“We definitely have made it a focal point in our practices, to have that defensive intensity, from transition defense to talking to preaching high level-communication, and it’s going to be very contagious throughout the season to have that always as a backbone,†Noel said. “We all know you can make and miss shots from night to night. You just got to put your work in on your shots and hope for the best on that. But defense is an effort thing. We’re always going to base our game off of that.â€
The New York Knicks can help themselves with their new mentality:
Defense can help in multiple ways, demoralizing your opponent and fatiguing them with physicality. This is the old Knicks way, dominating in the paint with big men and containing opponents at all costs.
That doesn’t mean the Knicks don’t need to score, though, and it will be a problem for them this season without capable shooters. They did drafted Immanuel Quickley, but he has to work his way into the roster. Expect to see a lot of bully-ball on the inside and elbow jumpers from the Knicks, who aren’t an elite three-point team.