to scramble quite as quickly as it would with a guard coming around a screen and into the paint at full speed.

Thus, the Knicks rarely have free lanes through which to get to the rim. No team takes a lower percentage of its shots in the restricted area, per NBA.com, and the Knicks finish there at the fourth-worst rate in the league. They are last in the NBA in points in the paint per game, the most efficient area on the floor, per NBA.com, and that's again something that has carried over from last season.

The Knicks don't get out in transition to create easy baskets

David Goldman/Associated Press

The Knicks are playing at a faster pace this year, yes, but they had just five fast-break points against the Hawks onfrom beyond the arc, he might have drawn a little extra focus from the defense. These days, the opposition is comfortable with him firing away from outside and cutting off the paint for Carmelo, Porzingis and others.

"I think the biggest thing is just knocking down shots," says Galloway. "The more outside shots we knock down, the more we can penetrate."

Knicks guards don't play good enough defense

Jason DeCrow/Associated Press

Calderon has long been one of the league's worst defenders at the point guard spot, thanks to his lack of lateral mobility and foot speed. His defensive real plus-minus (RPM), per ESPN.com, ranks 39th among point guards.

Grant somehow ranks even lower—at 42nd. He should improve as he gets more time in the league, but like most rookies, he's unlikely to be