Knicks President: I Want to Change Our Defensive Plan

(Knicks Team President) Phil Jackson: “Certain other things will also have to change next year, namely our defensive game plan. I’d like us to exert more pressure in the backcourt. Press, trap, push sideline. Make opposing guards work to get the ball across the timeline, something that will tire them out late in the game — this is extremely important. And after being pressured hard for eight feet or so, it will also be difficult for guards to continue their dribble deep into the attack zone. Pressure defenses also require opposing bigs to come help their guards and subsequently make quick decisions far away from their comfort zones. Of course, we’ll need a deep, quick roster, but that’s another thing we’re aiming at. In addition, whenever our screen-roll defense allows a guard to penetrate, I’d like us to shift into a zone.

Source: Charley Rosen of ESPN