Formula 50
by, Greg Hutchins

Yet another 50 loss season for the beleaguered New York Knicks, who find themselves thinking about ping pong balls instead of playoff towels for the 5th consecutive season. In grand fashion, the Knicks gave up a whopping 55 points to the league’s leading scorer in a disappointing 122-105 loss to the Miami Heat. Dwyane Wade - much like fellow MVP candidates LeBron James & Kobe Bryant - relishs playing against Mike D’Antoni’s YMCA brand of defense. D’Antoni is now one of only 10 coaches in league history to go from 50 wins to 50 losses in consecutive seasons. Ironically, the last to accomplish this dubious feat was Larry Brown in his lone season in New York.

It’s been 8 seasons since the Knicks have posted a winning record and the common denominator in each has been the lack of defensive intensity. As Donnie Walsh prepares for the offseason, the first item on his agenda should be determining who is part of the problem and who's part of the solution. Other than Wilson Chandler, Walsh has no one on his roster than can make a significant impact on both ends of the floor nightly. If Walsh is bent on turning Madison Square Garden into a prime place for marquee free agents in the 2010-11 season, he'll need to add a few more two-way players next season. Should team stars David Lee and Nate Robinson bolt via restricted free agency, Walsh will spend the rest of the summer trying to plug holes in the roster.

Along with Chandler, Danilo Gallinari is apparently the only other untouchable despite appearing in only 28 games and averaging a mere 6.1 ppg. Despite the limited production from their lottery pick, Walsh & D'Antoni continue to gush about the 20-year old's future. Gallinari has been a polarizing player for most Knicks fans as he's either loved or viewed as a monumental bust. Considering the Knicks owe the Utah Jazz their lottery pick next year, it's imperative Walsh make the most of this upcoming selection. With a host of top collegiate stars entering the draft, Walsh would be best served going for a proven commodity than gambling on another foreign import. If Lady Luck avoids paying a visit to New York for the 24th year, Walsh should be able to address his backcourt needs with a top prospect (possibly Ty Lawson or Tyreke Evans) but the most glaring need is in the middle. For a team dead last in blocks per game (2.5) again, finding a defensive-minded center is tops on the agenda. The Jared Jeffries experiment at starting center is one that should not be repeated next season. Combined, Lee & Jeffries averaged a paltry 0.9 blocks per contest while splitting time in the post. When you consider Orlando's Dwight Howard averaged more blocks per game (2.9) than the entire Knicks team, Walsh needs a upgrade badly.

Some will chalk this lost season up to sacrificing the present for a brighter future. After 8 seasons of losing basketball at the World's Most Famous Arena, it's time for the excuses to come to an end. Had this season's team produced a better defensive effort, they could very well have been gearing up for a playoff matchup with their prized 2010 free agent target.

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