The New York Knicks' defensive struggles have become increasingly evident as they have lost six of their last nine games, culminating in a 116-99 defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite their investments in key defensive players like Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, the Knicks have failed to establish a cohesive defensive identity. Slow rotations and poor containment at the point of attack have allowed opponents to exploit gaps, especially against high-level scorers such as Anthony Edwards, who scored 36 points in the recent match.

The absence of Karl-Anthony Towns due to injury has further hindered the Knicks' offensive performance, limiting their ability to adapt against tough defenses. Julius Randle's subdued role and Jalen Brunson's inefficient scoring have compounded these issues. With another challenging matchup against Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks looming, the Knicks need immediate improvements in their defensive strategies to salvage their season and maintain championship aspirations.