New York Knicks Breakdown: Sunny Forecast In New York

The Knicks may have lost a heartbreaker in Portland, 109-108 on a Brandon Roy buzzer-beater, but for the first time in a decade, the team is playing with exuberance, energy, and passion. It’s reason to believe, despite their struggles, that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

For sure, the Knicks have almost no concept of help defense. Greg Oden post-ups, LaMarcus Aldridge one-on-one moves, and Brandon Roy drives all culminated in buckets and allowed the Blazers to shoot a ridiculous 15-17 from the floor in the first quarter.

It was only until Jared Jeffries was inserted into the game that Portland had to actually work for their shots and cooled off from the field.

In fact, besides Jeffries, the only Knicks who attempt to play defense are Quentin Richardson (who’s a sturdy post defender), Wilson Chandler (but only as a shot blocker), David Lee (but only before his man catches the ball), and Al Harrington (but only when he’s focused on moving his feet and not on picking up steals).

Instead, the Knicks focus mostly on overplaying passing lanes, switching screens, and sending as little help as possible so opponents don’t end up with open perimeter looks. Also, when Knicks’ players close out, they often abandon boxing out the shooter, choosing to leak out in transition.

While that strategy allows the Knicks to often steal several points, and is less treacherous because David Lee is such an outstanding rebounder, it also allows the Blazers to have extra possessions. In the second quarter, Rudy Fernandez missed a three, and David Lee chose to run out after closing. Fernandez was able to curtail his own miss, wound up getting fouled, and made one of two free throws—not an overly substantial total until you see the final margin was only one point. And since the Knicks only registered two fast break points, the strategy could be said to be costly.

But then again, against lesser-coached or lesser talented teams than Portland, the Knicks certainly could have stolen a few cheap transition baskets.

But as every Mike D’Antoni coached team is, the Knicks are all about the offense.

The Knicks ran several post-ups for Richardson, Harrington, and Lee, but for the most part ran a five-out set, with Duhon and Lee running a screen/roll in the middle of the floor, or any isolation for Duhon, Harrington, Lee, Chandler, or Robinson.

The Knicks spacing was perfect with Jared Jeffries being the only non-shooter ever on the court (and even he knocked down a 20 footer).

Chris Duhon’s vision and decision making were superb (10 AST, 4 TO, 2-5 2FG), even if his three-point stroke was only so-so (2-7 3FG). Duhon is the hand extending from D’Antoni’s brain, and the tool that makes New York’s offensive machine flow. It’s no coincidence that his leadership, decision making, and unselfishness has allowed the Knicks to play with more harmony offensively than at any point during the Stephon Marbury era.

The Knicks play with complete trust on the basketball court, and that starts with Duhon.

David Lee is the Knicks’ best player, hands down. Not only is he an ace rebounder, but also his offensive repertoire evolves like a cell undergoing mitosis. Aside from a number of spectacular finishes (with either hand) on the receiving end of screen/rolls, Lee also bagged a 20 footer, scored in the pivot, was able to turn and face, notched a handful of garbage points around the basket, and sank all nine of his free throws.

As of last year, Lee had zero post moves, and no range at 20 feet, an indicator of Lee’s own work ethic and how D’Antoni has gotten each of his players to improve their offensive skill set.

Al Harrington—7-15 FG, 2-3 3FG, 3-3 FT, 2 AST, 19 PTS—made a pair of nifty assists, though he rarely wanted to pass. Instead, he focused most of his energy at putting the ball in the hoop, whether on a stray post up, a three-pointer, or an array of clever moves while driving to the basket.

Harrington’s still too selfish, but D’Antoni has given him the freedom to assault the basket anytime he sees fit.

Wilson Chandler’s jumper is erratic, and since it wasn’t working against Portland, he had an ineffective game. But he has NBA size, strength, and athleticism, and can blossom into a big time NBA scorer in the near future.

Danillo Gallinari has a picture perfect stroke, confidence to spare, and the willingness to fight for loose balls, but he lacks explosion and athleticism and appears to be little more than an oversized shooter.

Tim Thomas will reverse the ball, but his defense is so bad, the only way he can justify his playing time is whether or not his shot is falling. Against the Blazers, he sank five of his seven threes, making his performance a positive one.

Quentin Richardson took advantage of poor Portland close outs to drive the ball and find open men for four assists.

Despite Nate Robinson’s penchant for often playing out-of-control, for not making smart decisions, and for having a streaky shot, he has the ability to heat up and shoot the Knicks into accidental wins. Against the Blazers, Nate had one of the days, shooting 8-16 from the field, 3-8 from downtown, and hitting all sorts of difficult jumpers and put backs all over the court.

His energy alone spark plugged a 37-7 run over the second half which spurred the Knicks from a 17-point third quarter deficit to a 13-point fourth quarter lead.

Overall, if the Knicks didn’t play disciplined, and if they didn’t play smart, they played with passion, unselfishness, and heart—qualities unseen in New York since the Clinton administration.

Whatever outcome meets the Knicks at the end of the season, they’ve erased the stigma of the Marbury/Thomas regime that had been poisoning the franchise over the last half-decade, and have given their fans excitement and reasons to follow the team again. That alone makes the season a complete and total success.