New York Knicks: Five reasons to love the Scott Perry hiring
2. Emphasis On Defense
As previously alluded to, Scott Perry played a key role in helping Joe Dumars build the brilliant Detroit Pistons teams of the 2000s. As was also touched upon, Perry played a prominent role in the drafting process for the Seattle SuperSonics, Orlando Magic, and Sacramento Kings.
The consistent theme throughout all four of those tenures is that Perry understands the value of defense in the NBA—no matter the era.
In Orlando, Perry helped with the selections of 2014 Lefty Driesell Award* winner Elfrid Payton, 2013 NABC Co-Defensive Player of the Year Victor Oladipo, and 2014 Pac-12 Freshman Player of the Year Aaron Gordon.
Gordon, Oladipo, and Payton aren’t stars, but it’s worth noting that they were quality players found in historically underwhelming draft classes.
At the 2017 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings’ first-round selections were De’Aaron Fox, Justin Jackson, and Harry Giles—three players heralded for their defensive potential.
Coupled with the all-time defense that Detroit played in the early, mid, and late-2000s, Perry has a genuine defensive pedigree.
That should be music to the ears of New York Knicks fans after the team ranked in the bottom third of the league in scoring defense and defensive efficiency.
The New York Knicks have built their greatest eras on the strength of legendary defenses, and Perry is the type of mind who can restore that glory.
* – The Lefty Driesell Award is given to the most outstanding defensive player in NCAA Division I competition.