I don't get to see many games. It seems almost everyone agrees his defense is terrible. Why? Does he just not have the physical ability? Lack of effort? Lack of know how? Playing out of position?

Do you think his defense will ever improve? I've been thinking he was worth keeping but...

Lee has the physical ability and is an athlethic player which is very obvious on offense. I don't get it myself. He has spurts where he can get a block, man up and then he goes into a mode where he just watches players parade to the rim. I have a friend who claim it is because he is timing his rebounds in case of a miss but I hope that isn't the case. He is fine normally on the perimeter which is something he improved since his time here.

The real question is what's Duhon's problem on defense, offense, ball control and fundamentals of the game because right now that boy sucks at all those elements.

Lee is a decent man to man defender which is good, because that is the hardest thing to improve for a player.

It is his help defense which needs a lot of work. Fortunately, that is something he can improve in because its a combination of effort and just knowing where to be at the right time. Lee has shown an ability to improve his game each season so if the coaches ask him to improve on D, hopefully, he does just that.

During games, he has a horrible habit of doubling guys and then getting confused on which guy he should stay on (many times it results in Lee leaving a guy wide open for a shot). That is something the coaches should point out to him and tell him exactly what they want him to do in those situations. The other thing he has to improve in is contesting shots. Obviously he will never be a guy that averages 3 blocks per game but that is no excuse for not contesting a shot when someone comes in the lane and comes right at you. You have to learn how to contest those shots without fouling (and it really isn't a difficult thing to learn). I think part of it might be that Lee doesn't want to get in foul trouble because that would mean he stays off the court. Either way, I really think he can improve in these areas and hopefully he does because his effort on the defensive end last night was disgraceful.

Offense is fun but defense is work. DLee doesn't like to work.

He should and could be better. He has some of the physical skills to play good D, and it is not as if he is unintelligent. Awareness, effort, and desire are needed to play good D. You also have to take it as a personal insult that someone is scoring on you (because of you) or on your team, so for me, playing good D is a matter of personal pride.

Watch how M. Jordan, Pippen, Sprewell, Wade, or Garnett played/play D. Watch/remember how the Riley Knicks played D. The Knicks, in general, don't have the defensive intensity that they should have. You can say it is the coach's problem, but I look at the individual players on this team as the reason for our defensive shortcomings.

Most posters seem to think his man to man is ok and his team (help) defense is terrible. So next question is - does anyone play good help defense on the Knicks? Sounds like Lee is noticeably worse then everyone else. But from what I have seen, read and heard the Knicks as a team don't seem to have either the system on the mindset to play good team defense. So what is it that makes Lee noticably worse?

Thanks for the input. It's good to hear that folks still have hope that Lee's defense can/will improve.

Okay let me tell you why people criticize -avi- Lee (D's are omitted because there is none to his game)...and I will give you he other perspective

1. The lane is like a layup line...welcome to our lane, we are most hospitable...please lay it in or dunk at will
a. David is not a center or a shotblocker - he is undersized for the position. The guards are not exactly defensive juggernauts either so the opposition gets in to the paint.

2. Put a damn hand up, Lee!
a. This I cannot defend because rarely, RARELY - you see the guy put a hand up. However, he is playing center so usually it is difficult for many centers to go out and contest in a jump shooting situation

3. David cares about rebounding only - getting double-doubles, specifically on defensive reboudning outweighs his desire to play any type of D...defensive rebounding doesn't = defense (see Zach and his masterful rebounding yet lack of any D)
a. WHo else on the team would rebound the ball at the clip that Lee does...if it wasnt for Lee, we would get killed on second chance opportunities

4. Dave's help defense is absolutely atrocious...his lack of footspeed on the defensive end is perplexing because he is very good at recovering on the offensive end (put backs, etc)
a. Dave's man D is ok; he is undersized and tries his best to hold his ground against larger and more physical big guys. You can point to the guards as well on this.

5. Lee looks confused on the defensive end. He stands there and watches rather than reacts. He is scared to take fouls though he is rarely in foul trouble because he will have to com e out of the game.
a. Dantoni is not a defensive coach so he could be confused. The coach rather the other team score than stop the game for free throws.

The problem is David aint a center but he is playing center so he has to try to defend the paint. Defense is not his strength but he should really work on it to try and be somewhat effective. The worst is that he simply wont contest anything. Everyone gets beat but you gotta put a hand up and sometimes you have to give a hard foul.

Lee's double-doubles are nice for fantasy but the reality is that all these double-doubles will lead us to the lottery anyway. If we do sign Lee, the priority has to be a defensive big man to play next to him that compensates for the things he cannot do. This type of player is not cheap and may not be ready to play if he is selected in the draft. Also, if this player has no offensive skills, then Dant wont play him. Dant is gonna want a guy that is a la Mehmet Okur - seven footer that can shoot or a la Bargnani...not a Dalembert or a Thabeet.

If David gets his $8-10M, he will be accountable...esp by fans and media. If he doesnt help this team win in the very near future, he will become what many Knicks have become - a long contract for a one dimensional player.

Come on... is this post for real?

Why is Lee so bad on D...? Hmmm... let's see here... he was once our Small Forward of the future and now he's playing Center.

We've said so many times that Lee and Nate are the best 6th men you could think up, or players that would fit as starters with a very specifically designed set of complimenting players. WE DON'T HAVE THOSE PLAYERS.

Dude is doing everything he can. Maybe he can learn to be a flopper but we'd probably kill him for that too.

probably because he looks soft

I think the dude has totally bought into the "stats equal pay" mentality and has abandoned his defensive development to add points and rebounds to his stats.

that's what i feel too... seems like he's playing to stay on the court & collect his stats by any means necessary at this point even at the cost of allowing guys easy baskets to the hoop.