New York Knicks Preview: The Keys To Defeating The Utah Jazz

The New York Knicks will continue its grueling month of November with a home game against the Utah Jazz. What must New York do to win?

Jan 20, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) guarded by Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks are in the process of developing a team identity. That’s a dangerous place to be during any part of the NBA regular season, but it’s an experience that New York is hoping its players learn from.

The learning experience will continue on Sunday, November 6, when the Knicks host the Utah Jazz at Madison Square Garden at 12 p.m. ET.

The Knicks are coming off of a character-building 117-104 victory over the rival Chicago Bulls. It was Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose’s first game back in Chicago since the former signed with the Knicks and the latter was traded.

Rose finished with 15 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds, one block, and a steal, and Noah posted 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

Though momentum has been built and a burden of a game has passed, the Knicks will face another postseason-caliber test on Sunday. The Jazz are currently 3-3, which is in spite of the fact that Gordon Hayward has yet to play a game this season.

The question is: what must the Knicks do in order to secure an early victory over the Jazz and pull back to .500?

Nov 2, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Dallas Mavericks 97-81. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

5. Contain George Hill

This may not have been on the scouting report when facing the Indiana Pacers, but George Hill has found new life with the Utah Jazz. It’s become abundantly clear that Hill’s role and confidence have increased and improved.

Through six games, one of the best defensive point guards in the NBA has found his groove on the offensive end of the floor.

Hill enters the clash with the Knicks averaging 20.0 points, 4.3 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.5 3-point field goals made per game. He’s shooting an absurd 52.3 percent from the field while also posting marks of 44.1 percent from 3-point range and 88.2 percent from the charity stripe.

In just six appearances, Hill already has three 20-point games, as well as outings with 13, 18, and 19 points.

Hill has attempted at least 13 field goals in all six of Utah’s games, which implies that Derrick Rose will have his hands full on Sunday. Hill is playing with both poise and aggressiveness, and there’s no reason to expect that to change.

For what it’s worth, Hill has a career average of 10.8 points on a slash line of .459/.342/.789 in 22 encounters with the New York Knicks.

Nov 2, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Houston Rockets center Clint Capela (15) fights for a rebound against New York Knicks center Joakim Noah (13) and New York Knicks shooting guard Courtney Lee (5) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

4. The Battle On The Boards

The Utah Jazz have one of the best interior duos in the NBA in Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert. They’re tremendous defenders, outstanding rebounders, and genuine impact players who haven’t even entered the prime of their respective careers.

In order for the New York Knicks to secure the third victory of the season, the battle on the boards must be won.

Winning the battle on the boards isn’t necessarily something that will be defined by having more rebounds. Instead, it’ll be defined by limiting second chance scoring opportunities and keeping the rebounding margin close.

The proof is in the numbers, as the Knicks have won when the margin in the rebounding department has been within reason

During its two victories, it won the rebounding battle by a count of 41 to 40 and lost by 40 to 42. During its three losses, it’s lost the rebounding battle by measures of 42 to 51, 43 to 48, and 34 to 54.

Having allowed at least 10 offensive rebounds in all five games, this could be the perfect opportunity to make a statement on the glass.

Nov 2, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) controls the ball against Houston Rockets small forward Sam Dekker (7) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

3. Kristaps Porzingis

Kristaps Porzingis displayed his upside and his flaws during the 117-104 victory over the Chicago Bulls. The upside was found in the fact that he scored 27 points. His flaws were evident in the fact he committed five fouls and was unable to cope with Chicago’s physicality down low.

It won’t get any easier against Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert, and the Utah Jazz, which makes Porzingis one of the most critical pieces to this ambitious puzzle.

In two games against the Jazz in 2015-16, Porzingis averaged 4.0 personal fouls in just 21.0 minutes. That includes a January 20 encounter, when he recorded 16 points and three blocks, but fouled out in just 29 minutes.

Porzingis is getting stronger in his core and lower body, but as his encounter with Taj Gibson displayed, he’s still struggling to defend and post up against bruising interior players.

Favors is going to post Porzingis up and make him work for his shots within the 3-point line. Porzingis must be able to adapt and adjust, as the Jazz will play as physically as the referees enable them to on both ends of the floor.

If Porzingis stays out of foul trouble and maintains his composure when working from 16 feet and within, the Knicks should win this game.

Nov 1, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Utah Jazz shooting guard Rodney Hood (5) shoots the ball over San Antonio Spurs center Pau Gasol (16) during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

2. Close Out On Shooters

The New York Knicks have done a genuinely terrible job of closing out on 3-point shooters in 2016-17. This was also a flaw in 2014-15, although it did become less of an issue in 2015-16 with Carmelo Anthony and company improving their effort.

The Utah Jazz may be without their best offensive player in Gordon Hayward, but there are still a number of lethal shooters who can make the Knicks pay for cheating on defense.

George Hill, Rodney Hood, and Joe Johnson are three efficient and productive 3-point shooters who are currently shooting the lights out. Joe Ingles is another borderline marksman and the likes of Dante Exum, Trey Lyles, and Shelvin Mack can shoot the 3-ball.

If the Knicks continue to be lazy in the way they close out on shooters, then the Jazz will have a field day against the lackluster defense.

As previously established, Hill is off to an extraordinarily hot start for the Jazz. Hood is just as capable of lighting the Knicks up, if not more so, as evidenced by the 26 points he dropped on Portland and the 22 he had against Dallas.

Utah is all about physical defense, ball movement, pounding the post, and 3-point shooting. New York must at least be ready for the latter.

Nov 2, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose (25) controls the ball against the Houston Rockets in front of New York Knicks center Joakim Noah (13) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

1. Ball Movement

The New York Knicks enter the clash with the Utah Jazz at 2-3. The two wins have shared a common trait, while the three losses have done the same—and those traits will define the rest of New York’s season.

If the Knicks are hoping to defeat the defensive-minded Jazz, then they cannot afford to let the ball stick with any one player.

During New York’s three losses, it’s averaged 17.7 assists to 15.0 turnovers per game. That’s good for an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.18, which simply will not suffice for a team with postseason aspirations and even higher expectations.

In the two games that the Knicks have won, Jeff Hornacek’s crew is averaging 28.0 assists to 8.5 turnovers per game—an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.29.

It’s unlikely that the Knicks will average 28.0 assists per game, as the league-leading Golden State Warriors averaged 28.9 in 2015-16 and no other team exceeded 25.6. It’s a fair target, however, although the statistics aren’t what truly matter.

Brandon Jennings, Joakim Noah, and Derrick Rose kept the ball moving against Chicago—a combined 22 assists to four turnovers—and need to do the same against Utah.

Ball movement will be the key to creating efficient offense against one of the best defensive teams in the NBA.