Knicks put the NBA on notice (even with a subpar defense)

A quarter into the new season, the Knicks are ranked 23rd in defensive efficiency (115.8), allowing opponents to drain 14.5 threes per game. The latter stat is so bad that only three sub-.500 teams are worse. 

Don't let the numbers and analytics fool you. This New York team is built for the playoffs with its elite wing defenders, such as OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart, who can turn the screws on any given night against the league's top perimeter scorers.

We saw a prime example of that on Monday night when they walked into Denver and stifled Nikola Jokic's passing lanes, allowing the three-time MVP to record only seven dimes, his fewest in a game since Oct. 28. Furthermore, the trio of Jokic, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. combined to shoot 6-of-19 from deep in large part due to Anunoby and Bridges' defense.

Most of the headlines on Tuesday would underline that the Knicks scored a season-high 145 points with 45 assists — their most in a game since 1979 — and Anunoby poured in a career-high 40 points. And that's fair. However, the Knicks defense was the calling card that fueled their explosive offense. The best numbers to typify that is the Nuggets were outscored 64-46 in the paint and allowed only eight transition points. For context, Denver averaged 53.7 paint points and 19.0 fast-break points entering Monday's contest. 

The scary part for the league is New York has jumped to the top in most offensive metrics and still hasn't figured out its defense. Once the latter starts clicking consistently, watch out.