I finally got an opportunity to watch the Knicks/Nets game that the Knicks 'won'.
First, the first half of the game was much better played than the second when different and secondary lineups were more likely to be clumsy.
However, what struck me is improved teamwork specifically when Lee, Harrington N8, Gallinari, and Douglas were on the floor.This both implied and demonstrated a greater trust in each other and the system.
There are a lot of Lee critics out there but this guy plays hard, plays smart, and has become a cornerstone of the current team.
The second big change in the Knicks is what one announcer called, the swarming defense. I'm one of the Toney Douglas critics eating crow this week. TD needs to learn when to shoot but his tenacity and hustle on both ends of the court is a much needed shot in the arm for those of us who believe defense is the cornerstone of winning. But the active hands and feet of the front-court players was a joy to behold. This must be sustained to over-achieve and to have any shot at the playoffs.
The biggest pleasant surprise was Jared Jeffries play. He is shooting with confidence and maybe finally settling in to being a Knick asset rather than also-ran. If Jeffries can be counted on to slow or shut-down some of the league's more potent offensive players then the Knicks by swarm and a rain of treys should squeeze out some surprise wins against the league's elite teams.
Darko Milicic looked as if he can be at least as good as Chris Dudley for us. His play is sufficient to provide the Knicks with a serious presence down low on a situational basis. And if he can do that effectively on a consistent basis, that's plenty from a pine bro.
I liken Wilson Chandler's play to Charles Oakley-lite. This guy plays the game like a silent, gentleman thug and I have to say it's a sublime experience. For many years we've lamented that the Knicks lacked toughness but Chandler is increasingly impressing me as a quietly tough and tenacious assassin.
In closing, we haven't lost a game in months. Let's keep it that way.
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