New York Knicks: No excuse for unforgivable loss to Memphis Grizzlies
The referees made a number of questionable decisions, but the New York Knicks lost the game because they refused to play defense until it was too late.
If you watched the New York Knicks lose 105-99 to the Memphis Grizzlies, then you likely witnessed one of the strangest fourth quarters in recent history. The referees took the game out of the players’ hands near the end, making a number of debatable decisions.
For as true as that may be, the one and only reason that the Knicks lost to the shorthanded Grizzlies was their own refusal to play defense.
One of the most stunning moments of the evening admittedly arrived when referee Derrick Stafford gave Courtney Lee a technical foul for trash talking with 17.8 seconds remaining in a four-point game. In many eyes, it ultimately decided the outcome of the encounter.
According to Al Iannazzone of Newsday, head coach Jeff Hornacek refused to allow the stunning technical serve as an excuse for a dreadful performance.
"“That was meaningless,” Hornacek said of the technical. “It was from the start. We talked about setting the tone. We came out there and we were happy with not closing out on guys, giving guys easy shots We let them get going early. We played no defense. Down 18 now we all of a sudden want to play defense. That’s what we should have been doing from the start of the game.”"
Whether or not you believe Hornacek is the ideal head coach for the Knicks, it’s quotes like this that prove there’s a system of accountability in place.
It would be easy to isolate the Stafford incident, but that would require one to ignore the fact that New York trailed by 14 points entering the fourth quarter. That’s especially egregious when one considers that Memphis was without both Mike Conley and Marc Gasol.
Despite the fact that the now 15-28 Grizzlies were playing without their two best players, the Knicks were on the brink of being blown out through three quarters.
New York outscored Memphis 26-17 in the fourth quarter, but that’s only after it allowed 88 points through three quarters to a team that ranks No. 29 in the NBA in points per game.
It certainly didn’t help that the Grizzlies pulled down six offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter alone, most of which were secured during the closing minutes of New York’s unspeakable loss.
Had the Knicks actually played defense for more than one of the four quarters, the referees may not have been a factor. Instead, New York tried to outshoot a team that had no business scoring at virtual will, and ultimately put itself in a position to have the game taken out of its hands.
Thus, while the refereeing of the Knicks-Grizzlies game will require the NBA’s attention, the loss is a product of the team’s indifference on defense.
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If the New York Knicks are going to play such careless defense moving forward, the players might as well put fans out of their misery and embrace the tank.