Joakim Noah: ‘Right Now I Feel A Step Slow Defensively’

So much of the Knicks’ potential for success this season is dependent upon the health of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Carmelo Anthony—all of whom have recently suffered significant injuries. Joakim Noah, who signed a four-year, $72 million with New York in the offseason, has already been banged up with hamstring and ankle injuries during preseason. The big man is expected to drastically improve the Knicks defense, but is admitting to feeling a step slow on that end of the court.

From the New York Daily News:

“We have to get better. Numbers don’t lie and right now I feel a step slow defensively. And I have to do better. I have to do better for this ballclub. We all do,” Noah said.

Noah played in just 29 games last season, and only started two, but is confident that with time he’ll get his bearings back:

“I mean for sure I feel like I haven’t played in a long time. I just have to get my steps, get my first step back, and it will come. It will come,” Noah said.

Over the summer, Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf publicly stated that he felt the 31-year-old Noah “wasn’t going to be a frontline guy anymore.” Noah took the slight from Reinsdorf as a “low blow.”

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