The defensive numbers are startling – the difference between the Don Chaney-led Knicks and the Jeff Van Gundy-led Knicks.
Entering last night’s game vs. Toronto in danger of falling into sole possession of last place in the Atlantic Division with another loss and a Miami win, the Knicks were allowing 98.4 points per game in the 29 games under Chaney. The team hit its lowpoint Tuesday night in Orlando when the Magic rang up 122 points and shot 57 percent. During the 19 games Van Gundy coached, the Knicks allowed 88.1 ppg.
Blame it partly on Chaney’s faster pace creating more possessions, but also blame it on the Knicks failing to embrace a defensive philosophy as their season slips away.
“That’s part of it,” Latrell Sprewell said of the Knicks’ up-tempo style. “More possessions, scores go up a little bit. We’re playing a little faster as opposed to walking it up. You do that, scores will rise a bit.
“But we could be better defensively,” Sprewell added. “We had definitely one good game against Philly. That’s how we want to play. We want to do that every night.”
Opponent’s shooting percentage is perhaps a truer barometer. Though the difference is not as stark as the points, it’s still up from the Van Gundy days. The Knicks are allowing teams to hit 44.3 percent of their shots. Under Van Gundy, teams shot 42.3 percent.
Chaney believes the team can play at a faster pace, but the results belie it. Perhaps their running game has caused them to be winded enough down the stretch, resulting in eight losses where they’ve blown double-digit leads.
The Knicks have blown a 20-point lead to the Nets, an 18-point lead to the Clippers, 16 to Detroit, 16 to Orlando, 15 to Cleveland, 14 to Washington, 10 to Boston and 10 to Philly. They’ve also lost two games by nine points – Washington and Bulls.
“I like how we got up and down, but we’re not a trading-baskets team,” Allan Houston said.
Doc Rivers called the Magic’s victory over the Knicks “an offensive donnybrook,” adding “the Knicks are changing. They want to run, but we do too.”
The only bright spot Tuesday was Shandon Anderson, who has picked up his level of play noticeably the last half-dozen games. He was a monster on the fastbreak and finished with a season-high 22 points.
“That’s the way I play,” Anderson said. “Getting into the open court. That’s what I’m used to, streaking to the basket. It opens up everything.”
Anderson had complained about his playing time in January, feeling he wasn’t getting enough minutes to be effective. He has reduced his turnovers greatly the past two weeks. “It’s still Allan and Latrell’s team,” Anderson said. “I can’t control how much I play.”