The Rose sign and trade possibilities could bring us Patrick Beverly...
We could absorb Marcus Smarts contact....
In a possible Melo trade, we could snag a guy like Ariza from or in a trade with the Cavs we can do a 3 way that could get us a Bledsoe or someone else from another team.

This is something that could revitalize the fan base and set the proper foundation for the youth to build around.

Although he is back to coaching now...
http://www.nba.com/article/2017/06/27/report-jeff-van-gundy-coach-world-cup-qualifying-team

Who in the league has a defensive culture?

I think what we want is balance. Jeff is more offense, and we need more two-way play and accountability on defense. Perhaps a key defensive assistant (e.g., the next Tom T -- when he was an assistant) is our top priority. In today's NBA where you can't touch anyone on the perimeter, and where you can't touch a superstar no matter where they are, focusing too much on defense is risky -- it will go for naught.

My suggestion would be to increase the present focus on defense but in a measured way (not too reactionary). I think the logical next steps are to get better D (while still 2-way) on the perimeter.

EnySpree wrote:We have guys thay will get after it... like Baker, Lee, Lance, KOQ,... add 3 more proven nba defenders... then we habe Frank with his potential, KP with his.... That's 10 solid defenders. That's enough to shake the team up and give us an identity

Lee - not really that defensive, gets stuck on PNRs a lot
Lance - one injury away from becoming Ndour, I dont believe in his defensive consistency anymore
KOQ - maybe post, but has issues on the perimeter obviously.
Other names you mentioned, Baker - yes, KP - yes, Frank - yes. and 3 more proven defenders = 6 in total...

This year, without the emphasis on the Triangle, and with maybe some more younger, active players, I think the Knicks can defend better.

Two years ago, Fisher took the team's focus towards defense. Less Triangle. It really helped them on defense, but not on offense. Hopefully we see something similar from Hornachek. Less emphasis on offense or the Triangle, more work on defense in training camp. Get players fit to play D, and schemes in order from day 1. On offense, just keep it simpler. Which is what I think Hornachek can do on offense.

fishmike wrote:I suspect a defensive culture is very much the goal... that and opening up the offense to push the development of the guards and see what we have.

No clue what a Melo deal yields, assuming one is made. But lets just remove him entirely and see what we look like.
I think this should be what we see to start:
PG Baker
SG Lee
SF Lance
PF KP
C Noah
with Ntilikina, Willy, Dotson, Randle, etc seeing heavy minutes off the bench.

Thats a pretty bad team but we can see what the offense looks like running through KP. We should be much better defensively. Baker will have less structure and we can see if he takes a step forward. The rest of the minutes are out there to be earned, but the expectation should be to surround KP/Willy/Frank with guys who defend and share the ball. The above accomplishes that.

If guys take steps forward and we are closer to .500 great. If we stink but accomplish some basics like taking a big step forward defensively thats great as well. I suspect we are a tough out but win about the games we won last year. Fine. We have too many decent players to be abysmal, but we are going to have a very hard time closing games and I suspect a team like above will lose a lot of games late.

I think this is the best play to evaluate our youth, evaluate Jeff's coaching and probably procure another good draft pick. Patience.

what about injuries, which are almost destine with half the players you mention. when melo and rose was out, we could never get a full evaluation of KP because he was in constant foul trouble.

That's not going to change if you have the same defensive approach, and since we'll have the same coaching staff, it's hard to see change coming until we get our new president.

nixluva wrote:

knicks1248 wrote:

fishmike wrote:I suspect a defensive culture is very much the goal... that and opening up the offense to push the development of the guards and see what we have.

No clue what a Melo deal yields, assuming one is made. But lets just remove him entirely and see what we look like.
I think this should be what we see to start:
PG Baker
SG Lee
SF Lance
PF KP
C Noah
with Ntilikina, Willy, Dotson, Randle, etc seeing heavy minutes off the bench.

Thats a pretty bad team but we can see what the offense looks like running through KP. We should be much better defensively. Baker will have less structure and we can see if he takes a step forward. The rest of the minutes are out there to be earned, but the expectation should be to surround KP/Willy/Frank with guys who defend and share the ball. The above accomplishes that.

If guys take steps forward and we are closer to .500 great. If we stink but accomplish some basics like taking a big step forward defensively thats great as well. I suspect we are a tough out but win about the games we won last year. Fine. We have too many decent players to be abysmal, but we are going to have a very hard time closing games and I suspect a team like above will lose a lot of games late.

I think this is the best play to evaluate our youth, evaluate Jeff's coaching and probably procure another good draft pick. Patience.

what about injuries, which are almost destine with half the players you mention. when melo and rose was out, we could never get a full evaluation of KP because he was in constant foul trouble.

That's not going to change if you have the same defensive approach, and since we'll have the same coaching staff, it's hard to see change coming until we get our new president.

It's not the approach alone but the actual defensive talent you have to work with. If it was just about the coaching then why we're the TWolves so bad despite having Thibs???

It's a combination of both talent and the ability to put you players in the right position. Allan Houston was one the worst defenders in the league at the time he was on the knicks, but he was on a team with the #1 defense.

Tyson Chandler won DOY on a middle of the pack defensive team.

just having good defenders will make us ok, but having both, is golden