By Jared Zwerling
GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- "We played well enough to win, but we've got to be able to get stops."

That was Tyson Chandler speaking to reporters after Saturday's practice at the Knicks' training facility, regarding the team's 119-114 loss to the Bucks Friday night.

Chandler, Jeremy Lin and Mike D'Antoni, who all addressed the media Saturday afternoon, pinpointed the same problem in the Knicks' defense: there's not enough focus and urgency.

"We have a lack of really honing in. That’s the biggest thing," D'Antoni said. "This is serious. It should be. And I just think there are too many lapses and our defense has been slipping. Then when Jared [Jeffries] and Tyson went out, it didn’t slip. It sled a long way, and that’s not good. We’ve just got to get back and start battling again.”

Lin and Chandler said the team needs to use the second half of the fourth quarter in the Spurs and Bucks' games this past week as a place-maker for what to bring on the defensive end.

"If we played the way we finished the last two games in the last six minutes of the game, we'll beat teams by 15 to 20 points," Chandler said. "I don't see a team in this league that can sustain that kind of effort. I feel like we may be the deepest team in the league, so we should be able to come at teams in waves. It's just a matter of putting that together."

Lin agreed, saying, "The urgency that we played the last eight minutes of the [Bucks] game we need to bring it earlier and more often, and we need to play desperate and not comfortable."

In addition, Chandler said the team needs to communicate better when the ball is in play. When he was inactive Wednesday and Friday, he said he talked to his teammates during huddles about what he saw from the sidelines, but he wants to be on the court to direct his thoughts more into action. And that's one of the main reasons why he's anxious to play and return Sunday afternoon against the Sixers, the Atlantic Division leader.

If there's someone who knows about getting stops, it's definitely Chandler, who was named to the All-Defensive Second Team last season.

With him in the starting five, the Knicks' season average for opponents' points allowed is 96.1, which includes 39.6 points in the paint. In the their last two losses without the hobbled Chander (left hamstring strain), they gave up an average of 118.5 points -- the worst mark in the league during that stretch -- and 55 points in the paint. Their defensive inefficiencies were also due to Chandler's backup, Jeffries, being out of lineup with a sore right knee. But Chandler has, without question, been the anchor in that department.

"We’ve been giving up a lot of points without him down low, so you can see the difference that he makes," Lin said.

Chandler also provides a spark to the Knicks' pick-and-roll defense. Amare Stoudemire has been playing the center position in Chandler's absence, but he's been a non-factor as the help defender during opposing teams' pick-and-roll plays. Here's a comparison between Stoudemire and Chandler, according to ESPN Stats & Info:

In the Knicks' last three games, with mostly Stoudemire as the help defender against the pick-and-roll ball-handler, their opponents have scored 28 points on 21 plays (1.333 points per play) and shot 10-for-17 (58.8 percent) from the field. While the Knicks have excelled at defending the roll man, they have struggled to shut down the ball-handler, and that's been related to Stoudemire's poor help defense. That, in effect, has led to more rotational breakdowns. In the last three games, the opposing ball-handler in the pick-and-roll has shot 6-for-12 from 3-point territory.

During the Dallas game Tuesday night, Chandler was a lot more effective than Stoudemire as the help defender against the pick-and-roll ball-handler. The Mavericks scored 0 points on seven plays, shooting 0-for-5 from the field (0-for-2 from three).

"Just a little bit different," D'Antoni told ESPNNewYork.com, smiling, responding to a question about Chandler's pick-and-roll defense. "He makes a big difference. We knew that and that's why we got him. We're lucky to have him. No matter what, he makes that big of a difference."

D'Antoni is also lucky to have Josh Harrellson, who's impressed the head coach with his defense -- not just his 33 percent 3-point shooting. In his return from a fractured right wrist against the Mavericks, he forced Dirk Nowitzki into two turnovers. Since then, the second-round pick has had a steal and a block in each game.

"I like Josh, just when Jared comes back, it'll be a little tougher [in the rotation]," D'Antoni said. "But Josh is very good. Defensively he’s good. He's not a presence like Tyson or Jared is, like blocking shots, but he guards his man and rebounds. And he can make open shots. Right now, I think his wrist has got him a little bit, where he can't fully extend it back. But I'm not at all afraid to use him whenever."

Now it comes down to all the Knicks "really honing in," as D'Antoni calls it, on the defensive end. The Sixers will come ready to play Sunday afternoon (for all four quarters) to make sure they maintain their grip on the division, and if the Knicks have lapses stopping the ball, once again, they will be looking at five straight losses. And then it won't come any easier Monday night in Chicago.

They only mimmick leaders. Probably from movies or other real leaders, they have learned what to say.

But they are empty leaders, empty players, and empty human beings.

Smfh @ Knicks.

I would almost be willing to entertain the "oh they will figure out" argument if we didn't ball so awesome during the Lin Run.

But once you see how it could be, there is no more hiding behind the "have patience" bullcrap.

The cat is out of the bag.

HARDCOREKNICKSFAN wrote:...where was that "urgency" today?

It wasn't there- not from the players who should have it, and from the coach who should motivate the team to understand the importance of it.

MDA is the guy who was totally into the defensive units we used to play during the Linsanity win streak!!! He wants to be able to play that unit again. Don't assume that he's happy with his team not defending when he clearly brought Jared back and he was the deciding pick for Shump being drafted. He clearly wants the team to be able to defend and I think he'll make sure to play the best defenders once we get Jared back and can really play D on a higher level with a solid defensive unit that has great chemistry.

mrKnickShot wrote:The main thing that is killing the Knicks is Opposing guard penetration. Guards are getting into the lane at will. That causes everything to be out of whack.

MDA, Woodson, someone, please help here.

There is something that you need to consider when assessing whether STAT and Melo are good defenders or not. Stopping guard penetration is a TEAM effort. When you see guards getting into the lane with ease and especially to the hoop, it's not just our guards they're beating! Great D is a very specific dance with precise and fast rotations. The Knicks aren't as good when we have our 1st unit in the game because of the lack of range of STAT and Melo!!! People think Melo is OK cuz he defends his man, but that's not really the key to TEAM defense.

When Lin, Shump, Jared and Tyson are out there it's a much better defense because they cover for each other and cover much more range much more quickly. That's why Jared gets so many charges. He reacts quickly and decisively. STAT and Melo aren't nearly as effective. They get even worse in the 3rd qtr.