(Big C) The Knicks defense is on the rise. Since the first day in training camp  the Knicks were practicing working on team defense. What a difference a year makes.

The Knicks have gone from a team that was a joke on defense to a team that is currently leading the league in block shots. The Knicks are averaging around 8 block shots a game. They are also ranked in the top 10 in defense. Collectively they have been playing help defensive to make sure their opponents are not scoring easy points.

The days where you see opponents driving to the lane with ease are over. The Knicks have three players that have been getting it done on the defensive end every night and that is Ronnie Turiaf, Amar’e Stoudemire and Wilson Chandler. All three players have been getting 2 blocks per game. Timofey Mozgov is also a guy that has been blocking shots (0.8) in his limited time (12 minutes avg.) on the court.

Besides getting block shots, the Knicks are getting steals. The steals department is led by Toney Douglas followed by Raymond Felton. You will not find a night where the Knicks aren’t trying to get steals and playing good help defense. In the past it would have been risky for a Knicks player to go after steals because they did not have the support from their teammates. 

 However, when players know that their teammates have their back they can take the risk. Toney Douglas is capitalizing on getting steals every night.  On this Knicks team it is not just the guards that are getting steals. New Knicks player Ronnie Turiaf also averages 1.2 steals a game in limited minutes. Wilson Chandler also is averaging 1 steal game. Getting steals is also helping the Knicks score easy points on the other side of the court.

The key to the recent success in the Knicks defense is the talent and communication amongst the teammates.  Guys are speaking up and pointing out missed assignments, open opponents, and getting back on defense. Amar’e Stoudemire and Ronnie Turiaf are the main speakers pointing out defensive plays and guiding their teammates.

It might be early in the season, but you have to love the commitment to playing hard defense that the Knicks have been showing.  Fans have been wanting to see since the 1999 team left MSG. Now it looks like defense has has returned to the Knicks