Like I, and others, have said before...if you run an offensive system that's based on creating extra possessions, you're going to STRUGGLE on the defensive end.
An inside out offense goes hand-in-hand with defense. We CAN NOT run this perimeter oriented offense and play playoff caliber defense. We have to limit possessions somehow, and we can either achieve that by rebounding or systematically use more shot/game clock...ideally both.
I don't know what our defensive assistant will be doing/saying/thinking when we put up an early perimeter shot, miss it, and can't get to the rebound...that scenario DIRECTLY leads to the opposing team being in transition...ok...so do we sacrifice offensive rebounds like the Celtics, solely to play transition D? Because they're routinely one of the higher field goal percentage teams...which means easy shots...not necessarily open shots (which everyone says MDA creates) but easy shots. Open shots mean nothing if you miss and can't get the rebound because it was a long range shot that lead to a long rebound for the opposition.
Defense in any team based game with a game clock is always based on limiting possessions...always. Think about it....the Bulls had the lowest OPP Field Goal % at 43% for the season...that's tops in the league. They also had the lowest Pace (Possessions per 48 minutes), and gave up the fewest points per 100 possessions. Which both tie directly into that 43% opponents field goals. 43% of the 92-93 possessions they allowed is less than 43% of say...95-97 possessions per game, plus that field goal percentage probably gets bumped up a little bit because of transition buckets (where the extra possessions really kill you.)
So if the Knicks are to ever play potential chip-worthy defense, they have to make changes to the offense as well. Hiring a defensive assistant alone won't do the trick.
