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Sunday, April 8, 2012

Schizophren-Knicks Overcome Magic Circus and Bull Defense: A Fan's View - Yahoo! Sports

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Schizophren-Knicks Overcome Magic Circus and Bull Defense: A Fan's View - Yahoo! Sports
Apr 9th 2012, 02:47

By Glenn Vallach, Yahoo! Contributor Network

There's one comment on which you can certainly depend to be true since Mike Woodson replaced Mike D'Antoni as coach of the New York Knicks.

Dwight Howard.
Wikimedia Commons

They play defense with a ferocity that we haven't observed since the Pat Riley era at Madison Square Garden. They obviously don't consider it part of the culture yet…witness the fourth quarter atrocity that occurred in a devastating road loss to the Indiana Pacers (April 3). Great defensive teams play it as a matter of course. It's not special, it's routine. It's not to be celebrated, it's habitual. When the '90's Knicks took the court, you knew what to expect. These Knicks aren't at that level, to be certain. But they commit to defense more often than not these days, and when they do, it's remarkable to see. Why? Well, because we all have a right to inquire where it's been. If they're capable of playing defense like this, why haven't they?

The Orlando Magic appeared utterly helpless last week (April 5) to break the defensive code. They were swarmed with Knicks challenging the three-point shooters (this is a refreshing alteration in style), and deflecting passes all around the court. It looked like someone poked around a bee's nest a little too much, and a mass of angry Knicks materialized. They had similar spectacular defensive stretches against the Chicago Bulls on Easter Sunday, matching the latter's toughness.

There's no way to know if the Knick domination of Orlando was influenced by the continuing embarrassment orchestrated by the Magic front office, coach Stan Van Gundy, and Dwight Howard, who is developing a spoiled athlete image. Perhaps Van Gundy is following the Mike D'Antoni approach. Before they get you, you get them. D'Antoni knew Carmelo Anthony was sabotaging him. How else can you explain the difference in Anthony's play now at both ends of the floor? He decided the road best taken is the one he charts for himself. Van Gundy seems to have more direct evidence of a mini-mutiny and is forging his own exit strategy.

The result will probably be a quick Magic exit from the playoffs. Last week, they had an opportunity to respond to a humiliation they suffered at the hands of the Knicks last week at the Garden. Their answer? Another blowout. They might be even more dysfunctional and schizophrenic than the Knicks.

Glenn Vallach has been a New York Knick fan since the days of Howie Komives and Walt Bellamy, when he regularly boarded the IRT Subway at 180th Street in the Bronx for a trip to the Garden to see his heroes. Since the last championship in 1973, he has alternately yearned and suffered, hoped and lamented…he's waited long enough.

Sources:

· Yahoo! Sports New York Knicks page

· Yahoo! Sports Carmelo Anthony page

· Yahoo! Sports Dwight Howard page A

· Kyle Hightower, Associated Press, Anthony leads Knicks past reeling Magic 96-80

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

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