ive been watching basketball on every level for 25 years the two best teams I ever saw predicated their defense on zone trapping-the chicago bulls and the unlv running rebels--the other night i saw the future of how to win in the nba----the zone the zone can be the answer if you are playing against a team that has a franchise center and even more effective against a jump shooting team like the Knicks. for those who watched the minnesota game you saw kg swarm and dominate past any stat. Now just imagine 2 players up front built like kg 6-10 long arms huge wingspans mobile with a ben wallace type anchor back in the lane-think what that could do with the right coach who implements various trapping defensive zones. There would be arms all over passing lanes cutting down the abilty to take the ball to the basket and ultimately attempting to shoot jumpers over long extended arms. It also cuts down on players energy reserves--instead of chasing guys around they just float to the other side of the zone. Result--more enrgy in the 4th
The key for the Knicks going forward is moving to the philosophy of the zone--getting longer players that fit the need of the zone and the right coach to put it all together.
the season is a bust we are BRUTAL we cant win because we are so small and old that we cant stop other teams who pound it inside and we spend so much enrgy trying to keep up with other teams on both ends that when we play well -we wilt in the 4th. Its not choking or psychological--it's physical fact.
There is no doubt in my mind that we need to get another first round pick this year. We have to be OPPORTUNISTIC and AGGRESIVE in finding another high pick and we must execute those picks on players that fit the system that i mentioned.
We need TWO guys who are 6-10+ who can come in and play right away. As I stated in a previous post I have identified three players that i feel would change the organization around Chris Bosh Darius Rice and george leach but the first two in particular --and I believe we will need picks in the 2-4 area and another in the 10-15. Its a system built on defense and rebounding effeciency. Its a system of putting players that match up well together.
a- bruising anchor to the back line doesnt have to be 7-2 more of a ben wallace type that is the last line of defense
b-two or three forwards who are interchangable and have the skill level to play inside or outside on the offensive end. these forwards HAVE to be 6-9MINIMALLY in bare feet no more spoons thomas harrington's etc.. who are listed taller than they really are.
Its to bad that we didnt take amare he would have been a PERFECT choice as the anchor and knowing that we would be poor for one more season we have a chance to get that very high pick and during the year go all out on attempting to solidify another one. Perhaps a team like Golden state who may want to keep the team they have who may end up pretty bad record wise would be willing to trade involving their pick. the zone changes basketball and the team that recognizes this fact and finds the coach and the athletes to run it will be winning championships. I look at dallas as an example--how much has the zone helped them--but the question is can there be BETTER players to run a zone--well we saw the protypical player in KG obviously there arent many KGs but Chris Bosh is dam close and Darius rice fits the model and skill level for my three. George Leach as I stated above is also a very interesting player in the same mode of thse guys with very good fundamentals a huge wing span and mid range game at 6-11 watch these guys during the year Chris plays for Georgia tech Darius plays for Miami and george Plays for indiana
We can turn this around quick but its imperative that the management of the Knicks identify and implement a system like I explained. Where we MIGHt have an advatage is we saw what KG did to us--we can clearly see how the zone has helped Dallas BUt IMHO faster longer athletes can make the zone even better. People have wondered why Denver has one 4 games and while their personal doesnt include wingers like Houston sprewell or a PG they have many long players and are able to force their will defensively. Obviously when you watch Chris Darius and George you will notice that they all have much higher offensive skill levels than they players on Denver.
the days of having undersized or slow imobile 6-11 players are over-leaving teams like the Knicks who sport to many undersized players vulnerable to an easy formula on how to beat them.
Another example of what I mean by anchor player would be 6-10 255 Emeka Okafor for Uconn. He is a perfect anchor. While he isnt 7-1 390 he has very long arms and a powerful build like Wallace. He averages a double double and 6 blocks per game while changing or altering many more shots. With the two 6-10 athletes in the front of the zone and the anchor in the back all poccessing long arms and the anchor has the ability to bang block a number of shots and rebound exceptionally well. Unfortunately I dont think Emeka will be coming out in this draft as he is a 3.9 scholar much in the way tim duncan and ronbinson are in terms of school. hes on pace to finish mid way through his third year so he should be available in the 2004 draft. Bosh and rice will DEFINITELY be 2003 and Leach IMHO will also be 2003.
Cheers
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[Edited by - BRIGGS on 11/26/2002 18:29:44][Edited by - BRIGGS on 11/26/2002 18:32:10]
11/26/2002 7:12 PM