TMS wrote:impressive win indeed... they played great defense throughout except for a momentary lapse in the 2nd half which is bound to happen in every game, but they weathered the storm well & pulled out the W... now someone tell me again why they can't play defense every night like this?

This is at least in part to do with Nate's absence. No jokers = no distractions = better team effort.

nixluva wrote:Like MDA said, he's looking for a winning attitude and the guys that are playing are thinking only about playing winning team basketball. That alone makes up for whatever individual weaknesses these guys may have.

Yea, and this goes back to what I said about systems. It's not so much the individuals that make up the system, but the connections between the individuals that determine the success of the team. I don't mean MDA's 'system', but systems in general. And I think we're seeing this in action with the Knicks right now.

McK1 wrote:the david lee hate is so misguided. guy is a beast

we saw today when he wants to play defense he can... so why doesn't he do it on a more consistent basis? it's not hate, it's frustration cuz u know he's got it in him to play D, but he doesn't more often than not... otherwise i think most people realize he's got skills on the other side of the ball.

MDA even admits he's never seen D Lee come up w/a huge blocked shot during a game... i don't see any reason why Lee can't do it more often, he's got tremendous hops & a long wingspan... if Gallo w/bad back, stiff legs & all can do it then Lee can too.

loweyecue wrote:

TMS wrote:impressive win indeed... they played great defense throughout except for a momentary lapse in the 2nd half which is bound to happen in every game, but they weathered the storm well & pulled out the W... now someone tell me again why they can't play defense every night like this?

This is at least in part to do with Nate's absence. No jokers = no distractions = better team effort.

I tend to agree. NY Giants followed a similar approach - remove distractions, let the talent flows.

The right guys are getting the minutes now, and MDA is running the show. Let's hope the next relapse into low energy defense doesn't sap our good will from this game too much. The boys gotta know to be elite will take max effort across the season, not just for wins, but for conditioning, focus and attitude. It's what winners do.

As for Lee, I think he has been weak on D the whole season. Tonight he started to make effort, and hopefully his conditioning and attitude are growing in the right direction. But he absolutely MUST play D if we are going to win, not just depend on a shot-blocker to rotate and take over.

I liked David's active hands the last two games on D. He's starting to feel his way. I don't need him to leap and block post shots so much as to be tenacious, box out, smack at the ball, and foul hard if he gets beat. Other side of the court he kicks ass. Those Top of Key shots tonight were a wonderful boost in the first half.

4 of 5 baby, this ship may be turning. And we have the trade deadline coming up, with any changes being improvements or salary purges.

ScoreBot wrote:

Final  
NYK 93 POR 84

BWAHAHAHA!!! Got the gamepicker right!!!

Moonangie wrote:As for Lee, I think he has been weak on D the whole season. Tonight he started to make effort, and hopefully his conditioning and attitude are growing in the right direction. But he absolutely MUST play D if we are going to win, not just depend on a shot-blocker to rotate and take over.

I liked David's active hands the last two games on D. He's starting to feel his way. I don't need him to leap and block post shots so much as to be tenacious, box out, smack at the ball, and foul hard if he gets beat. Other side of the court he kicks ass. Those Top of Key shots tonight were a wonderful boost in the first half.

that's all i'm asking to see out of Lee... i don't expect him to be Hakeem Olajuwon, just show some effort on defense like he did tonight on a regular basis... there's no reason why he can't, he's got the work ethic & the ability to do it.

AbrahamLincoln wrote:

TMS wrote:

McK1 wrote:the david lee hate is so misguided. guy is a beast

we saw today when he wants to play defense he can... so why doesn't he do it on a more consistent basis? it's not hate, it's frustration cuz u know he's got it in him to play D, but he doesn't more often than not... otherwise i think most people realize he's got skills on the other side of the ball.

People only like to make posts about Lee being a beast the one out of every 5 games David Lee decides to play defense. Let's see him give consistent effort on that side of the ball before we label anyone a beast. Oh and I still don't think he's an unstoppable offensive player to be labeled a "beast".

haven't seen anyone stop him yet

McK1 wrote:

AbrahamLincoln wrote:

TMS wrote:

McK1 wrote:the david lee hate is so misguided. guy is a beast

we saw today when he wants to play defense he can... so why doesn't he do it on a more consistent basis? it's not hate, it's frustration cuz u know he's got it in him to play D, but he doesn't more often than not... otherwise i think most people realize he's got skills on the other side of the ball.

People only like to make posts about Lee being a beast the one out of every 5 games David Lee decides to play defense. Let's see him give consistent effort on that side of the ball before we label anyone a beast. Oh and I still don't think he's an unstoppable offensive player to be labeled a "beast".

haven't seen anyone stop him yet

Yes, he's the modern day Kevin McHale now.

I want to add I meant 1 out of every 45 games he decides to play defense, not 5.