The Knicks has one of the best on-ball defenders in the NBA (Mikal Bridges) and two of its best off-ball defenders (AND Anunoby and Josh Hart).
What happens when you put all three in the same lineup?
“That could add a whole other element to our defense,” Tom Thibodeau said recently.
That element was on full display Wednesday during New York’s preseason win over Washington.
Bridges had three steals in 30 minutes; Anunoby and Hart each had two. Their versatility and ability to change confused the Wizards, as this video from @IQfor3 shows.
The Knicks had 16 steals overall and turned Washington over 30 times.
Obviously, it is important to note that the Wizards will be a bottom five team in the NBA this season. Several of their turnovers on Wednesday were unforced errors. Preseason basketball, in general, is pretty sloppy.
But even if you account for all those factors, the defense of Bridges, Hart and Anunoby was remarkable.
“I think we’re just learning each other a little bit more,” Bridges said after the game. “Defensively, I think we can be really good. It just takes time and being closer to each other, and having practices and playing these preseason games will help a lot.”
Bridges already felt playing outside of Anunoby.
“I’ve learned a lot from OG defensively in the last month, and I told him that. Obviously, it’s all five guys locked together (defensively), but I just know if I screw up or something, everybody else has my back. , especially OG,” Bridges said Wednesday. “If I mess up, he’ll come from anywhere, and I’ll just read and react from him.”
The Knicks obviously bet big on Bridges and Anunoby as a defensive tandem. They gave the Nets five first-round picks for Bridges in late June and signed Anunoby to the largest contract in franchise history a few days later.
On Wednesday night, it looked like a pretty smart bet.
TALK OF THE CITIES
Karl-Anthony Towns bounced back from some early shooting woes to finish with 25 points in his Garden preseason debut.
“He stuck with it,” Thibodeau said after the game. “He started maybe pushing a little bit, the first time here. I like the looks he got. Just be patient. At the end of the day, it will work itself out. And it did. He stuck with it. He wasn’t discouraged, I thought that he went to a little more playmaking and that led to easier baskets.”
Jalen Brunson and Cities were synchronized in the third quarter; Brunson assisted on three of Towns’ four made field goals in the quarter. Cities cooperated on Brunson deposit of the second quarter.
“I’m glad it went the way it did today,” Towns said afterward. “It’s going to be tough nights when I don’t shoot well, especially at the Garden. Obviously the pressure is different. Show mental toughness to my teammates and the fans even when things aren’t going well, I’ll take it back on both. the defensive end, or just find the groove sooner rather than later in the game.”
THIBS ON PAT
As you would expect, Thibodeau is ecstatic Patrick Ewing returning to the Knicks in an advisory role. “We’re just happy about it,” Thibodeau said before Wednesday’s game. “Obviously, we know what he means to the organization and I think that all his experiences, I think it will be invaluable for us. From being involved with me, giving his thoughts; he will be here sometimes and other times he” Will be away, watching the games and giving suggestions.
“Also working with (team president) Leo (Rose) in the front office and Wes (executive vice president William Wesley); I think he can help from that perspective as well. … Obviously being a Hall of Fame player, one of the all-time Knicks greats, (having) the perspective of a former player, talking to our players, and understanding New York has been through everything here; his career speaks for itself, obviously; every year there, you felt when he was healthy, you had a chance to win it.”
Ewing will serve as a basketball ambassador, working on the team side and business side of the franchise this season.
NYK WAS ON JV
The Knicks were in contact with a center Jonas Valanciunas during free agency.
“We had a lot of talks with different teams. New York (was) one of them, was included. So, you know, I’m where I am now,” Valanciunas told SNY.
The Knicks pursued Valanciunas in early July as Isaiah Hartenstein left for Oklahoma City. New York could offer Valanciunas as much as $10 million over two years. He signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Wizards.
