Knicks must box out

Knicks must box out to make any kind of playoff push.

I know what you're thinking - it's only the preseason - calm down.

Having obsessively watched the two Knicks preseason games (I can't bring myself to call that the entire preseason) it has become painfully evident to me that regardless which defensive guru the Knicks have coaching on the bench, it is very difficult for someone to teach a veteran player what boxing out truly is and how to accomplish it.

Many people say that you really need to want to play defense and to rebound, and I couldn't agree more. What else can you say? What else needs to happen in order to reinforce the proper way to box out? Isn't getting out muscled, out positioned, and scored on enough to piss someone off into not wanting that to happen again?

When I was in high-school, I was a good jumper and had decent size for the league that I played in, but I did not understand the nuances or proper box out techniques. Recognizing my effort and desire to not be out worked or out rebounded, our best player and one of my coaches took me to the side and worked with me on the best techniques they knew of regarding boxing out.

It worked. I became a much better rebounder and understood the importance of proper positioning and technique regarding rebounding as I was able to out rebound other players, sometimes players who were a good three to four inches taller than me.

What is my point? My point is as it concerns the Knicks, that in order for them to truly contend and be consider a solid team, they need to as a team develop a mentality and desire to rebound and defend. Standing around and waiting for the ball to come to the, which is exactly what they were doing for the better part of the 1st half of game 2 versus the Nets, is not going to get it done. Relying on Chandler to do all the dirty work, to grab all the rebounds, and block all the shots is a recipe for defensive disaster, and is asking for Chandler to get into consistent foul trouble, and possible asking him to get injured.

The short answer is for the entire front line to committ - all they really have to do is establish position, stick their rear ends into someone's stomach, and drive them back - that is the best technique and the quickest way to clear out the paint area. The guards, of course, have to do their job too of establishing position and keeping the boards clean.

It truly comes down to wanting to learn and develop a better all around game. Rebounding, next to dribbling the basketball, is one of the more fundamental things in basketball, but it might be the most crucial element to team cohesion, and most importantly winning. If you control the boards, you control the ball, and thus the game.

They have the talent, but do they have the drive? Time will tell.