Knick's players needs to speak up before the sun sets

Team records since the Carmelo Anthony trade:

New York Knicks: 7-6

Denver Nuggets: 8-2

On February 21, 2011, it was made official.  The New York Knick's were back.  Fresh off the All-Star break in which they limped in a measly 2 games over 500, they unloaded the majority of their roster to acquire Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets, a player they coveted since he made public his desire to play in the bright lights of New York City.

Instantly making the Knick's a contender, the fans salivated for his debut, a Wednesday night matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks in which the Knick's escaped with a 114-108 victory.  None the less the message was delivered.  This was a team to be feared.

NBA analysts and fans began to say they could stack up favorably against the Miami Heat in the playoffs.  After beating LeBron, Wade, and company the following Sunday, the coronation was under way.  This was a team that two seasons ago was the laughing stock of the league, now they had a 3-5 year window to be a championship threat.

They won the game against the Heat in large part to the most important player involved in the trade, Chauncey Billups, who exploited the Heat’s Achilles heel, their awful point guards.

Billups received little if any publicity in being lumped in with Melo.  A Denver native, there were talks of him wanting to be bought out before his arrival.  However he has come to New York with open arms like the professional he is.  Billups is the key to this trade leading to a championship.  His leadership (2004 NBA Finals MVP) and toughness are unmatched.  They will be the two qualities needed to carry the Knick's if they are to make any type of run in the playoffs the next two seasons.

After the exhilarating opening week, reality began to set in.  The overall struggles since the trade can be attributed to one thing, the coaches stubbornness to teach defense.  They don’t play any, and will not play any with Mike D’Antoni coaching the team.

Prior to arriving in New York, D’Antoni coached the Phoenix Suns, a team with the most prolific offense in the league.  Between 2003-2008, his style of coaching led Steve Nash to back to back MVP awards, and developed a slew of above average guards and post players into top 25 talents, including Joe Johnson and Amar'e Stoudemire.

They spent three years chasing a title with pure offense, they never got it.

The next move the Knicks need to make is not bringing in a center, or low post defender, it’s bringing in a defensive minded coach.  Look at the teams at the top of each conference, they all preach defense before anything (Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, San Antonio, heck even Miami).

Amar’e has provided leadership and a spark to the city and team no one knew he had.  Chauncey is along for what he hopes to be a championship ride, the facilitator of the group, willing to give the spotlight to the highly talented duo.  Carmelo has come with expectations from fans and media personnel to restore the Knicks to glory.

There haven’t been any rumblings yet, everyone fooled by D'Antoni's nice guy persona.  A quick playoff exit this year followed up by another subpar performance next year and you can bet the players will be calling for a veteran coach who teaches defense, and rightfully so.