EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION New York Now that the Knicks are in the Zen Zone full time, they can concentrate on putting together a team that replicates the Phil Jackson Way. The triangle offense will be in full effect, thanks to the arrival of new head coach and former triangle pupil Derek Fisher. Jackson will be trying to re-cast a roster that is in serious salary cap trouble by jettisoning bad contracts and trying to lure top players to Gotham in the hope of creating a contender. The good news is that by this time next year, the Knicks will have washed away a lot of bad money from the books, and if they can somehow find a way to get someone to pick up J.R. Smith, it’s possible to make a fresh start around Carmelo Anthony. Anthony re-signed during the offseason for a little less than the maximum and appears committed to being part of the franchise’s rebirth. Defense While the Knicks spend time learning about the triangle and trying to figure out how they all fit into it, they might want to devote a little practice attention to the other end of the court, where the potential for trouble is great. New York was 24th in the NBA in points allowed last year, and that was with former Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler in the middle. He’s gone now, part of the deal that brought Calderon and center Samuel Dalembert to town. Chandler averaged 9.6 rebounds per game and blocked 1.1 shots, not amazing totals, but his specialty is D, and he won’t be able to provide rim protection. Although Dalembert has good size and did block 1.2 shots a game in 2013-14, he isn’t as valuable along the back line as Chandler. That’s going to be a problem. The Knicks still have Iman Shumpert, though, and that’s a good thing. He’s the one player the team can point to as a defensive force, and he will be tasked every night with shutting down the opponent’s top perimeter player. Shumpert has good size and strength to handle a variety of assignments, and his limited offensive contributions are overshadowed considerably by his ability to defend and—more importantly—his willingness to do so. The rest of the roster is practically bereft of solid defensive performers, and if the Knicks are going to contend, that will have to change. Somebody has to develop Carmelo Anthony STARTERS G Jose Calderon G Iman Shumpert C Samuel Dalembert F Amar’e Stoudemire F Carmelo Anthony BENCH F Quincy Acy C Cole Aldrich F Andrea Bargnani F Cleanthony Early G Tim Hardaway Jr. G Shane Larkin G Pablo Prigioni G J.R. Smith C Jason Smith
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