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By Robert Marvi
Contributing Sports Writer
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Some people consider the New York Knicks the favorites to win the Eastern Conference and reach the NBA Finals. But the Knicks have had some alarming losses lately that may cast doubt on their chances of doing something special this spring and summer.
Last Thursday, they lost 126-111 to the Detroit Pistons, who have the best record in the league. It was their second lopsided loss to Cade Cunningham and crew after they fell 118-80 to Detroit on Feb. 6. Then, on Tuesday, they lost by 15 points to the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team many are high on when it comes to coming out of the East.
Knicks star big man Karl-Anthony Towns played 29 minutes against Cleveland, but he got off only five shot attempts and scored 14 points. While he's averaging 20 points a game this season and coming off his third straight All-Star game selection, there have been times when he hasn't been aggressive enough offensively.
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Some New York fans have expressed their frustration at Towns for not playing up to his potential. Former NBA player Lou Williams, a three-time Sixth Man of the Year, said on the "Run it Back" show that this is a situation that both Towns and Knicks coach Mike Brown have to address.
“You gotta demand more shots,” Williams said. “... Your second-best player on the team, totally unacceptable. Especially in a game like this. ... That’s something that Mike Brown and KAT, they need to look at each other and say we got to be better as a collective if we’re going to continue to move forward.”
Read more: Reggie Miller Reveals ‘Real Threat’ NBA Finals Contender Without Hesitation
Tim MacMahon of ESPN echoed Williams' sentiment during an episode of "Get Up."
“It’s absolutely dumbfounding that KAT gets five shots,” MacMahon said. “... You got to figure out a way to get this guy the ball. He's got to be more aggressive, his teammates got to find him, the coaches have to figure out a way to get him the ball.”
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Ever since New York traded for Towns prior to last season, some have doubted if he's the right second star alongside Jalen Brunson. His defense can be lackadaisical, and he isn't the easiest player to utilize offensively next to threats such as Brunson, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, even though he can post up, hit from 3-point range and even attack off the dribble a little.
After the team's loss to Cleveland, Towns said that the Knicks are "all trying to figure it out," per James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. “We’re still trying to figure out the system, the new things we’re doing, the nuances that go with it and the changes we’re trying to make,” he said. “It’s still a work in progress. I know, being in New York, everyone wants a finished product right now. People want instant gratification, but we’re still trying to figure out a lot.”
While Brown wants to play an up-tempo game and operate out of concepts, Towns seems to want something more structured where set plays are called for him.
Overall, the Knicks are in third place in the Eastern Conference with a 37-22 record, but they have won just half of their last eight games. They're ninth in points per game and third in offensive rating, and while they're 2-1 this season versus the Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, they're 0-3 versus Detroit.
Read more: Knicks’ Jalen Brunson Doesn’t Hold Back About His NBA Future
In the next week and change, they will have important matchups against the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets, which means they will go up against All-Star big men Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren and Nikola Jokić. Towns will need to play up to his ability, and his teammates and coaching staff will have to bring out the best in him for New York to defeat those three legitimate contenders.
For more on the Knicks and general NBA news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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