We have, though. Against, even especially against...better teams.
It has just been w extraordinary inconsistency.
Given our D hinges so much on bursts of "effort" and "intensity"; particularly from Carmelo, STAT....and Billups,
It gives legitimate reason, and certainly enough to expectedly hope, that nyk PLAYOFFS against high profile teams will bring out the absolute best in our effort and intensity.
Ok but here's the main problem with that.
Yes you can put in the effort and intensity once in a while and have a great team display but if you don't play with that kind of effort night-in night-out then the players are not used to it and will not be able to keep it up for a seven game series.
We need to play with that kind of effort every game from now until the playoffs even if Stat/Melo/Billups only play 30mpg they should be 30 hard fought minutes.
Against ORL we played great on both sides of the ball.
Against NJ we gave up too many points but our defensive effort was intact.
Against CLE we let them claw back too easily but again, we were trying, we didn't just let them shoot open shots.
So for these last few games before the playoffs we need to keep bringing that effort and if we do, we are a legitimate threat.