Rockets loss exposes NYK's biggest D flaw

[Jesse2272]

I think he brings up some good perspective on the ISO

And why isnt that Brewer's assignment

By Jared Zwerling | ESPNNewYork.com


When the Knicks got off to a 7-1 start, holding opponents to an NBA-best 90.0 points per game, they did it with their team defense. More specifically, their defensive rotations, communicating and moving strategically to guard shooters.

One reason the Knicks were so effective with their rotations was because their opponents ran more pick-and-roll/spread-out schemes. But something significant changed in their past two games against the Mavericks and Rockets, leading to back-to-back losses.

The Mavericks and Rockets ran more isolation plays -- and the Knicks couldn't defend them. In fact, they're allowing a league-high 1.04 points per isolation, the worst mark in the league.

The Rockets ran isolations on 12.2 percent of their plays Friday night, the third-highest percentage by a Knicks opponent this season. James Harden and Chandler Parsons did their most damage in isolations. Of the four Knicks opponents to run isolations on at least 10 percent of their plays -- the Rockets, Mavericks and 76ers twice -- Houston was the most efficient on those plays, scoring 1.21 points per isolation.

Here's how the Knicks' prominent isolation defenders have stacked up this season, in order of rank (there have been 171 players who have guarded at least 10 isolations):

• Carmelo Anthony: 6-for-8, one turnover, one foul; ranks 171 of 171
• Jason Kidd: 5-for-11, no turnovers, one foul; ranks 165 of 171
• J.R. Smith: 7-for-14, four turnovers, two fouls; ranks 148 of 171
• Pablo Prigioni: 4-for-10, no turnovers, one foul; ranks 145 of 171
• Raymond Felton: 2-for-6, two turnovers, three fouls; ranks 116 of 171
• Steve Novak: 4-for-12, two turnovers, no fouls; ranks 57 of 171

Interestingly, Ronnie Brewer, a perimeter player, has only defended four isolations all season.

The Knicks have run isolations more often than each of their opponents this season. But five of their last six opponents have scored more points per isolation than the Knicks (the Hornets are the only exception).

By comparison, when defending non-isolation, half-court plays this season, the Knicks have been more effective. Here's how opponents are shooting against individual Knicks players, in order of attempts:

• Felton: 32-for-98
• Anthony: 30-for-80
• Smith: 28-for-76
• Kidd: 25-for-54
• Novak: 18-for-45
• Prigioni: 20-for-41

The Knicks won't be facing star slashers like Harden every night, but even Parsons, a second-year forward, got in on the action. Now opponents have added "weaker defending isolations" on their scouting report on the Knicks. The Rockets represent the plenty of young legs around the league that will want to run on and attack the older Knicks.

The Knicks face the lowly Pistons on Sunday afternoon, but on Monday they'll face two star isolation players in Deron Williams and Joe Johnson.

A big test awaits.

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/kni...9108/isolation

[still a fan]

Here's the thing he misses and fans need to realize:

And Iso can be a guy standing 30 feet away and throws a bomb and it goes in....banng, bad ISo defense?
I've watch Melo and rarely does he get beat to the rim, he does have his hand up on long shots and many tend to go in, i say step up a bit here and that should improve.

The next is its way too early, you cover a lebron, Durant, Westbrook, Harden or even a hot Parsons early on your stats will not be good.

This really didn't do it for, I think he was stretching.

For me I see guys getting easily beat the last two games, with the pick and roll defense very weak. Coach's will take that long bomb in Iso's almost every time.

I saw a layup line drill, and that needs to stop with the team we have, and now.

[Jesse2272]

I see 2 teams changing how we've been attacked on offense

poor overall defense, bad use of depth, poor adjustments during the game as well

All things Woody needs to address ASAP

well see by the BK game what

[Jagged QT]

Here's the thing he misses and fans need to realize:

And Iso can be a guy standing 30 feet away and throws a bomb and it goes in....banng, bad ISo defense?
I've watch Melo and rarely does he get beat to the rim, he does have his hand up on long shots and many tend to go in, i say step up a bit here and that should improve.

The next is its way too early, you cover a lebron, Durant, Westbrook, Harden or even a hot Parsons early on your stats will not be good.

This really didn't do it for, I think he was stretching.

For me I see guys getting easily beat the last two games, with the pick and roll defense very weak. Coach's will take that long bomb in Iso's almost every time.

I saw a layup line drill, and that needs to stop with the team we have, and now.

So the vast majority of those 171 players haven't played against good players?

And I totally disagree....a 30 foot heave isn't count as an iso play.

It's nothing more than a fg attempt....somewhere around 16-23.

[still a fan]

So the vast majority of those 171 players haven't played against good players?

And I totally disagree....a 30 foot heave isn't count as an iso play.

It's nothing more than a fg attempt....somewhere around 16-23.

did you see Parsons 28 footer? He held the ball, then popped it, swish, what bad defense that was, and thats considered Iso.

You know Isolated, one on one, etc.......

Harden on Kidd took what three step back three's , and swish, Iso right?

Take that shot any day? I bet most coach's say yes.

Novak with one of the best Iso's defense, does that help you lol

[Jagged QT]

did you see Parsons 28 footer? He held the ball, then popped it, swish, what bad defense that was, and thats considered Iso.

You know Isolated, one on one, etc.......

Harden on Kidd took what three step back three's , and swish, Iso right?

Take that shot any day? I bet most coach's say yes.

Novak with one of the best Iso's defense, does that help you lol

Iso's are created when the other players clear out, a 30 footer at the buzzer is not an iso.

Novaks numbers actually are the worst.

He plays the least minutes of all of them and has been attacked second most.

[Becks2307]

shumpppp

[still a fan]

Iso's are created when the other players clear out, a 30 footer at the buzzer is not an iso.

Novaks numbers actually are the worst.

He plays the least minutes of all of them and has been attacked second most.

thats your definition, you think 4 players who never move, and melo has the ball isn't an Iso?

Okay i'm done with Iso, non Iso, don't matter, team ball, team defense, no layup rule thats what I want to see..........


go Knicks

[THE MTL]

I do wonder how we dont put Brewer on the opposing team's star player though. During the Mavs game, put Brewer on Mayo NOT Kidd.

Anyway, SHumpert takes defense personally and our iso-defense is about to skyrocket once he comes back. Shumpert is already one of the best lockdown defenders in the league.

[Jesse2272]

A Healty Brewer apparently

And Shump will cure a lot of ills

[jam]

This argument is just ridiculous.

[TheNumber37]

Our best perimeter defender is not back, then we can stop watching Novak get beat.

[Hustla23]

Here's the thing he misses and fans need to realize:

And Iso can be a guy standing 30 feet away and throws a bomb and it goes in....banng, bad ISo defense?
I've watch Melo and rarely does he get beat to the rim, he does have his hand up on long shots and many tend to go in, i say step up a bit here and that should improve.

The next is its way too early, you cover a lebron, Durant, Westbrook, Harden or even a hot Parsons early on your stats will not be good.

This really didn't do it for, I think he was stretching.

For me I see guys getting easily beat the last two games, with the pick and roll defense very weak. Coach's will take that long bomb in Iso's almost every time.

I saw a layup line drill, and that needs to stop with the team we have, and now.

Here's the thing. A "long bomb" as you say isn't considered an isolation play by synergy. It's considered a spot up jumpshot. An isolation play is considered to be what it is normally considered: A play in which a designated player acts alone in the offensive sequence.

[Busta]

Isolation defense is not the Knicks problem. Move on.


The sample size for those stats are so small, I got annoyed reading it. If OJ Mayo, Vince Carter/Parsons get hot from the field and inflate those stats in a 2 game span (with a few other similar situations sprinkled in from the season including Lebron/Wade/Jrue Holiday/Gasol/Randolph/Mike Conley.

Even the percentage of isolations ran by the Rockets/Mavs they displayed is not a big number. Team's aren't all of a sudden going to go isocentric vs the Knicks because it would be a terrible idea. You usually call isos when you're riding a hot hand.

[Busta]

Here's the thing. A "long bomb" as you say isn't considered an isolation play by synergy. It's considered a spot up jumpshot. An isolation play is considered to be what it is normally considered: A play in which a designated player acts alone in the offensive sequence.

A pull up long range 3 should be though. Catching and shooting is spot up