Comments on: Maybe Offense Can Win An NBA Championship http://bucketsoverbroadway.com/2010/12/17/maybe-offense-can-win-an-nba-championship-2/ A New York Knicks Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More Sun, 30 Dec 2012 05:58:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Alex David, aka Short White Boy http://bucketsoverbroadway.com/2010/12/17/maybe-offense-can-win-an-nba-championship-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2256 Alex David, aka Short White Boy Mon, 20 Dec 2010 01:19:33 +0000 http://bucketsoverbroadway.com/?p=1853#comment-2256 Actually, when D'Antoni was coaching the Suns, they were actually often around the middle of the pack in terms of defensive rankings. But in this post I'm talking more about a far better offense than what the Knicks have right now. Like in the last two games Amar'e kept trying to force the action in the middle. In my abstract concept of an offensive team that focuses for 48 minutes, he would start his drive, see that other defenders are sagging towards the paint, and pass it out to a wide open three-point shooter who nails it. Like Shawne Williams has been doing. Then after doing that a couple of times, the defense is now hesitant to sag and leave their men, so Amar'e can go purely one-on-one and score far easier. And I think the group that you mentioned (with the exception of Azubuike, who they say there's a chance might not get back his explosive ability and be able to even play this season) could certainly be a top team, a la the Mavs and Suns in recent years, but I'm not sure that group would be considered in that next level are hard-core strong possibilities to win it all the way the Lakers, Celtics, Heat and San Antonio are. Actually, when D’Antoni was coaching the Suns, they were actually often around the middle of the pack in terms of defensive rankings.

But in this post I’m talking more about a far better offense than what the Knicks have right now. Like in the last two games Amar’e kept trying to force the action in the middle. In my abstract concept of an offensive team that focuses for 48 minutes, he would start his drive, see that other defenders are sagging towards the paint, and pass it out to a wide open three-point shooter who nails it. Like Shawne Williams has been doing. Then after doing that a couple of times, the defense is now hesitant to sag and leave their men, so Amar’e can go purely one-on-one and score far easier.

And I think the group that you mentioned (with the exception of Azubuike, who they say there’s a chance might not get back his explosive ability and be able to even play this season) could certainly be a top team, a la the Mavs and Suns in recent years, but I’m not sure that group would be considered in that next level are hard-core strong possibilities to win it all the way the Lakers, Celtics, Heat and San Antonio are.

]]> By: sage http://bucketsoverbroadway.com/2010/12/17/maybe-offense-can-win-an-nba-championship-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2244 sage Sat, 18 Dec 2010 16:32:20 +0000 http://bucketsoverbroadway.com/?p=1853#comment-2244 What we're really talking about here is a #1 ranked offense and a defense ranked 20th or worse. That's a Mike D'Antoni team in a nutshell and what the Suns were under him for years. To win a title, when a team's biggest strength is scoring, it doesn't take a top 10 defense, I don't believe so anyway. However a defense somewhere in the middle of the pack (15th would be nice) should be good enough to win it all, so long as the team has two offensive superstars that can pile on the pressure on the opposing defense and take a game winner. Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire don't have to be great defenders, just average, so long as they're surrounded by very good-great defenders. The key to that is Melo and STAT, while the opposing teams best player will probably go off for 30+ so will they, so they cancel each other out. All they have to do is score their 25+ a night and make key defensive stops when they need to, a clutch steal here or clutch block there. Felton, Douglas, Fields, Azubuike, Chandler & Turiaf around a pairing of Carmelo & Amar'e should be good enough to at least contend for a title under the right coach. With a coach that understands defensive schemes (& an additional defensive specialist thrown into the rotation) and some quality rebounders thrown in will provide the Knicks with the kind of stability they need. Rebounding is a huge part of defenses, because if you limit second chance points, you limit the oppositions ability to score. In the Knicks loses to Boston and Miami they gave up too many rebounds. What we’re really talking about here is a #1 ranked offense and a defense ranked 20th or worse. That’s a Mike D’Antoni team in a nutshell and what the Suns were under him for years.

To win a title, when a team’s biggest strength is scoring, it doesn’t take a top 10 defense, I don’t believe so anyway. However a defense somewhere in the middle of the pack (15th would be nice) should be good enough to win it all, so long as the team has two offensive superstars that can pile on the pressure on the opposing defense and take a game winner.

Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire don’t have to be great defenders, just average, so long as they’re surrounded by very good-great defenders. The key to that is Melo and STAT, while the opposing teams best player will probably go off for 30+ so will they, so they cancel each other out. All they have to do is score their 25+ a night and make key defensive stops when they need to, a clutch steal here or clutch block there.

Felton, Douglas, Fields, Azubuike, Chandler & Turiaf around a pairing of Carmelo & Amar’e should be good enough to at least contend for a title under the right coach. With a coach that understands defensive schemes (& an additional defensive specialist thrown into the rotation) and some quality rebounders thrown in will provide the Knicks with the kind of stability they need.

Rebounding is a huge part of defenses, because if you limit second chance points, you limit the oppositions ability to score. In the Knicks loses to Boston and Miami they gave up too many rebounds.

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