KNICKS

What former New York Knicks great John Starks told current team about closing out games

Chris Iseman
NBA Writer
Guard Trey Burke and the Knicks have suffered some tough losses this season where they've led late, only to see it disappear.

NEW ORLEANS — John Starks' message was clear.

When the former Knicks guard spoke to the current team last week, he discussed a topic that has plagued the Knicks through the early part of the season: The final minutes of games. 

He told the Knicks those minutes require a higher level of focus.

Several times this season, the Knicks have had the lead going into the final minutes, only to see it disappear. Their opponent hits a higher level of intensity, the Knicks unravel and end up with a disappointing loss.

The latest such defeat came Friday night, when the Knicks blew an 11-point lead with seven minutes left and lost to the New Orleans Pelicans, 129-124. 

Holding onto those late leads is something the Knicks have struggled to accomplish, partially a byproduct of a team filled with young players seeing their first extensive NBA minutes. Learning how to overcome that challenge, how to stay focused when their opponent starts to threaten late, is a part of the Knicks' development. 

Former Knick John Starks was a guest coach in a Local Celebrity Game during the Westchester Knicks Open House for fans at the Westchester County Center in White Plains Oct. 6, 2015.

"We can’t keep saying this young team thing because we’re in all of these games," Trey Burke said. "Everyone sees that. That’s not the goal — to be in the game. The goal is to have more points than the opponent when the last buzzer sounds."

The Knicks on Friday lost the lead to a strong Western Conference team that features an all-star center in Anthony Davis, who dominated the Knicks. Davis finished with 43 points. Jrue Holiday also hit big shots, delivering daggers from long distance to score 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter.

But this has been a common occurrence through the Knicks' first 16 games. 

The Knicks just haven't been able to play a full 48 minutes consistently. 

"I see the other team takes it up to another level and we just right now don’t know how to answer that bell and really understand the value of possessions, how each possession matters," coach David Fizdale said. "The value of getting rebounds. ...And we’ve got to make our free throws, too. I think we went 1 for 2 like three straight times down the stretch. Those are big to stop momentum. These are all things that we have to go through and learn from."

The Knicks are still learning how to withstand a late-game run from their opponents. 

New York Knicks' Anthony Mason, right, gives teammate John Starks a bear hug in the fourth quarter Wednesday night, May 11, 1994, at New York's Madison Square Garden.  The Knicks beat the Chicago Bulls 96-91 to lead the Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-0. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)

Burke said the team too often "hangs its head" when teams begin to threaten.

"We see that a lot on our team," Burke said. "A team may hit a shot. They may hit two shots. Put our head down. That’s not a time to put our head down. We gotta get the ball out. We gotta go right back at them while they’re celebrating."

That was all part of Starks' message.

"When that five-minute mark hits in the fourth quarter and it’s a tight game, playoff teams, teams that go deep into the playoffs, they know how to go to another level of focus," Burke said. "Lock in on another level. Where you take the 'me' out of it. It’s about 'we' now."

Whether the Knicks reach that level remains to be seen. So far, it's been a learning process. 

Closing out games is something they haven't been able to do consistently. They've endured some tough losses along the way.

They can only hope they're learning from them. 

"These types of losses sting," Burke said. "I’m sure going through these type of experiences, we’re going to get it."

Email: iseman@northjersey.com 

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