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Schmeelk: Knicks' Defense Still A Struggle Under Hornacek

By John Schmeelk
» More Columns

After the Knicks finished their season last April, I wrote about how the quickest way they can improve as a franchise was by improving their defense.

Here's where the Knicks have ranked defensively in terms of points allowed per possession since Jeff Van Gundy left Madison Square Garden.

• 2015-16: 18th
• 2014-15: 28th
• 2013-14: 24th (playoff season)
• 2012-13: 17th (playoff season — 50 wins)
• 2011-12: 5th (half D'Antoni, half Woodson, playoff season)
• 2010-11: 21st
• 2009-10: 27th
• 2008-09: 24th
• 2007-08: 29th
• 2006-07: 25th
• 2005-06: 27th
• 2004-05: 26th
• 2003-04: 15th (playoff season)
• 2002-03: 25th
• 2001-02: 18th

There's only one word to properly describe those numbers: pathetic. Unless you get out of the bottom third of the league defensively, you are unlikely to play postseason basketball. The Knicks (1-2) have been 21st or worse in the league defensively 10 of the last 15 seasons.

So far this season, in a very limited and small sample size, the Knicks are 23rd defensively, and that's after playing back-to-back games against the 17th- and 18th-ranked offenses in Memphis and Detroit.

On Tuesday night, Derrick Rose invoked the name of his former Bulls coach, Tom Thibodeau, when he spoke about the Knicks not having instilled a defensive identity quite yet. There's still plenty of time to make that happen, and it is the coach's responsibility to make defense the primary tenet that earns playing time. If you don't play defense, a player needs to be punished for it. The coach needs to make the players understand how important defense is. Every head coach in the league stresses defense to his players, and there's no doubt Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek is as well. But for now, the message is not getting through.

So far this season, only five Knicks have had a significant positive influence on the team's defense when they have been the floor: Joakim Noah, Lance Thomas, Courtney Lee, Kyle O'Quinn and Justin Holiday. All five players have defensive ratings under 104 when they play, and the team is at least six points worse per 100 possessions when they are on the bench. These names should be no surprise to anyone, since all five are known for their defense above everything else.

Once again, the Knicks' point-guard defense is a mess. Neither Rose nor Brandon Jennings has distinguished himself in any other way on that end than simply not being Jose Calderon. Carmelo Anthony has left far too many shooters uncontested. Even Kristaps Porzingis, who played well defensively last year, has struggled mightily. And center Willy Hernangomez has struggled defensively off the bench.

As a team, there seems to be some confusion on simple pick-and-roll plays, in which players don't know whether to hedge or switch. Those sorts of breakdowns are on the coach. Other times, it is simply players not hustling back in transition, not being physical or not rotating to an open player. That's on the players for not working hard enough.

It's far too early in the season to call this group a lost cause defensively, but through three games, there are some very basic fundamental issues on that end of the floor that need to be fixed quickly if this team wants to be playing playoff basketball.

They'll have another chance Wednesday night against the Rockets, who sport the fifth-best offense in basketball. They will test the Knicks in every way, and it could get ugly fast if the Knicks don't plug their holes before taking the floor at the Garden.

For everything Knicks, Giants and the world of sports, please follow John at @Schmeelk

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