Knicks’ improved perimeter defense set for most challenging test yet with finals berth at stake

It’s been a roller-coaster journey for the Knicks point-of-attack and perimeter defense this season.

And it’s an area that will be pivotal to reaching the finals.

Both the Cavaliers and Pistons — who square off in Game 7 Sunday night in Detroit — present dangerous threats at guard.

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If it’s the Pistons, Cade Cunningham is a matchup headache and foundational to everything they do offensively.

If it’s the Cavaliers, they have a two-headed attack with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.

As those guards go, their teams go.

Offensively, everything runs through them.

“It’s huge,” Miles McBride said. “Obviously, every round gets tougher. Different opponents, different challenges, so having a great point-of-attack [defense] on the perimeter is super important. And then trusting our guys at the rim to make plays or rotations. But it’s about energy and effort and just the whole team locking in.”

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The Knicks struggled in that department for the first half of the year, in a unique scheme that emphasized forcing ball handlers into the middle of the court.

Their defense was getting broken down too frequently, resulting in open shots for opponents.

Midway through the year, they switched that scheme to a much more traditional one — forcing ball handlers to the sideline and baseline and placing an emphasis on keeping them out of the middle of the court and the paint.

The results were much better.

Mikal Bridges defends during the Knicks’ May 10 playoff game against the 76ers. Imagn Images

In the first round against the Hawks, they did a strong job on Jalen Johnson (who is not a guard but is a perimeter scorer), though CJ McCollum torched them the first three games of the series.

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Then, after switching Josh Hart onto him, the Knicks made McCollum a nonfactor and cruised into the second round.

Mikal Bridges — along with McBride at times — did a terrific job stifling Tyrese Maxey in the second round against the 76ers.

Hart neutralized VJ Edgecombe.

The offensive transformation by the Knicks gets most of the attention.

But their defensive dominance — especially on the perimeter…

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Publish date : 2026-05-16 22:28:00

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