Momentum is fickle, and over the course of an 82-game schedule, there are enough twists and turns to make sustained excellence difficult for most teams.
As recently as Dec. 20, the New York Knicks were riding high. On that date, the Knicks extended their winning streak to a season-best eight consecutive games with a 132-94 dismantling of the Golden State Warriors that seemed to confirm that all of their pieces were meshing perfectly.
The Knicks have not tasted victory since. On Thursday, they suffered their fifth consecutive defeat, a 122-115 road loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the second stop of the “Texas Triangle” that will end on Saturday against the host Houston Rockets.
The Knicks were again without guard Jalen Brunson (hip) and forward RJ Barrett (finger), and their absences have played a role in the team’s ineffective play of late. However, much of the blame can be linked to the Knicks’ defense, which has the worst defensive rating in the league — 125.6 points per possession allowed — during their losing skid.
The Knicks are 11th overall in defensive rating on the season, according to NBA.com.
Getting back on the same page will be a challenge down two starters, but the Knicks need to find a way to excel regardless. Injuries are part of every NBA season, and the teams that figure out how to succeed in spite of them are the teams that thrive.
The Rockets had no excuses following their 129-114 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, their seventh setback in eight games and second to the Mavericks in seven days.
Among their most glaring deficiencies against the Mavericks was a lack of transition defense. Dallas, which ranks 29th in pace, posted a whopping 25 fast-break points in the victory.
The Rockets, who lead the NBA in offensive rebounding percentage at 34.5 percent, have been vulnerable in transition because of their relentless pounding of the offensive glass. However, what transpired in Dallas was different, a performance that requires correcting.
