Knicks' Defensive Disarray in Loss to 76ers Puts Woodson on the Spot
The list of items that have haunted Knicks Coach Mike Woodson started early this season - practically from opening night. There were personality conflicts with Iman Shumpert, then J. R. Smith, then Chris Smith, then Beno Udrih. Critics nitpicked his lineup choices before games, then admonished him over his time management at the end of games. Woodson was not being tough enough on players. He was being too tough on players.
Through it all, one edifice remained untouched by controversy: the defense. It was Woodson's last bastion of serenity. But recently, even that security blanket has grown tattered.
The Knicks have allowed 109.2 points over their last four games, all losses, and Woodson has suddenly found himself on his heels regarding his schemes, adjustments and mind-set in the facet of the game he is most proud of.
And the Knicks' performance in a 110-106 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden did not help Woodson's case.
The Knicks held a 90-84 lead early in the fourth quarter but could not summon enough stops down the stretch to put away the young and nimble Sixers, who won just their second game in the past nine.
A fan yelled, 'Effort!' as the despondent Knicks walked off the court.
Before the game, Woodson was grilled about his defensive system, which was the subject of some barbed remarks made by center Tyson Chandler after Monday's 23-point loss to the Nets. Woodson was asked to explain his philosophy of switching defenders on screens, responding to an array of questions, on topics like where he had developed the switching mind-set and whether he would consider changing it.
Woodson dismissed concern that his scheme was being questioned not just by the public but also by Chandler, a valued member of his own locker room who said Monday that 'we didn't make adjustments.' 'I've been doing this a long time,' Woodson said. 'You hear gripes from players, you hear gripes from coaches. It's all a part of it.'
The theory that excessive switching cost the Knicks a win on Monday was overblown, Woodson argued. According to his calculations (which he was more than ready to supply), the defense switched 37 times, 'and they scored eight times.'
'Switching didn't hurt us the other night,' Woodson said. 'Everybody switches in the league. You're going to have to sometimes. The physical play won't allow you to stay man-to-man.'
Regardless, the Knicks' defense has taken an obvious step back since last season, when it finished seventh in the N.B.A., allowing 95.7 points per game, and sixth in the league with a plus-4.3 point differential. This year, that number is minus-4.2 (24th).
The Knicks' struggles remained in plain sight Wednesday. In the first quarter, Sixers forward Lavoy Allen ran all the way up court, apparently without a defender even noticing him. After his uncontested layup, there were boos from the crowd and a quick timeout from Woodson.
Philadelphia shot 56 percent from the field, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range, to grab a 33-26 lead after one.
Carmelo Anthony (team-high 28 points) did not hit his first field goal until almost eight minutes were left in the half, then rattled off 11 points to finish the half with a team-high 14.
The Knicks came out for the second half with a little more vigor, tying the game at 65-65 a few minutes into the third quarter and then taking a lead for the first time since the game's early moments.
But the defense still appeared porous, lethargic, altogether disengaged. The 76ers continued to find success in beating the Knicks up the floor and in the paint, where they held an almost laughable 50-26 advantage over the Knicks, who were still without the injured forwards Kenyon Martin and Amar'e Stoudemire.
But at the start of the fourth, J. R. Smith scored two consecutive field goals to help the Knicks go ahead, 90-84, as part of a 10-0 run. Finally, the Knicks put together a string of stops and found ways to convert on the offensive end.
The run looked like it might put an end to the Sixers, but Philadelphia continued find ways to chip away. Point guard Michael Carter-Williams delivered a 3-pointer with 5 minutes 43 seconds remaining that gave the Sixers a 93-92 lead. That was followed by a 3 from Evan Turner, who finished with a career-high 34 points.
Trailing, 102-96, with three minutes remaining, Anthony hit a 3-pointer to keep the Knicks' hopes alive. They were short-lived. A 3-pointer by Thaddeus Young and a fall-away jumper by Turner in the last two minutes gave Philadelphia enough separation to dribble out the clock and secure a fifth consecutive Knicks loss.
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