Knicks Turning Up the "D"
Oct 29 2010 10:59PM
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The Knicks have played outstanding defense over the first two games of the season.
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Everyone knows the Knicks under Head Coach Mike D’Antoni are going to put major points on the board. But so far, through two games, New York’s defense has been nothing short of outstanding.
Playing in the hostile TD Garden in Boston, the Knicks turned up the defensive pressure, recording nine blocks and eight steals in a narrow loss to the Celtics. By comparison, the C’s had just two steals and recorded their lone block with less than 10 seconds remaining.
Wilson Chandler continued his terrific start to the season, leading the way with four blocks and two steals to go along with 19 points and six boards.
“We missed a few rotations, but as far as defense and the comparisons from last year to this year, it’s different,” Chandler admitted after the game. “We have defensive minded guys, and even the guys who play offensively, they play both ends of the court. So I think once we get everything down and start to learn each other a little bit more, we’ll be fine.”
Amar’e Stoudemire also showed he is a star on not just the offensive end (game-high 27 points and four dimes) but that he excels at all facets of the game, pulling down eight boards and two highlight reel blocks. He was an intimidating presence in the middle, making sure every bucket Boston scored was hard-earned one.
Following the game, D’Antoni was proud of the way his troops fought to the end and is confident his team has what it takes to be a strong defensive squad.
“Boston is well prepared to execute down the stretch, but I thought our guys played with as much heart as you can play with,” he said. “I think we are getting better (defensively). This is a hard team to not give up some (baskets) to. They hit some big shots, and there were some flurries where the ball was on the floor and we couldn’t come up with it. It might have been a different story (had we come up with it).”
Should the Knicks continue to play the type of defense they have shown over the first two games, the team should surely expect a different story in the end result on most nights.
Playing in the hostile TD Garden in Boston, the Knicks turned up the defensive pressure, recording nine blocks and eight steals in a narrow loss to the Celtics. By comparison, the C’s had just two steals and recorded their lone block with less than 10 seconds remaining.
Wilson Chandler continued his terrific start to the season, leading the way with four blocks and two steals to go along with 19 points and six boards.
“We missed a few rotations, but as far as defense and the comparisons from last year to this year, it’s different,” Chandler admitted after the game. “We have defensive minded guys, and even the guys who play offensively, they play both ends of the court. So I think once we get everything down and start to learn each other a little bit more, we’ll be fine.”
Amar’e Stoudemire also showed he is a star on not just the offensive end (game-high 27 points and four dimes) but that he excels at all facets of the game, pulling down eight boards and two highlight reel blocks. He was an intimidating presence in the middle, making sure every bucket Boston scored was hard-earned one.
Following the game, D’Antoni was proud of the way his troops fought to the end and is confident his team has what it takes to be a strong defensive squad.
“Boston is well prepared to execute down the stretch, but I thought our guys played with as much heart as you can play with,” he said. “I think we are getting better (defensively). This is a hard team to not give up some (baskets) to. They hit some big shots, and there were some flurries where the ball was on the floor and we couldn’t come up with it. It might have been a different story (had we come up with it).”
Should the Knicks continue to play the type of defense they have shown over the first two games, the team should surely expect a different story in the end result on most nights.
