The New York Knicks fell to the Atlanta Hawks in a nail-biting 111-105 showdown last night, and fans are left asking the same question: **Will this ONE glaring weakness cost them a shot at the playoffs?** Despite strong performances from stars Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett, the Knicks’ Achilles’ heel – rebounding – was front and center, and it might be the problem that haunts them all season long.
With **Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu grabbing 28 rebounds** combined, Atlanta completely owned the glass, out-rebounding New York by a wide margin. This isn’t the first time the Knicks have lost control of the boards, and the consequences are piling up. The extra possessions handed to the Hawks led to second-chance points that kept the Knicks on their heels, limiting any chance of regaining momentum late in the game.
**But what’s REALLY going wrong on the boards?** Knicks’ head coach Tom Thibodeau has pointed out the team’s lack of boxing out and defensive rebounding discipline. But despite his calls for more physicality, **the Knicks are losing key battles in the paint** game after game – and it could cost them dearly.
**Offensive Sparks Can’t Hide Defensive Cracks**
It wasn’t all bad news – Jalen Brunson delivered another impressive outing with 27 points and 7 assists, and RJ Barrett added 22 points, helping the Knicks stay competitive until the very end. But turnovers and defensive missteps overshadowed these bright spots, adding fuel to a growing fire as New York’s weaknesses become impossible to ignore.
With a crucial matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks on the horizon, **can the Knicks fix their rebounding woes before facing even tougher competition** in the Eastern Conference? Knicks fans have a right to be concerned – unless the team finds a way to patch up this problem fast, they could see a promising season slip away, one rebound at a time.
