New York Knicks Looking for Defense With Draft Pick

It’s the dawn of a new day in Gotham, as Mike D’Antoni and co. are putting a greater emphasis on the defensive side of the ball going forward. From Newsday: “After Ray Allen ran the Knicks guards ragged through endless screens in a first-round playoff sweep by the Celtics, the Knicks reacted by targeting a much-needed defensive stopper in the backcourt. By selecting Georgia Tech ‘s Iman Shumpert with the 17th overall pick in the NBA draft last night, the Knicks answered the need for defense and, perhaps, created the ability to turn Toney Douglas into a tradeable asset. The Knicks still are looking to acquire a true backup point guard or a big man before next season and, depending on the restrictions in the next salary-cap system, might be able to improve the roster only via trades … The Knicks have made focusing on defense a priority this offseason. One significant move will occur when Mike D’Antoni hires a defensive assistant coach for his staff. Former Nets coach Lawrence Frank is a possibility if he doesn’t land a head-coaching position.”