On paper, the Knicks are as talented (and young) as any team in the East ? maybe the league. What we lack is cohesion and consistency. I think it is Isaiah & Mark Aguirre?s job to instill that into this team. I single out Aguirre because he is the heir-apparent to Isaiah as coach of this team ? and rightfully so.
Although I agree with most of the things said concerning the Knicks talent and how they measure up to the other teams in the East, there are two things that I think may have been overlooked when evaluating this team ? and I mean by us the fans, not Isaiah:
1) With the addition of Zach Randolph, Jerome James now becomes relevant ? hell, even important. His physical presence will help keep some of the defensive heat off
Randolph when they play together.
2) The inside play of Randolph & Curry, while both freeing up jump shooters
and each other for scoring opportunities, will also put a lot of low post defenders in foul trouble and expose the bench of other teams in the East, which I don?t think can measure up to that of the Knicks.
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The thing I like about the second point is that it is a way of the Knicks playing defense using their offense. Just like the Knicks, other teams have to defense our guys as well. So, what does 2 dynamic low post scorers like Zach & Eddy do to the defensive rotation of the opposing teams? If their starters at the 4 and 5 positions are primarily scorers, do adjust to defenders in order to offset our threat? If so, doesn?t this take defensive pressure off Zach & Eddy?
And let?s not forget that Zach is a very good rebounder, which may shame Eddy into doing a little of that himself.
Defense is a team game. If the Knicks play good team (especially perimeter) defense, I think it will more than offset whatever defensive liabilities that Zach & Eddy may have inside.
Let?s face it Knick Fans, the East has to deal with us this year, that?s for damn sure!!