Wow it has been a minute since I last blogged. I’ve been experimenting with the form factor of Knicks Defense in recent days.  Like many things in life, it is an ongoing process.

Yet despite my time away, I never stopped rooting for this team.  I was just focused elsewhere. School.

Now that I have completed my most recent educational goal, I am back in Knicks Defense Mode. I wish our guards could get into Knicks Defense mode.  Back straight, bend the knees, slide the feet, see-the-ball, see-your-man.  I realize that professional athletes know this man!  Still, why do guards so easily get into the paint against the Knicks?  Why do guards get their career high against the Knicks?

Last night’s game against Kobe and the Lakers was almost a huge disappointment. We blew a huge lead. The Lakers took the lead late in the game and Robin Lopez caught an inbounds pass near half court, almost turning it over. It looked like a travel, but nothing was called, and the ball found its way to Jose Calderon. I can almost forgive him for all of the defensive lapses on the perimeter, not only in this game, but all season has been a layup line for opposing guards easily manuvering into the paint against the likes of Calderon and Galloway.

But last night we would not be stopped. Calderon pulled up from three and knocked it down. I’m happy for him. This is the first time I’ve seen him smile in a Knicks jersey.

Prior to that big play, we had great consecutive baskets from Carmelo Anthony, who despite coming back from surgery in the summer, is still a leading scorer in the league even without his hops.  I think he will play even better next season, when he really rediscovers his rhythm.

Derrick Williams and Jerian Grant are showing signs of being a factor. We are 2-2 on this road trip with the unstoppable Golden State Warriors (59-6) scheduled to host the New York Knicks (28-40) under the direction of replacement head coach Kurt Rambis on Wednesday.  If the Lakers can do it…  I will not finish that sentence.

It may be a pipe dream to climb up to the eighth spot in the east right now, but most of the teams ahead of us also not on pace to make it are also playing poorly. Indiana, currently the seventh seed in the east, is just 5-5 in their last ten. It will take a huge winning streak of maybe 8 or so games to catch these teams that are slipping, but with 14 games left to play, and March Madness around the corner, why not keep hope alive?

Phil should had made some moves at the trade deadline, but he did nothing.  We won 17 games last season.  Knicks fans will be Knicks fans.  We expect the playoffs.  New York coaches with winning records have been fired, so the bar is never set so lo as “improving from a 17-win season.”

For the remainder of the season, we have to make due with what we have, which is strength in the front court and very poor defense in the backcourt. Porzingis may not be as burnt out as people think, so maybe Rambis figures out a way to maximize returns on this team. Until then, we want to win as much as possible, so that Toronto doesn’t get a high draft pick. What should have been our high draft pick… The Andrea Bargnani curse lives. What a scrub. Shame on Glen Grunwald for making that deal.