Knicks Update: “A Costly Lesson We Learned on Monday”
After all 30 NBA teams played on Monday, everyone took Election Day off, but basketball is back today with the New York Knicks playing their final road game at an arena just a mile from Magic City.
In case you missed it, the Knicks are coming off a disappointing 109-97 loss to the Rockets, a game where they fell right into Houston’s trap.
Here’s what Coach Thibodeau and the Knicks had to say about the game:
Tom Thibodeau
On the importance of defense and rebounding in games like Monday’s:*
“When you’re not shooting well, you have to rely on your defense and rebounding. I liked that we fought back. I thought our defense in the third quarter was solid. The key play was Josh’s foul; to me, it looked like a clean steal. Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t.”
On what makes OG Anunoby a special defender:
“His size, quickness, anticipation, and versatility stand out. He can handle various roles because of his strength, speed, and athleticism. That makes him disruptive on the defensive end. It’s crucial for every player to understand their strengths, and he came into the league knowing that. His experience has only enhanced his abilities. Long wings are a valuable asset in today’s NBA.”
OG Anunoby
On thinking one move ahead on defense when navigating screens:*
“It’s about getting in front of the ball before the screen is set. When teammates communicate early, I know where the screen is coming from, making it easier to get through. If you’re disconnected from the ball handler, it’s much harder.”
On roaming on defense, even if moves aren’t planned:*
“It’s about knowing the personnel, understanding the plays, and communicating with teammates. If I’m unsure, I rely on their input, which helps me react and make plays.”
On defending in a deeper drop coverage:*
“I need to chase over the screens, stay connected, and be ready to contest. If (KAT) is in a deep drop, I need to stay alert and be ready to help on the big man if needed.”
Josh Hart
On the need for more movement on offense and handling switching defenses:*
“We can’t just chase mismatches every time. We need to incorporate more movement. Even when we got the mismatch we wanted, our offense was stagnant. Against a packed defense, it’s hard to offensive rebound and make plays. We could have been better, especially by not letting our frustrations take us out of the game. We need to learn from this and build on it.”
On over-targeting mismatches:
“Sometimes we over-focus on mismatches, like trying to exploit Dillon Brooks on KAT or bringing Sengun into the action. But when that happens, KAT ends up with the ball 12 feet out, and the defense collapses on him, which isn’t the mismatch we envisioned. When we move the ball and force them to shift, we create opportunities for slip-ups and capitalize on mistakes. We need to be more decisive and in tune with the game. Teams will take notice and may try to exploit that.”
Jalen Brunson
On the need for improvement with switching offense:*
“We just need to be better at switching offenses. That’s simple.”
On responding to poor shooting nights like Monday’s:*
“We can’t use bad shooting as an excuse for losing. We have to find ways to win when shots aren’t falling. I think we fought hard, but not enough. In the first half, they outrebounded us and had an edge. We should’ve played harder, especially in that area. We closed the second quarter well, and that’s the level of play we need to maintain consistently.”
Karl-Anthony Towns
On learning from each game:
“There’s always something to learn from every game. Especially in the playoffs. We have to get there first, but you wish you could take all these lessons and turn them into wins. We’ve grown as a team, and we’ll continue to improve until the final buzzer. This was a good film to watch early in the season.”
On being ready for different defensive strategies:*
“I’ve seen a lot of defenses throughout my career, so I’m always prepared for whatever the defense and opponent throw at us.”
