The Knicks played basketball on Sunday—not the best day—and on top of everything, they did with the tip-off came more than an hour earlier than usually scheduled.
The result was a slow start and a proper finish, with New York beating Portland 110-93 and pulling off a 15-point comeback ending in a 25-point swing, and handing 80-year-old Clyde a sublime gift.
Here’s what we’ve heard from Coach Thibs and a few Knickerbockers (including JB!) before and after Sunday’s outing against the visiting Blazers.
On the third-quarter shift vs. Portland:
“The defensive activity and the intensity picked up. Once the ball pressure got better, we got some steals, got some blocks.
“Then we got to the open floor. Got some fast-break points. And then we got into a good rhythm.”
On Mitchell Robinson’s impact on defense:
“I think overall the physicality is a lot better. And guys understand what we’re trying to do. Having Mitch is a big factor in that. I thought Mitch’s defense was a huge factor in the third quarter.
“The ball pressure, the rim protection. When you have somebody like that out there, then everybody gets more aggressive.
“He’s an elite pick-and-roll defender. His anticipation at the rim, he can cover up for mistakes. His communication is really good, and I think his understanding of what we’re doing is really good.”
On team defense and playing without Brunson:
“We’ve said this all along from the standpoint of, you’re not going to replace Jalen individually. You have to do it collectively, and I think we’ve done that. And it’s been good for our group from the standpoint that anytime someone goes out, it’s an opportunity for someone else to go in.
“But I think our defense and our rebounding, we know that everyone is capable of doing that. And if we lock into that and keep our turnovers down, we know we’ll be in position to win. So that’s what we’re striving for. Continue to improve. And when Jalen comes back obviously that adds a lot to our team.”
On Delon Wright’s defensive chops:
“That’s his gift.”
On Miles McBride’s status:
“I wouldn’t say he’s sprinting. But he’s close. So we’ll see.”
On his current rehab routine:
“I’m doing rehab stuff. More days, as of recently, have been just cranking it up — two-a-days, if I have to. But whatever I can do to improve myself, it’s what I’m doing.”
On conditioning during rehab:
“I’ve been able to do stuff to maintain, but I feel like it’s definitely going to take a hit. (The rehab is) not in-game reps. Out-of-game conditioning is different from just traditional conditioning, so I’m working my way back towards that. I feel like I’ve been working my ass off, so we’ll see.”
On return timeline and priorities:
“Realistically, I’m hoping to play before the playoffs. I think that’s as good for me to get some game reps before we got into that type of stretch run. But most importantly, I want to make sure I’m 100 percent healthy.”
On when to return and trusting the process:
“That’s probably a conversation we can have with the medical team. Obviously, I want to feel 100 percent. But a lot of this is also mental, just making sure I can trust everything I do. It’s just a conversation for us to have.”
On how the team has performed without him:
“They’ve responded. And there were nights where, obviously, we don’t play well as a team but then the next day they respond. But that’s all we can focus on.
“There will be times and games and days where things won’t go our way, but it’s how do we respond from those moments and how do we get better, and I feel like they’ve progressed that way and I can’t wait to join ‘em.”
On the slow start against the Blazers:
“It was a 6:00 game, and I think we forgot. So once 7:30 hit, that’s when we started playing.”
On Anunoby’s increased aggression of late:
“I think [aggressiveness] is the biggest thing. Obviously, he has the capability. He’s using his frame and gets to the basket. Using that physicality to finish or get to the line. So especially with guys injured, we need guys to be aggressive.”
On Anunoby’s offensive development:
“I think [Anunoby being more aggressive is] the biggest thing. Obviously he’s always had the catch-and-shoot ability but sometimes in the post, but he’s using his frame, he’s getting to the basket, using his physicality and getting a finish or getting to the line.
“Especially with guys down, Deuce, Jalen, Cam, we need guys to be aggressive and those two are really hooping right now.”
On Bridges’ two-way impact:
“I think it’s two-fold. Defensively, when he gets into the ball and gets that competitive nature, that leaks into the offense. And then he’s a killer in the mid-range, and that’s the shot they were giving him all day: So we’re comfortable with him shooting those shots. We want him shooting those shots and we want him to keep being aggressive.”
On Robinson’s defensive resurgence:
“The last month and a half, he’s been a monster defensively. Blowing up screens, blowing up handoffs, like a free safety on that backside.”
On theKnicks’ defensive identity:
“We stepped our defense up, got stops, and converted those stops into points. I’ve said it before—Knicks basketball is at our best when we get turnovers and convert those to points, so we did a good job of that.”
On what matters most:
“It’s about wins—that’s what the city cares about, that’s what we care about. So anytime we can put one in the left column, it’s a good day.”
On team cohesion down the stretch:
“We’re doing a good job finding ways to win with each other.”
On what’s behind his scoring surge:
“More opportunity. Being more aggressive.”
On his offensive approach:
“I try to play the right way and read the game. And also just trying to get fouled, get the team in the bonus, create fouls, being aggressive at all times.”