Knicks stress better ball movement

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- If only the Knicks' problems could be solved with some crisp passes and a round of energy drinks.

Unfortunately, answers aren't so simple when things don't go as expected.

After practice Monday, Mike D'Antoni and Amar'e Stoudemire cited the Knicks' lack of ball movement and defensive energy as the main culprits in their disheartening 106-93 loss Sunday night at the Garden to the Pacers, an inferior team clinging to the eighth playoff spot by default.

"We just got to move the ball. I think that's what's most important," Stoudemire said. "We got players that are great at what they do, so we want to make sure we take advantage of their skills. If we move the ball and play the proper method -- backdoor, screens and flares, cut and move without the ball -- it makes the defense a little more [off guard] and makes them work a little more."

Defensively, the Knicks were expected to shut down the Danny Granger-less Pacers, a team that struggles to put the ball in the basket even when their first option isn't sidelined with strep throat. Instead, the third-worst shooting team in the league, led by a career-high 29 points from Tyler Hansbrough, feasted on a weak Knicks interior defense, scored at will and shot 57 percent from the field.

The return of Chauncey Billups after a six-game absence with a deep thigh bruise, coupled with the improved play of Toney Douglas, was expected to give the Knicks a formidable point guard combination to run the offense. Instead, the two totaled 5-for-26 shooting, including 1-for-15 from three-point range, and the Knicks finished with 15 turnovers and a season-low 11 assists.

So when the Knicks again play the Pacers Tuesday night in Indiana in the back end of a home-and-home, they are expected to break away from the two-man show that featured too many isolations for Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony and play more of a high-energy team game.

"We just have to stress ball movement, especially early in the shot clock," D'Antoni said. "I told them at the end of the 24 seconds, that's when [Anthony's and Stoudemire's] superstardom comes into play and to get them the ball and they'll get their shot. But before that, we have to play as a team, move the ball, get to our spots."

While D'Antoni looks to incorporate the rest of the team offensively in hopes of developing a better flow, the Pacers' Dahntay Jones will be looking to disrupt Anthony's rhythm for a second straight game.

Anthony, who didn't speak to the media after practice, scored 20 points in the first half but was frustrated by Jones' physical defense and the lack of whistles. He was held to five points and 1-for-8 shooting in the second half.

"He plays physical. He's made a career out of it," Stoudemire said of Jones. "That's what he does best is defend. He's been doing that all his career and we know that going into tomorrow's game. We just got to keep our heads and play through it."

Jones, however, is merely a short-term problem. With 17 games remaining in the regular season, the Knicks still are integrating new pieces into the offense and searching for signs of life on the defensive end. All while trying to live up to the expectations that come with having two of the top players in the league on the same roster.

Stoudemire is averaging 28.0 points per game and Anthony 25.5 since the trade -- but the Knicks are 6-5 in that span.

"We keep taking these little steps backward," D'Antoni said. "It's kind of frustrating, but at the same time, maybe it's inevitable. But we are going to fight against it, and hopefully our next outing is going to be a good one and then you just go from there."