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“D” Fensive Mindset?

by Tommy Dee on December 27th, 2010 at 12:48 pm

Via MSG

It’s the biggest, longest-running knock on Mike D’Antoni — he doesn’t coach defense.

Someone should tell the Chicago Bulls that. They might be surprised to hear it, after D’Antoni’s Knicks held Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer and the rest without a basket for over eight straight minutes in the fourth quarter, pulling away for a 103-95 Christmas Day win at Madison Square Garden.

D’Antoni’s Knicks won’t be confused with the Charles Oakley/Patrick Ewing/Derek Harper teams any time soon. But they’re developing an identity on the defensive end. It starts with Amar’e Stoudemire, Ronny Turiaf, Wilson Chandler and the frontcourt, who have made the Knicks one of the top shot-blocking teams in the league.

Knowing they have backup means Raymond Felton, Toney Douglas and the backcourt can pressure opposing ball-handlers more. That helps force turnovers — as evidenced by the Knicks’ 12 steals in yesterday’s win.

More impressive for me is the fact that they have beaten two top 5 defensive teams in New Orleans and Chicago, although both were playing without key forwards in Noah and West.

As we’ve said since the beginning, Walsh would and has supplied D’Antoni with players with defensive tendencies who can score…and it’s been successful thus far in terms of wins and losses, but  they are still only 22nd in total defense.
  • Ale

    Who cares if they were without Noah and West…we’re playing without a legit C from the beginning of the season.

  • BK_Grande

    http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks/

    “seven seconds or less” philosophy during the team’s Christmas Day win over the Bulls

    Seven Seconds Or Less
    Points — 48
    FG% — 64.3 (18 of 28)
    3FG% — 58.3 (7 of 12)

    Eight Seconds Or More
    Points — 55
    FG% — 47.1 (24 of 51)
    3FG% — 50.0 (5 of 10)

  • Bennie_Blanco

    It’s really exciting to see them play from both sides of the court! I hope they continue to improve on defense. But like I heard before… They don’t have to be a good defensive team… Just need to make stops when they need to.

    Off the topic, what do you guys think of this trade? Pick coming from Minny to Denver.

    http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=27l9pqt

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  • TobyKnight

    BB – very creative trade.
    Each team gives up a lot, but gets back a lot.

    Love it for the Knicks. Nuggets get three starters and a pick.

    Their new lineup would be:
    Billups
    Mayo
    Gallinari
    Zach Randolph
    Andersen

    Biggest hit they take is at Center, but Andersen is coming back this week.

    Knicks get their backup PG, their center for the next six years and their second star.

    Felton
    Fields
    Melo
    Stat
    Gasol

    Bench
    Ridnour
    TD
    Williams
    Turiaf
    Barron?

    With their MLE they sign a strong backup SF
    You give up Chandler, Gallo, and AR, but you get back more IMHO.

    Memphis gets rid of Randolph and Gasol – two great players. Mayo they are happy to trade.
    In return they get Chandler to replace Randolph, Nene to replace Gasol, and Smith to replace Mayo.
    Chandler may be easier to sign than Randolph and we know how valuable Chandler is. Smith is likely to add more value than Mayo, but they’ll need to sign him also after the season. Nene is as good as Gasol, but I’m not sure why you would want him over Gasol, unless you liked Nene’s 2-year contract at 11.3, better than what they think they are going to have to sign Gasol for. Aside from doing something to try and save their season, the deal seems least appealing for Memphis.

    Conley
    Smith
    Gay
    Chandler
    Nene

    Kahn gets AR, who he has always wanted and all he has to do is give up a pick and Ridnour (he then just keeps Telfair to back up Flynn).

  • thefloodwatch

    i actually see that as a doable trade where we get back what we gave up ..only if we can keep WIlson Chandler and Unload Azzubuike or Bill Walker instead though or both

  • Sharp Elbow

    Who cares? Those players are part of their teams. If Noah was playing, the Knicks might not have gotten any rebounds. As it was, they were killed on the glass.

    So I do care, I’m not sure our small line up could handle a Bulls team in a 7 game series that had Noah playing.

  • Old Knick

    Only 1 thing I REALLY dont like and that is giving up chandler.

  • 3dsoul

    Statistically the defense may not look good, but those of us who have been watching the knicks faithfully know that he defense has been noticeably better. And let’s not forget they beat Oklahoma.

  • TobyKnight

    Yeah – You gotta love Chandler, but giving up Chandler, Gallo, and AR for Melo, Gasol, and Ridnour is way in our favor.

    Now that Phoenix has Gortat, I wonder what it would cost us to get Robin Lopez.

    Too bad AR’s value is so low right now. He would likely look good in Phoenix and possibly get some burn.

  • HaS

    The defense has been much better the last 2 games, I think the rest between games could be seen in the energy and activity on that end of the floor the most.

  • NYK_4_Lyfe

    good point

  • Old Knick

    I want NO”D” to play AR a little just to see if he can just pile up some rebounds and blocked shots… He has got to get some even by accident. Tell him dont shoot but I think NO”D” wants everyone to shoot!