The Knicks being the Knicks are Knicking, of course, going from losing 9-of-11 to winning five consecutive games.
Coming up next? The Lake Show at MSG on Sunday evening.
Here’s what your current (and maybe future) superheroes had to say after yesterday’s trouncing of the PDX.
**_On pushing through adversity in January:_**
“We went through a little bit of adversity in terms of our wins and losses. Our guys just kind of stayed with it. We kept trying to help them as best we could. Those guys stayed with it, they stayed together. This is a veteran group that has been through a lot. They figured out what they needed to do to play at a high level. They’re going out there and showing it.”
**_On the need for connectivity and cohesion:_**
“They’re trying to stay connected, play off one another. When that happens, good things happen for our team. This is a veteran group that’s been through a lot. They figured out what they needed to do play at a high level.”
**_On the improved defensive cohesion during the winning streak:_**
“It starts defensively. The way the guys are on a string, that is at a pretty high level. You’ve got to be connected on that end of the floor. Obviously, you’ve got to be connected all the time, but especially defensively. Shots aren’t going to go in all the time.
“It’s just a work in progress. We’re continuing to try to work at it, try to help them. The guys are a little bit more comfortable with what we’re trying to do, and it’s shown.”
**_On Karl-Anthony Towns’ impact on games beyond scoring:_**
“To me, that’s what great players do. They impact the game in a lot of different ways and for him to have 22 against Toronto, and 20 tonight, double-double, it was huge. Six of those were offensive rebounds and we beat them 20-9 on the offensive glass and they’re a very, very good offensive rebounding team.”
**_On Jalen Brunson’s defensive approach:_**
“He’s been impressive leading with his chest, showing his hands and trying to play defense the right way with a little chip on his shoulder. It’s not just him, it’s all of our guys that have done that. But it’s good to see him doing it, especially with that scoring load that we put on him on the other end of the floor.”
**_On blocking out trade deadline noise:_**
“We understand that we have no control over the noise out there, so we have to have a bunker mentality. Not just at the trade deadline but all the time because there is a lot of noise out there. We’re all human and you try not to listen to it. You just try to stay together. You keep moving forward, trying to get better as the days go along and I think that’s what this group is trying to do.”
**_On improving defensive trust and communication:_**
“I think we’re trusting each other more. During that skid, during film and all that, we had guys talk and that was one thing I think Deuce said, we gotta make sure we continue to trust each other. When you’re on the ball, trust that the guys are gonna be in the shifts for you. Somebody gets blown by, the big steps up, the big has a trust that the guard is gonna sink into his man, someone is gonna X out. I think we’re just continuing to gain that trust. I think we’re communicating more on the defensive end. You do that, that helps the trust area.”
**_On playing to the Knicks’ strengths:_**
“We’ve got good depth. We’ve got guys that can score. We’re able to play fast and to our advantages but it starts at the defensive end. And that’s where we’ve improved these last five games.”
**_On pace helping New York early in games:_**
“I think for us the faster we play, especially in the beginning of a game, it’s to our benefit. We’ve got shooters, we’ve got guys that can run the court. So playing fast helps us.”
**_On living with trade rumors:_**
“This is my ninth year in the league. I think I’ve dealt with trade rumors for eight of them. It’s a part of the game. It’s part of being in New York. At times, it can get frustrating and overbearing, but that’s why you don’t really put anything into it because 99% of stuff doesn’t even materialize.”
**_On what made the Knicks click of late:_**
“I think we’re a little bit more connected than we’ve been. Gotta continue to build off it and keep having each other’s backs. I think, most importantly, our attention to detail. I’m gonna keep stressing that is very important for us.”
**_On Karl-Anthony Towns’ rebounding impact:_**
“What he’s been doing these past couple games has been great. We need that from him. That’s what he brings to the table. Offensively, when the ball’s not going in as much as it should be, he finds a way to impact the game. I think that’s really important for us. Big-time performance for him.”
**_On ignoring trade speculation:_**
“I feel like I’ve been in trade rumors a lot for a lot of times, for a year damn near. That don’t matter to me. I don’t look at social media or none of that stuff. I focus on the job on hand, which is trying to get wins every single night. As long as I do that, I do my job, I go home happy and I feel accomplished. I’m not worried about what anybody got to say or people write or anything like that.”
**_On his mental approach during the Knicks’ turnaround:_**
“I was talking to Landry about it. It’s a mental thing. Not worrying about it, knowing that you’re aggressive and trying to make plays on both ends, the basketball gods will bless you at one point.”
**_On the Knicks’ style of play:_**
“They’ve always been a grit-and-grind team. A team that plays hard. Good at every position. Can defend. Just a hard-playing team.”
**_On playing at Madison Square Garden:_**
“It’s cool playing here. The history that comes with it, it’s just always been a fun place to play.”