3 numbers that define New York Knicks so far

1. The number 23.9 should be an area code, NOT fouls per game

Fouls, fouls, fouls.

How many more fouls must the New York Knicks commit before coach David Fizdale realizes it’s time to change the defensive blueprint?

These Knicks are insultingly uncoordinated on defense, often leading to unnecessary fouls that send opposing players to the free throw line or give them a new possession.

As luck would have it, New York’s opponents are shooting a pretty low (75.3 percent, 10th-worst in the NBA) free throw percentage (as if that should be a real measured statistic).

Both Taj Gibson and Mitchell Robinson are culpable for this negative statistic. These big men are committing way too many unnecessary fouls without even playing starter’s minutes.

When we switch their numbers to per-36 minutes rates, we can see that Gibson is committing 5.7 personal fouls per 36, with Robinson topping him at a whopping 6.3 fouls per 36. This was an obvious flaw of Robinson’s game last season which he seems to have completely ignored during his summer workouts.

There is a reason why the free throw line is called “charity stripe”. A team struggling as the Knicks are certainly does not have much to spare in order to start doing charity work.