Are the Knicks a top 5 defensive team in the league?

[AndyfromNeptune]

With the addition of Marcus Camby and Kurt Thomas on the frontline with DPOY Tyson Chandler, a good weakside shot blocker in Stoudemire, a player in Carmelo Anthony who has improved incredibly on the defensive end in terms of his perimter defense and rebounding, the best defensive rookie in Iman Shumpert, an above average former Larry Brown-coached player in Raymond Felton, a very active JR Smith, and one of the most athletic players in the league in James White, can the New York Knicks be a top 5 defensive team in the league this year under Coach Mike Woodson? Share your thoughts please as well as vote in the poll. Hopefully when the 2012 season is over, someone can bump this thread to see who said what.

I will make a bold prediction and say the Knicks will be the top defensive team in the East.

[TheRunKiller]

LOL no

[RC3]

A lot of people still think the Knicks don't play defense even though the defensive rating was at 5.

[PhillyFaninLA]

A lot of people still think the Knicks don't play defense even though the defensive rating was at 5.

Watching shows a lot more then stats can. The Knicks are not a good defensive team, they will be better can't hold a candle to quite a few teams.

[Punk]

Watching shows a lot more then stats can. The Knicks are not a good defensive team, they will be better can't hold a candle to quite a few teams.

Most absurd thing I've read all week.

[MintBerryCrunch]

They have good defensive Big Men, but not much else.
Stoudemire isnt a great defender and Felton, Kidd, and Melo are pretty much useless on D.

[Fuddrucka]

They have good defensive Big Men, but not much else.
Stoudemire isnt a great defender and Felton, Kidd, and Melo are pretty much useless on D.

with all due respect the original post said that Stoudemire is a good weakside shot blocker. Felton has always been an above average defender and Melo(as well as J.R.) proved he can play defense under Mike Woodson

[Bishnoff]

They have good defensive Big Men, but not much else.
Stoudemire isnt a great defender and Felton, Kidd, and Melo are pretty much useless on D.

This.

[keetyweedy]

But they did have the defensive player of the year, who was on the 2nd all defensive team

[effen5]

No.

[BradHolt4CYoung]

Yes the additions of Marcus Camby, Kurt Thomas and James White (D-leaguer?) the Knick are top 5 defensive team no question.

lol I love how you included Amare and Carmelo in your argument. Did you see them on D last year? They were ****ing pathetic.

This entire forum is becoming Knicks fans making threads trying to make there team look the be good/make rivals look worse...

[knicks=love]

[Raps08-09 Champ]

I think they'll just miss it.

[Redbull]

Chicago
Miami
Boston
Lakers (if they get Dwight)
Philly
Spurs

Nope.

[davids22]

WAY too many Knicks homers on this site who talk up the Knicks defense. Their defense is average at best. Remember when the Knicks were the joke (defensively) of the NBA just one year ago under D'Antoni? They added Woodsen, signed Chandler, and lucked out with Shumpert, and suddenly their a top 5 defensive team?

The OP saying Carmelo had improved his defense, LOL. Amare is not a good defender either, sorry man. Camby and Thomas are DINOSAURS, they are not going to be much help defensively.

The Knicks have a couple (two) great defenders on their team. Everyone else is average. That doesn't make them a top defensive team when not everyone on the roster fits that persona and doesn't buy into the philosophy.