Six games into the 2016-17 season, the New York Knicks are 2-4 and rank dead last in defensive rating. Clearly, former Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah is not what he once was. The Knicks have decided to put former interim head coach, now assistant coach Kurt Rambis in charge of defense. This comes from ESPN’s Ian Begley:
Jeff Hornacek confirms @ESPNSteinLine's report that Kurt Rambis will coach the defense. He wanted to have one voice coaching the defense.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) November 8, 2016
Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony doesn’t exactly sound ecstatic about Rambis’ new role:
Carmelo on Rambis taking over defense: “Whether we’re comfortable with it or not, it is what it is so we have to buy into it." #Knicks
— Barbara Barker (@meanbarb) November 8, 2016
Putting Rambis in charge of defense is a perplexing move. Rambis was head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2009-2011. Under Rambis, the Timberwolves ranked 27th in defensive rating in 2009-10, and 26th in 2010-11. This doesn’t feel like the most sensible move, but as Anthony said, the decision has been made, so the Knicks don’t really have a choice but to buy into it at this point.
In 28 games with Rambis as interim head coach last season, the Knicks went 9-19.
