Could the New York Knicks be gaining the reputation as a defensive team more than an offensive team? Prolific scorer Carmelo Anthony is certainly taking less shots in the new triangle offense, but the stress on defense has the Knicks going for their third straight win as the face off against the Washington Wizards. While the team still adjusts to the new offensive plan, their defense could help them make a run in the Eastern Conference.
Anthony did get another offensive achievement to his name, becoming the sixth-youngest player to reach 20,000 career points after he netted 28 points against the Charlotte Hornets. Head coach Derek Fisher made note that he does not want to play Anthony as much as he has in the past, but that is not stopping the guard from making the shots when on the court. However, it is the defense that is getting the deserved attention.
The Knicks have looked strong in their past two outings. They forced LeBron James into eight turnovers. They held the Charlotte Hornets to just 13 points in the fourth quarter of their win. Fisher told the media that while the team is making mistakes on offense, their improvement on defense has made all of the difference.
The Wizards are also showing strong defensive abilities to start the year. They held the Milwaukee Bucks to just 42.5 percent shooting while forcing 28 turnovers on the team. Things should only get better when the team gets Bradley Beal back from a broken wrist. Meanwhile, his replacement, Garrett Temple, had 12 points against Orlando and 18 against the Bucks in a career-high performance. Washington is relying on unlikely stars to contribute during injuries while their regular stars continue to excel.
The Wizards have the chance to win their first three out of four games for the first time since 2005. John Wallace is doing his part by averaging 25.8 points per game. Nene netted 22 points while Marcin Gortat had 20 in the game against the Bucks. The team is hopeful those numbers continue.
