New York Knicks Defense Sighting: Are D'Antoni and Co. Getting the Message?
After watching last night's 92-79 Knicks win over the Atlanta Hawks, I went behind the TV, checked all the wires and made sure everything was connected properly. Nothing was out of the ordinary.
Maybe it was the DVR. I'm pretty sure I was watching Sunday's game, but perhaps I accidentally hit play on an old recording from, say, the early 90's. But, hang on there, DVRs weren't around then, so that couldn't be it either. And wait, that's not Pat Riley, it's Mike D'Antoni.
I guess it's true. The Knicks are playing defense.
And it wasn't just in Atlanta.
Since the big trade, and even with the Cleveland Cavaliers debacle (119 points), the Knicks have yielded three fewer points to their opponents than normal. Shave another three points off that, and they're bordering on a defense that gives up a mere 99-100 points a game. Hey now.
Combine that with an offense that scores 106+ points a game, and we're talking about the evolution of the New York Knicks into a serious playoff threat.
Up until now, it seemed that everyone on Earth agreed that the Knicks were going nowhere without some considerable defensive improvement.
Is it on the way?
The Knicks Are Giving Up Fewer Points Since the Big Trade
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Before Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter and the rest of the Denver alphabet joined the Knicks, New York was giving up over 106 points per game, which effectively negated its second-best scoring average of, guess what, 106 points per game.
In the seven games since the trade, the Knicks have given up only an average of fewer than 102 points per game.
They must continue this trend if they are to advance in the playoffs.
Knicks Hold Miami Heat to Just 86 Points
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The Knicks set off the Miami Heat's current four-game losing streak with a soul- and offense-crushing 91-86 win.
The Heat may be having some problems these days, but they still average 102 points per game, ninth-best in the league.
New York held Miami to just 17 and 15 points in the second and third quarters and had two critical defensive plays down the stretch: After Chauncey Billups nailed a three to give the Knicks a one-point lead, he stole the ball from Chris Bosh with 53 seconds to go. And with eight seconds left and again up by one, Amar'e Stoudemire blocked a driving LeBron James and what could have been a game-winning layup.
Knicks Hold Atlanta Hawks to Lowest Opponent Point Total of Season: 79
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And that's without injured veteran Chauncey Billups and Ronny Turiaf, one of their better defenders.
The Knicks held Hawks scoring leader Joe Johnson to 14 points, and center Al Horford to only four (he averages 16).
New York allowed Atlanta just 14 points in the third quarter and went on a 19-2 run in the fourth.
The Knicks forced 21 turnovers that resulted in 21 points.
All this against an 11-games-over-.500 Hawks team that once looked to have a lock on the fifth playoff spot. The Knicks have narrowed the gap to four games.
Mike D'Antoni Is (Finally) Beginning To Embrace the Importance of Defense
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I would often wonder how amazing it was that an NBA coach didn't grasp the importance of defense.
It doesn't matter if the Knicks average 115 points per game during the regular season; they are dead in their tracks come playoff time if they don't play some serious D.
Well, it looks like Mike D'Antoni is finally heeding the cries from fans and the media. Maybe it had something to do with the trade. What was said behind closed doors between Jim Dolan, Donnie Walsh and D'Antoni after the Knicks traded half their team away? We don't know for sure, but it might have gone something like this: "We just put all our chips on the table and need to play some fu**ing defense now, Mike."
Whatever was said, it's refreshing to hear Knicks assistant coach Kenny Atkinson respond to Tina Cervasio's question at halftime of the Hawks game: "Kenny, what do you like so far in the first half?"
KA: "Our defense is decent...[we're getting] a little better...we're getting hurt with our one-on-one defense. They only have five assists so that means we're doing a good job strategy-wise on our pick-and-rolls. They hurt us with the post-ups a little bit. We tried to play some zone [and] that could be something down the line we'll look at against stronger teams physically against us."
The Players Are Focusing More on Defense
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The Knicks lead the NBA in blocks per game and are eighth in steals, so on paper it's not that bad.
Amar'e Stoudemire is having the best defensive year of his career and the addition of veterans Anthony, Billups and Anthony Carter have improved the Knicks' "defensive intelligence and experience", particularly in comparison to Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton and Danilo Gallinari. This bodes well for the postseason.
Even the role players are getting involved.
After last night's win against the Hawks, Tina Cervasio caught up with Shawne Williams:
TC: "On a night when you were short-handed, what kind of effort did you have to put up for the rest of the team?"
SW: "Just go out and play...go out with the same intensity I try to come out with every night and just let my defense dictate if my shot is going to follow. I feel like every game I play good on D, my shot seems to follow."
TC: "After allowing 119 points to the Cavaliers...tonight you allowed just 44 percent shooting against the Hawks...what kind of a statement does that say about the Knicks' defense?"
SW: "The last week or two we've been trying to take pride in our defense, because we know we have the offense..trying to hold other teams under 25 points a quarter and we feel like if we do that we'll get a lot of wins."
I hope it gets a little more scientific than that for the playoffs, but for now at least defense is on the radar.
Conclusion
6 of 6Before this recent flurry of defensive improvement, I was getting the plank all ready for Mr. D'Antoni.
I like the guy. You probably like the guy. I like his offense. It's awesome. But he makes you want to pull the hair out of your head in utter and bewildered frustration, doesn't he?
Never mind defense winning championships for now. How about just some defense to start?
Maybe it has started.
If the Knicks get there on D, they will be able to contend with pretty much anyone in the East this year, except perhaps the Boston Celtics. They would surely put up a good fight against the Hawks, Orlando Magic, Heat and Chicago Bulls—none of whom look forward to meeting New York in the postseason.
