TAKING PRIDE in getting STOPS

In a article in Newsday, New York Knick Head Coach Mike D’Antoni talks about the lack of effort that his Knicks are exerting on the defensive end in there recent loss to the Detroit Pistons. The Knicks this year are giving up 108 point a game which is a near 3rd to Golden State and Sacramento. D’Antoni feels that there defense is one of the large reasons why they are not a playoff team and something that will be addressed in the off-season. D’Antoni had this to say on what it will take for the Knicks to be good defensively, “"It comes down to players taking pride in what they are doing and stopping their guy and everybody getting on the same page,” It comes down to players taking pride in what they are doing and stopping their guy and everybody getting on the same page."

In the NBA there are many talented defenders but, when it comes down to it, a player must dig in a truly want to guard. The level of basketball played in the NBA is the Mecca of the game and all the players in the league are truly skilled. A team and a player must take pride in making a defensive stop as a team and stopping their individual defensive match-up. If you want to be a good individual defender it takes pride and determination, to be a good team defender, it takes communication and the whole team on the same page.