Derrick Rose
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 04: Derrick Rose #25 of the New York Knicks waits on the court during their game against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center on October 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) Scott Halleran/Getty Images

While NBA fans across Manhattan are constantly clamoring for a perfected triangle offense, there’s a bigger elephant in the room that is haunting the New York Knicks.

It’s their defense.

The Knicks have dropped five of their last seven games giving them an overall record of 3-6. That’s good enough for 12th place in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks defense ranks 27th overall in points allowed ahead of only the Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns and Indiana Pacers. Opponents are shooting 45.1 percent against Jeff Hornacek’s squad.

The Knicks have allowed more than 100 points in eight of nine games this far. The one game in which the Knicks did not allow 100 points was against their neighbor, the Brooklyn Nets. Comforting thought in the Big Apple, huh?

The Knicks clearly don’t have “that guy” on defense. Carmelo Anthony can score the ball, but he’s always been a questionable defender at best. As much promise as Kristaps Porzingis shows, he isn’t exact the second coming of Patrick Ewing, and Joakim Noah clearly isn’t the Defensive Player of the Year he once was with the Chicago Bulls. Noah is still under contract for four more years, so they better clean this mess up quickly.

Are the Knicks defensive issues tied more to Hornacek’s scheme or lack of elite roster talent on the defensive end? Maybe both.

With the way they are playing off opposing screens with such little communication, there’s so much work to be done. The Knicks do have talent, but it’s not showing on the boards as they rank 23rd in rebounds per game. Is it just a hustle and effort problem? Their loss to the Toronto Raptors, which they allowed 118 points, was completely embarrassing. Defensive coordinator Kurt Rambis doesn’t want a lot of switches on pick and rolls and it’s creating numerous open shots for the opponents.

If the Knicks can’t fix their defensive woes, it’s going to be another long lost season.

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