Knicks Loss And Lack Of Defense Shows There Is A Long Way To Go

Ahhh the roller coaster ride that is the new New York Knicks. If they were at a high point after Sunday's win at Miami the ride may have fallen off the tracks after last nights 119-115 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, yes the 12 win Cavaliers. In front of a capacity crowd that was fired up the Knicks somehow succeeded in making Luke Harangody look like an all-star and were killed inside by the pure dominance of one J.J. Hickson. The lackadaisical effort, showed early and often as the Knicks never were in total control of the game, even after one would think they would come out playing with fire after Melo vowed "Vengeance" for the last Cavs loss. Even with these losses to Cleveland the most maddening aspect is the Knicks truly incredible lack of defense.

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Now I admit I defended Mike D'Antoni's system, as long as they were winning i was fine with it, but that has changed after last night. The Cavs shot 50% from the field, and 57% from behind the arc, in one of the worst defensive showings by the Knicks I have ever seen. While Stat and Melo both had incredible offensive games, they were letting guys get to the basket, and got out rebounded on several possessions that could have changed the game late in the fourth. Anthony's perimeter defense was terrible, as he let J.J. Hickson go 5-7 on field goals and got caught on picks and switches way to much for a top player in the NBA. Stoudamire was terrible as well. I have never seen so many plays where a player for the visiting team goes up to get a rebound with three Knicks around him and manages to get it. For a team with bad defense allowing teams to extend possessions like this in inexcusable. Stat had 9 total rebounds, which is never going to get it done for the big man on the court. He was playing slow around the basket, and overall the new Knicks power couple has got to step it up on D, or there will be more losses just like this.

But the blame should not be put solely on their shoulders. Toney Douglas's energetic play can be good at times, but the defensive risks he takes are ridiculous. Why is he messing around with the inbound pass trying to steal it when he is the only Knicks down there and has no shot? Why is he playing loose full court defense on the point guard? If he wants to play up play all the way up don't just defensive slide n his general vicinity as he brings the ball up the court! Landry Fields, Spike Lee's wonderboy also plays terrible D. Occasionally over-aggressive going for steals, and at other times to passive. Jared Jeffries is terrible overall, and shouldn't be playing nearly ass much as he does. As the supposed big defensive man for the Knicks, he has failed to live up to that so far, getting beat by Baron Davis for the three late, that helped the Cavs win.

However he shouldn't have even been in that position, but was put their through the defensive genius of Mike D'Antoni. We do have Stat but the Knicks are not the '06 Suns. There is no Steve Nash and we can't win game scoring in 7 seconds or less. I have not seen him adjust much since he got here, and getting in shootouts every night is not the way to win. Some of his defensive decisions are head-scratchers and even after timeouts nothing changes. He's got to instill at least some D into the Knicks and this loss ultimately comes back to him, and game-plan he creates that allows Cleveland to put up 119.

While the Knicks have dreams of being a playoff contender, with this type of D they will be a first round exit, at best winning one game. Boston plays great D, Orlando plays great D, Chicago plays great D, and Miami is solid and against any of these teams they Knicks don't have a shot if they can't defend. The Knicks will not win if they keep playing like they did last night, and the blame falls on Mike D'Antoni, but also on the players, who now have to respond in a big way on Sunday.