at the start of third quarters or late in the third, almost as if he were saving it. With Brunson’s help, the action is sold extremely well, which is what made that restraint effective.

Last season, they often opened with a pistol look or what is shown in the video: a ball screen, followed by the roller flowing into a pin-down for Brunson underneath the basket. That sequence gives Brunson two outlets to come off, Robinson at the rim or the stagger.

I like seeing OG screen the help immediately off Brunson’s cut, which frees Shamet for an open three. It’s important because this isn’t just a Brunson-centric action. If Brunson doesn’t take the stagger, the design still punishes the defense, so expect them to beat the help on the opposite side of the floor when Brunson curls.