Knicks Analytics

Mikal Bridges is a Knick, for a very steep price based on the impact metrics. Short thread on why the public all-in-one advanced metrics are *impact* metrics, not *talent* metrics, and why team context will be the most important factor for Bridges' performance in NY 🧵👇

Should the Knicks root for the Celtics (to distance the Cavs and help the Knicks lock in a top 3 seed), or for the Cavs (to bring the 2 seed within reach but risk falling to 4)?

On-Off Rating tiers for qualifying Knick players. #NewYorkForever

Gravity usually refers to shooting, but Mitchell Robinson breaks the mold. 💪Opponents need to put in a team effort to box him out. In addition to his personal boards, his presence increases teammates’ REB rates. 🎯His paint gravity & defense-bending boards boon teammates’ 3P%.

@jmere09nyc @taylor_snarr All games, with an emphasis on the most recent, including previous seasons to an extent, since it’s based on the sum of the team’s players (to my knowledge; I didn’t make the stat!)

@_analyKnicks @taylor_snarr Yes, but what data is it using? Specifically what sample of games is it using to predict the next game.

After last night’s victory, the Knicks have reached a new peak in team EPM (+7.3) going back to 2013. #NewYorkForever

@jmere09nyc @taylor_snarr It’s forward looking (i.e. how well will this team perform in its next game all else equal?)

@_analyKnicks @taylor_snarr Is this for the season or a certain number of games?

@ArlaHalvorsen @taylor_snarr That’s not exactly true. It predicts a player's contribution to the team in points per 100 possessions.

@_analyKnicks @taylor_snarr EPM doesn’t target a real thing. It targets another advanced stat. So does every other catch-all. It’s a made up thing.

Predictive EPM has crowned a new best player on the New York Knicks. It may not be one of most people’s first couple of guesses. For some of us, though, it may be. #NewYorkForever

Who do you believe is the best option as the Knicks’ 5th starter?

@DynastyZoltanFF Agree that it’s not the end all be all, but ironically, per EPM Brown and Brunson are actually closer to each other on defense than they are on offense.

@_analyKnicks Not implying EPM is the end all be all. Just that Brunson and Brown are close on offense, and very very far apart on defense. For White, yeah the gap between Bruson and White on offense is much smaller than defense. Don't need stats to tell you that.

And people think this guy’s better than Jaylen Brown Closer to Derrick White than Brown.

Who's a better player?

Who's a better player?

Who's a better player?

This isn't to say regular-season D all-in-ones - notoriously tricky - are an end-all be all. Maybe I'll do a thread soon with some more context here. But for all the positives, it's important to inject some accountability on a team pushing for a 1-seed & struggling to get stops!

If you prefer BBall Index's flavor of defensive impact, it paints a somehow even worse picture. In their database since 2013-14, 6806 players' seasons qualify for D-LEBRON. Jalen Brunson's 2025-26 ranks *6795th*.

As the Knicks look to stabilize the ship mid-season, when is it worth having an honest discussion on Jalen Brunson's defense? He's 1st %ile in D-EPM this season at -2.5. To put that in perspective, that would be the worst single-season D-EPM of *Trae Young's career*.