Drew Maresca Articles - Page 2

The New York Knicks defeated the Orlando Magic on Sunday 106-100. That’s significant because of the stature of the Magic. It’s also significant because it was done without Karl-Anthony Towns. Knicks’ coach Mike Brown is critical of Towns when he doesn’t show up or gets distracted—but that’s because of the impact he can have when […]

The New York Knicks are having a good season by any measure. After defeating the Orlando Magic on Sunday, they advanced to 16-7, which is good for second place in the watered-down Eastern Conference. They boast the fourth-best point differential per game in the league. And they staunchly defend their home court, having won 13 […]

The New York Knicks continued their winning ways, scoring a 129-101 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. That makes two straight wins, which advances New York to 7-3 in their last 10 games. But strictly looking at wins and losses misses the point for a team like the Knicks. New York has won 50 or more […]

The New York Knicks have played well at home during the first few weeks of the season. And they’ve played horribly on the road, going 0-4 to open the year. That was on display in their most recent game, as they lost to the Miami Heat 115-113. Granted, the Knicks were without Jalen Brunson and […]

The New York Knicks struggled in a recent loss against the Orlando Magic—their first home loss of the season. And while fatigue probably played a role considering it came on the second night of a back-to-back, the game was more detrimental than just the defeat. Head coach Mike Brown kept Jalen Brunson and other starters […]

The New York Knicks are off to a great start in 2025-26, and much of that success has come at home. After Sunday night’s blowout win over the Brooklyn Nets, they are an incredible 6-0 at Madison Square Garden. Considering the importance of defending home court to winning a championship, a strong start at home […]

The New York Knicks hit a recent rough patch. After winning its first two games, New York lost three straight. That worried fans, especially given the quality of teams they lost to. But fear not. With head coach Mike Brown new to his role, there was always going to be a learning curve. Add in […]

The New York Knicks’ new offensive philosophy has been on full display through the team’s first three games this season. New head coach Mike Brown has encouraged the Knicks to shoot, pass, and run more freely. And the players have been listening—especially when it comes to shooting. New York is shooting significantly more 3-pointers so […]

The 2025-26 New York Knicks are clearly different than last season’s iteration of the team. New York’s talent has not been the problem in the recent past. But coach Tom Thibodeau’s unwillingness to play his bench might have created a degree of burnout among starters. Well, coach Mike Brown talked a big game about wanting […]

The New York Knicks have officially wrapped up their 2025-26 preseason slate. Shortly after their last preseason game, the Knicks announced that they had released Garrison Matthews, as well as a few other players. In doing so, and in conjunction with Malcolm Brogdon’s unexpected retirement, New York made the decision to stick with Landry Shamet. […]

The New York Knicks have experienced a good deal of success in recent seasons. And they expect more to come this season. But one thing that’s been missing has been a strong and consistent bench. That could very well change this season thanks to the arrival of Jordan Clarkson. And the ClutchPoints’ 2025-26 NBA Pre-Season […]

The New York Knicks are primed for a successful season. They are coming off consecutive 50-win campaigns. And they just advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals last season for the first time in 25 years. New coach Mike Brown implemented a modern, pace-oriented offensive system. Captain Jalen Brunson returns healthy and comfortable with his role. […]

The New York Knicks appear ready to embrace new head coach Mike Brown’s offensive philosophy. The Knicks’ offense looked stagnant too often under former coach Tom Thibodeau. Fortunately, Brown believes in pushing the pace, moving the ball, and launching 3-pointers. And that could significantly benefit the Knicks, resulting in even more success in the near […]

The New York Knicks are sporting a slightly different look through their first three preseason games. Despite advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals last year, the Knicks have employed a noticeably more free flowing offensive system. They appear to pass the ball more willingly. And transition looks to be an increased focal point. Much of […]

The New York Knicks looked great in their two preseason games played in Abu Dhabi against the Philadelphia 76ers. They played with greater pace and moved the ball more willingly than we’ve seen in some time. However, the Knicks are still examining roster options. Ignoring the obvious Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors that re-surfaced recently, there is […]

The New York Knicks will enter the 2025-26 season with major expectations. They’ve brought on new head coach Mike Brown to implement a modern offense. They’ve also added some free agent fire power via Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele. And most importantly, they’ll enter the pre-season healthy (and hungry). But there are still questions for […]

The New York Knicks’ front office continues its strong run. It recently fleshed out its roster with veteran depth, re-signing Landry Shamet and adding Malcolm Brogdon. These moves add to an already-strong offseason, making the team’s positive outlook for 2025-26 even more credible. While neither deal is guaranteed, the idea of bringing Shamet back—whose contributions […]

The New York Knicks enter the 2025-26 season with high expectations, and rightfully so. They are coming off back-to-back 50-win seasons. They have an arguably top-10 player in Jalen Brunson. And they just swapped a coach who many felt was holding them back with one known for more creativity. But chief among the reasons for […]

The New York Knicks enter the 2025-26 season with relatively high expectations. They are coming off back-to-back 50-win seasons, and they return their entire core—as well as a few top end free agent signings. The Knicks are also set to enter year two with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. It will also be their first […]

The New York Knicks finished the 2024-25 season about where they expected to. They advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. And while they were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers for the second consecutive season, New York did almost as well as you’d expect given that it was the Knicks’ first year with Karl-Anthony Towns and […]

The New York Knicks made some additions in the 2025 offseason. They signed dynamic guard Jordan Clarkson, as well as burly big man Guerschon Yabusele. And they also locked up Mikal Bridges to a long-term extension and added new head coach Mike Brown. One move that understandably flew under the radar was the drafting of […]

The New York Knicks finally reached an agreement on a contract extension with Mikal Bridges. New York agreed to pay Bridges an average of $37.5 million per year for four years in a deal that features a player option in the final year. The Knicks team is now mostly set for the foreseeable future—and it […]

The New York Knicks are mostly done with free agency meaning they are ready for the 2025-26 season. While the Knicks might add one more veteran via a minimum deal, it is unlikely that they add anyone who will impact the rotation. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t housekeeping left to do. Specifically, Mikal Bridges […]

The New York Knicks have had an eventful offseason. They added new coach Mike Brown. And they also signed free agent guard Jordan Clarkson, as well as forward Guerschon Yabusele. Without a healthy Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, the Knicks look to enter the 2025-26 season ready to capitalize on a weakened Eastern Conference. But […]

The New York Knicks ended their coaching search this week, reaching an agreement with two-time Coach of the Year winner Mike Brown. The Knicks will be Brown’s fourth stop as a head coach. New York hopes to be the first team with which Brown can take the final step and win an NBA championship, but […]

The New York Knicks have been relatively busy in the early days of the 2025 NBA free agency period. After agreeing to terms with Jordan Clarkson, who will certainly bolster the team’s second-unit scoring, New York turned its attention to the gritty side of the game. With the team seeking frontcourt help, the Knicks agreed […]

The New York Knicks wasted little time making a splash in free agency. After the Knicks rounded out their starting unit last offseason, the Knicks recently reached an agreement with former Sixth Man of the Year winner Jordan Clarkson. The 6-foot-3 guard will join the team for the veteran’s minimum, according to the New York […]

The New York Knicks recently wrapped up their best season in 25 years and will return their entire core next year. Considering how well the Knicks performed last season, as well as the injuries that have opened up the conference for New York, they were able to operate with the luxury of selecting the best […]

Congratulations to the Oklahoma City Thunder for winning the 2025 NBA Championship. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks recently finished their best season in 25 years. They advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals and will return their entire core next season, sans former head coach Tom Thibodeau. But despite experiencing unprecedented success for a team that’s […]

The New York Knicks just wrapped up their most successful season in 25 years, winning  51 games and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals. Given the average age of their core, that bodes incredibly well for the team’s future. Additionally, an Achilles injury suffered by Jayson Tatum limits the Boston Celtics’ ceiling next year. Granted, […]

Giannis Antetokounmpo may or may not ask for a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason. Antetokounmpo has played his entire 12-year NBA career with the Bucks and won them their first NBA title in 50 years, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that the franchise might not be able to build another realistic contender around […]

The New York Knicks parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau. The firing came despite the fact that he led New York to its first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years, as well as Thibodeau having three years remaining on his contract. But the Knicks were obviously displeased with Thibodeau and his inflexibility with […]

The New York Knicks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in a 125-108 blowout in Game 6. New York technically raised the bar by advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years. But they also fell to the lower-seeded Pacers in fewer games than last year, when they lost despite […]

The New York Knicks were razor sharp on Thursday night, defeating the Indiana Pacers 111-94. The Knicks crept back into the Eastern Conference Finals, swinging momentum in a (now) 3-2 series. New York led for the entirety of Game 5, and they held Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton to eight points on seven shot attempts. As […]

The New York Knicks outlasted the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 106-100, avoiding a 3-0 series hole. After posting another epic, 20-point comeback, Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks to a momentum-shifting win that has changed the narrative around this series. New York’s success all happened with an Aaron Nesmith ankle injury and Jalen Brunson in foul […]

The New York Knicks dropped Game 2 to the Indiana Pacers 114-109. Despite both games being played in New York, the Knicks now trail the Pacers 2-0. And there are changes to the team’s ineffective rotation that coach Tom Thibodeau must embrace if the Knicks are going to have a chance in this series, whether he […]

The New York Knicks hosted an Eastern Conference Final game for the first time in 25 years. They earned their spot here, defeating the Detroit Pistons in the first-round and upsetting the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. But the conference finals are a different beast altogether — and that was proven on Wednesday […]

The New York Knicks were one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024, and they accomplished that feat against an Indiana Pacers team with numerous disruptive injuries. But New York chose to aggressively pursue a championship instead of waiting to see how their roster might improve organically. They upended their roster by adding Karl-Anthony Towns […]

The New York Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals after defeating the Celtics 119-81. The blowout win secured a 4-2 series win for the Knicks, who entered the second-round NBA Playoffs series as big underdogs. And while the Jayson Tatum injury sucked away most of the credit the Knicks earned in defeating the Celtics, […]