Knicks’ ceiling remains high, but their floor still wobbles

The New York Knicks can be beautiful. They can also be baffling.

That’s the thrust of a sharp breakdown from Fred Katz of The Athletic, who zeroed in on Karl-Anthony Towns as both a symbol and a solution for what ails New York.

When the Knicks are humming, it often starts with something simple, Katz wrote. Josh Hart pushing in transition. Towns trailing. A deep three in rhythm. Splash. It happened against Philadelphia. It happened again two games later. Those trailer threes are there. They work.

Then they disappear.

Towns will look like an offensive cheat code one night — cutting hard, popping with purpose, whipping passes over his head, scoring from everywhere. The next? Four first-half shots. One attempt after halftime. Quiet as a library.

Sometimes it’s on Towns. Sometimes it’s the flow. Sometimes it’s the Knicks forgetting what makes them dangerous.

Katz also points to the broader theme. Jalen Brunson’s uneven defense. Mikal Bridges fading in and out. OG Anunoby’s streaky shooting. Mitchell Robinson ramping up slowly. Even Hart, who’s hitting 40 percent from three, occasionally hesitating like he doesn’t believe it.

Coach Mike Brown is experimenting. Zone in games. Lineups that scrunch spacing. Concept-based offense over rigid sets. There’s growth in that. There’s risk, too.

The Knicks say they’re still finding their identity.

It’s late February. If June is the goal, the zigzag has to straighten out soon.