New York Knicks: 3 ways to improve pick-and-roll defense
By Eric Snyder
If the New York Knicks expect to resemble a professional basketball team this season they must repair their pick and roll defense.
It may only be the NBA preseason, but the New York Knicks have a lot of work to do. Some sloppy play is to be expected this time of year, obviously. However, New York played horrible defense the entire game against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night.
Sometimes a team plays solid defense against a great offense and still fails to win. Teams like the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers consistently make good defenses look weak. Yet, no basketball expert worth his salt would call the Nets offense “great.”
On one hand, a preseason game cannot prove how good or bad a team will be. On the other, the lack of a cohesive defensive strategy stands as major red flag for these Knicks. Jeff Hornacek emphasizes defense in every interview, but the product on the court has yet to make his words real.
The New York Knicks’ Swiss cheese defense won’t be completely repaired unless Steve Mills brings in new players. Even so, the coaches must prioritize which defensive area needs the most attention. Priority No. 1 for these Knicks must be repairing their putrid pick-and-roll defense.