Knicks need to get bigger on defense this summer

Size, in fact, does matter. And no matter how much Mike D'Antoni likes to play small, the Knicks will need to focus on getting bigger when the roster is rebuilt this summer.

D'Antoni for now is content with playing one of the smallest lineups in the NBA, with 6-9 David Lee at center and 6-8 Wilson Chandler at power forward, mainly because it is doubtful any of the top centers from the D-League can step in at this point in the season and have an impact.

"For them to be able to come in and make a difference," D'Antoni said of a potential D-League call-up, "that's tough."

Perhaps in another week or two, when 6-11 Eddy Curry is cleared to practice after recovering from left knee surgery, D'Antoni will take him out of exile. Curry (0.8 blocks per game in his career), has never been a notable stopper, but size is size.

The roster this season actually had a decent amount of it, but that was before last Thursday's deadline, which served a bigger (no pun intended) purpose. Jared Jeffries (6-11) and Jordan Hill (6-10) were sent to the Rockets in the Tracy McGrady/salary cap relief trade and shunned 7-footer Darko Milicic was sent to the Timberwolves for what essentially became an open roster spot after Brian Cardinal was bought out.

The Knicks are among the bottom fifth in the NBA in interior defense this season. They currently are 25th in blocked shots per game (4.17) and 28th in allowing 45.8 points-in-the-paint per game. So it might not just be about getting bigger, but also playing bigger.

"We'll have to double-team more, we'll have to rotate better and be more aggressive in trying to front more and all that," D'Antoni said. "Knowing that we're going to get hurt some there, it's just automatic. But we need to overcome that with running and making shots and moving the ball and being better offensively."

The Knicks held the Celtics to just 16 points in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's 110-106 loss in Boston, but five of the Celtics' six field goals in the final quarter were scored in the paint. The Celtics scored 60 points and hit 30 of their 44 field goals in the paint. Only two of the three shots the Knicks blocked were in the interior.

If the Knicks decided to re-sign Lee, they likely won't with the intention of keeping him at the center position. In fact, Lee may have to consider that when mulling offers from other teams.

At the high-end, if the Knicks signed all-star Chris Bosh, they would get a slight upgrade in defense (1.09 blocks per game this season), but still would need some muscle in the paint to help him. Amar'e Stoudemire's reputation as a shot blocker (one per game this season) and defender is often overstated.

Shaquille O'Neal (1.2) is at the end of his career, but might fit well as an affordable bouncer while providing Lee some physical confidence. Marcus Camby (1.96), who has been one of the league's best swatters over the past decade, is also a free agent of interest in this area.

LeBron James, for what it's worth, is averaging just shy of one block per game, as well. But most of his work comes from his patented chase-down maneuvers.