New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson points out what's gone wrong with team's defense
After playing stellar in December, the start of the 2026 calendar year has not been kind to the New York Knicks. Looking like a legit NBA Finals contender after their Christmas Day victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, everything has gone downhill for the Knicks since then. They managed to win their next two games after that, but injuries and poor play has led to a three-game skid.
On Saturday night, the Knicks suffered their third-straight loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, as Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe dismantled the Knicks' defense to hand New York their 12th loss of the season.
Knicks Defense Struggles
A frustrated Knicks team, no doubt, Jalen Brunson spoke to the team's struggles on the defensive after the loss, calling out what needs to change.
"Objectively, we need to just be more sound and have each other's backs. Things are not going to be perfect, but we've got to be able to have each other's backs when things break down," Brunson said.
Looking at the numbers, the 76ers couldn't miss on Saturday, converting 54% of their field goal attempts and shooting 47% from beyond the arc. Joel Embiid, Maxey, and Edgecombe all had at least 26 points, with Maxey leading the way with 36. Embiid has been a shell of himself for a while, but still managed to outplay Karl-Anthony Towns, who returned to the lineup.
As has been mentioned over the past couple of games, the Knicks' offense hasn't been a problem at all, even though the performance against the Atlanta Hawks was horrendous. It's all been about the defense, and with Mitchell Robinson dealing with foul trouble on Saturday, he was limited to 19 minutes, and the 76ers scored 54 points in the paint as a result.
Being with Josh Hart is definitely a piece of the puzzle, but no one player is going to turn around the team's defensive effort. It starts at the top, and with Brunson speaking out on what needs to be done, him leading by example can help the Knicks get back on track.
Looking ahead for New York, they'll face a tough Detroit Pistons team on Monday and then a hot Los Angeles Clippers team on Wednesday. Going up against two of the best players this season in Cade Cunningham and Kawhi Leonard, this Knicks defense won't get a break anytime soon. Therefore, the coaching staff and players need to find a way.