When KP and Willy play together--this team becomes slow--they don't defend well--neither has impressive agility to defend. Really they are both decent defenders--KP makes a few blocked shots but makes many other mistakes Willy is somewhat flat-footed. I dont see anyone on our team who is 6-9 and above with great defensive agility. Without change-its the same slow footed mediocre defensive frontcourt.

Good defense means you know your assignments, you focus on fundamentals and you make sure everyone does their job and COMMUNICATE while on the floor. Rapport and time together matters, but if four guys are burning hard and one guy just doesn't care, none of it matters.

Good defensive teams take it personally when other teams score on them. They know their shots might not always fall and it's those kind of games where you grind out on the defensive end to stay close and give yourself a real chance.

Melo and Rose just don't care. You can't defend 3 on 5. And who are we kidding, when Zinger is on the floor, you can't expect Lee and someone like Baker to hold off five guys by themselves.

Noah tries to defend like he was a young guy still, age and injuries have sapped his mobility and he's a liability in this kind of defense. (i.e. he's forced to extend himself to try to cover up deficiencies for guys who don't want or don't care to defend)

Lack of effort is inexcusable. Lack of discipline is just plain tragic.

At some level, this is basic Basketball 101, and sometimes you just have to want it bad enough. I can accept that this team will never get a historic level defense. I do not accept it does not reach it's ceiling of potential because of lack of effort and hard work.

And no, don't go blaming the coaching here. You could bring Chuck Daly and John Wooden from the dead and you just can't make someone CARE ABOUT BEING A PROFESSIONAL.

At least Zinger and Hernangomez have the excuse that they are young and don't get many close contact calls in their favor from the refs yet. At least they can fall back on that. Rose and Melo just don't care. They don't have any excuse.

Win or lose, play the game the right way and leave everything you have on the floor. Is that concept so damn hard? I guess it is for Melo and Rose.

Every time Melo puts on a Knicks jersey, and refuses to even try on defense, he's spitting right in your face. He's spitting in the face of every Knicks fan. He's dishonoring what wearing the jersey should mean. The values it should represent. I've seen people here try desperately to defend Melo's crappy behavior and I ask myself - How can these people call themselves actual Knicks fans? How can you root for a guy who is actively making your team lose because he doesn't give a crap?

BRIGGS wrote:I see Phil wants to talk about defense but if we take an honest look at our front court--the defense they played was an ABSOLUTE Achilles heel.

When KP and Willy play together--this team becomes slow--they don't defend well--neither has impressive agility to defend. Really they are both decent defenders--KP makes a few blocked shots but makes many other mistakes Willy is somewhat flat-footed. I dont see anyone on our team who is 6-9 and above with great defensive agility. Without change-its the same slow footed mediocre defensive frontcourt.

O.G. would fill that role nicely if healthy.

I watched GSW switch on D almost every time and it's been super effective , but when woodson did that, the mismatches were comical, we end up with Tyson chandler guarding jaret jack.

Do you see the pace the cavs and GS play at, that relentless pace, your going to be hard press to find a 7 footer that can keep up. This league is a trending league, that slow, physical, half cout style lasted for over a decade, almost EWINGs entire career.

Best believe this turbo pace is going to be around for the a while, so IDK how effective it would be to start one 7 footer, let alone 2, I don't care if we started Deke, and Alonzo. Show me a 7 footer that can guard the paint, then race out to chase a player of the 3 point line.

reub wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:I see Phil wants to talk about defense but if we take an honest look at our front court--the defense they played was an ABSOLUTE Achilles heel.

When KP and Willy play together--this team becomes slow--they don't defend well--neither has impressive agility to defend. Really they are both decent defenders--KP makes a few blocked shots but makes many other mistakes Willy is somewhat flat-footed. I dont see anyone on our team who is 6-9 and above with great defensive agility. Without change-its the same slow footed mediocre defensive frontcourt.

O.G. would fill that role nicely if healthy.

OG has no defined offensive game and he just went through ACL. The bottom line--stay away from the OG's or players who do not have advanced skill games--it isnt going to work. Show me skill or youre not playing here. Thats how you build a good team now