{"id":689587,"date":"2026-03-31T09:17:34","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T09:17:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/689587\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T09:17:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T09:17:34","slug":"karl-anthony-towns-says-knicks-arent-at-their-best-yet-as-nba-playoffs-near-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/689587\/","title":{"rendered":"Karl-Anthony Towns says Knicks aren&#8217;t at their best yet as NBA Playoffs near"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img alt=\"New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"760\" height=\"428\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3c64f5a96682b5e77fb2f69a3de65b86.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportingnews.com\/us\/nba\/new-york-knicks\/news\/knicks-karl-anthony-towns-says-arent-their-best-yet-nba-playoffs-near\/84dc595d8f6c7a01b562525e?utm_source=yahoo&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=appeared_on\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Karl-Anthony Towns says Knicks aren&#039;t at their best yet as NBA Playoffs near;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Karl-Anthony Towns says Knicks aren&#039;&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Karl-Anthony Towns says Knicks aren&#8217;t at their best yet as NBA Playoffs near<\/a> originally appeared on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportingnews.com\/us?utm_source=yahoo&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=appeared_on\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:The Sporting News;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;The Sporting News&quot;}\" class=\"link \">The Sporting News<\/a>. Add The Sporting News as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.sportingnews.com\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Preferred Source by clicking here;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Preferred Source by clicking here&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Preferred Source by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As of the moment, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportingnews.com\/us\/nba\/new-york-knicks\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:New York Knicks;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;New York Knicks&quot;}\" class=\"link \">New York Knicks<\/a> hold the third seed in the Eastern Conference. Hopes are still high for the squad led by Jalen Brunson but it looks like they have not been at their best in the past few games. Karl-Anthony Towns has observed this slight dip in performance after their games against the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportingnews.com\/us\/nba\/charlotte-hornets\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Charlotte Hornets;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Charlotte Hornets&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Charlotte Hornets<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportingnews.com\/us\/nba\/oklahoma-city-thunder\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Oklahoma City Thunder;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Oklahoma City Thunder&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a>. Even he posits that they should do better as the NBA Playoffs looms over.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Towns knows Knicks have been dipping a bit heading into NBA Playoffs<\/p>\n<p>Make no mistake, the Knicks have won seven of their last 10 games. However, it is these losses to the Thunder and Hornets which raised eyebrows. A lot of other title contenders have managed to win against the defending champions but the Brunson-led squad has not managed to pull off a victory. In fact, they have not won against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. since November 21, 2022. Yes, it has been nearly four years.<\/p>\n<p>To add insult to injury, they also lost to the Kon Knueppel and Lamelo Ball-led Charlotte Hornets by 11 points. Towns and the rest of the Knicks know that they can do better but those better versions have just not surfaced for them, via<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7157214\/2026\/03\/30\/knicks-loss-thunder-playoffs-approaching\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:James L. Edwards III.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;James L. Edwards III.&quot;}\" class=\"link \"> James L. Edwards III.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I don\u2019t think we\u2019ve seen it yet. We still have these games to show it. I still think we\u2019re learning what we\u2019re trying to accomplish in the system and everything. I think, for us, our best basketball is when we\u2019re causing turnovers and turning those into transition points, playing with pace and maximizing what everyone does so well and makes them great,&#8221; the Knicks big man said.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>The numbers do back the fact that the Knicks could do better. They have an offensive rating of 119.6 which ranks sixth in the league despite playing at a very slow 97.2 pace. Their defensive rating is also very decent at 113.2 and is ranked as the sixth-best in the NBA. On most nights, they just shine at one end of the floor and sag on the other. Towns might be pointing out that the Knicks should be handling both sides simultaneously together in the remaining games to be better in the NBA Playoffs.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We have time; not a lot, but we have time. It can come randomly. It can come at Game 80 or 81. We have a lot of tape, too. Maybe this offensive game was our best offensive game or this defensive game was our best defensive game. We just haven\u2019t always put those two together. There\u2019s a lot of good to look back on, especially when you\u2019ve won as much as we have, to see what has worked well,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p>Tough opponents are in the Knicks&#8217; schedule before the NBA Playoffs start. They will have to face the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportingnews.com\/us\/nba\/houston-rockets\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Houston Rockets;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Houston Rockets&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Houston Rockets<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportingnews.com\/us\/nba\/memphis-grizzlies\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Memphis Grizzlies;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Memphis Grizzlies&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Memphis Grizzlies<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportingnews.com\/us\/nba\/chicago-bulls\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Chicago Bulls;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Chicago Bulls&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Chicago Bulls<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportingnews.com\/us\/nba\/atlanta-hawks\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Atlanta Hawks;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Atlanta Hawks&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Atlanta Hawks<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportingnews.com\/us\/nba\/boston-celtics\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Boston Celtics;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Boston Celtics&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Boston Celtics<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportingnews.com\/us\/nba\/toronto-raptors\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Toronto Raptors;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Toronto Raptors&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Toronto Raptors<\/a>. Their season closer? It&#8217;s a rematch with the Hornets. Will the Knicks be able to light up and show their true potential?<\/p>\n<p>More NBA News:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns Karl-Anthony Towns says Knicks aren&#8217;t at their best yet as NBA Playoffs&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":689588,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[208,7,75,473,329,87111,1409,194,288,563,968,8090,177,6,11,191,36059,179,476],"class_list":["post-689587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba-playoffs","tag-atlanta-hawks","tag-basketball","tag-boston-celtics","tag-charlotte-hornets","tag-chicago-bulls","tag-defensive-game","tag-eastern-conference","tag-houston-rockets","tag-jalen-brunson","tag-karl-anthony-towns","tag-kon-knueppel","tag-lamelo","tag-memphis-grizzlies","tag-nba","tag-nba-playoffs","tag-new-york-knicks","tag-offensive-game","tag-oklahoma-city-thunder","tag-toronto-raptors"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/116323042761869269","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/689587","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=689587"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/689587\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/689588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=689587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=689587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=689587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}