Cartwright: ‘D’ is Knicks’ problem
Bill Cartwright, who won three championships playing for Phil Jackson in Chicago, cannot understand all the talk about the Knicks and the triangle offense.
Cartwright said he believes the focus should be upon the Knicks’ donut defense.
“This has always confused me. … You’re scoring 105 points a game. How many you giving up?” said Cartwright, who was at the Garden on Wednesday when the Knicks held a reunion of members of the 1983-84 team that went to the conference semifinals.
“You’re scoring plenty of points, 105,” Cartwright said. “You’re giving up 108. So is your problem really offensive? It’s so preposterous that you’re even talking [about it].” Cartwright rattled off a number of teams with defensive legacies: the Bears, Bulls, Pistons, 76ers, Knicks. The current Knicks, surrendering 108.5 points, rank 24th in points allowed.
“Let’s just be true to who you are. So you’ve got to guard better, having All-Stars is always good,” Cartwright said. “But first, let’s stop somebody. That might help.”
Cartwright, in his first return to the Garden for an event (as a non-player) was joined in the reunion by Hall of Fame coach Hubie Brown, Hall of Fame player Bernard King plus guards Rory Sparrow and Darrell Walker.
King spoke warmly of the Knicks team that defeated the Isiah Thomas-led Pistons in five games then took ultimate champ Boston to seven games. And he also spoke glowingly of Carmelo Anthony, who is faced with another non-playoff season and has dealt with myriad trade rumors.
“That’s a very tough position to be in. I know Carmelo loves it here in New York. I know he … re-signed with the idea that they would be in the position to win a title,” King said. “I can imagine what that must be like for him, having to think about potentially leaving New York and going somewhere else and pursuing that goal. Not that he wants to leave New York, he wants it to happen here. … I feel for him every time I watch him.”
Anthony is not why the Knicks are in their current plight. Brown cited an inability to finish games, suffering nine losses by three points or fewer.
“Take the nine losses by three or less, take the fact that the defense is ranked statistically at a low point. It becomes difficult for them to win close games,” Brown said. “Now I want to ask you, outside of Carmelo Anthony, who do you go to to close? ... These are the things that have to change. Closing. Closing games.”
The ’83-84 Knicks had the closer, King. They had a physical front line and good, solid defensive guards. And chemistry.
“Our team chemistry was unbelievable,” Walker said. “Being together in the locker room, cracking on each other, going out to eat together. It’s not just passing the ball. If you’ve got chemistry you’re going to pass the ball.”
On the other end, the defense was the third best for points allowed. Brown pointed to Sparrow and rated him with Mo Cheeks and Danny Ainge as the three best on-ball pressure defenders he ever saw.
“To me it was an honor to be there every night,” Sparrow said. “And every night to go out there and know that your team is going to be good enough to win.”