After what felt like a month, the Knicks finally learned the next team they’ll put to the sword.
It’s the Cleveland Knights, no puns intended.
Here’s the latest in what will likely be the softest and most casual Bulletin in the next two weeks.
Mike Brown
On sticking with Mikal Bridges despite outside questions:
“I don’t know if I was publicly backing him. I was just telling the truth. He can play, he’s been in this situation before, we’ve had success with him. So I was just basically answering
the questions regarding him. He’s earned the right to be there. He’s earned the right to do a lot of different things. And I was just reiterating it.”
On Bridges’ importance within the team structure:
“He’s definitely an important piece of what we’re trying to do, as well as everybody else. He’s gotta do his job on both ends, and when he does, we’re pretty good. Not just him; when anybody else does, we’re pretty good. So he’s no different than anybody else.”
Mikal Bridges
On the need for steady improvement throughout the playoffs:
“You can’t look at the past. You learn from it, but just be present and do what you gotta do to get better. I think that’s really it. Just learn from each game and try to get better every single game. And that’s really it. Like I said, I always try to play to help win and just keep trying to get better. That’s been the outcome.”
Miles McBride
On the benefit of extra rest before the Eastern Conference finals:
“It’s good to give your body some rest. Be able to sit back and watch your opponents beat each other up in a sense.”
Patrick Ewing
On the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in front of the Knicks:
“What I would tell them is they have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. No one knows if it’s going to come back around. When we got there in ’94, I definitely thought that we were going to have another opportunity in ’95 — take advantage of this opportunity. Continue to do the things that they’ve been doing. Continue to play as a team. The five guys on the floor got to do their part, the bench has to do their part. So remember that it’s about team, this is not tennis with one person against another person, all five have to be locked in, be unselfish, be selfish when you need to be selfish, and just play a team game.”
On why these Knicks can win a championship:
“Anything is possible. These guys have been putting in the work, the coaches have been putting them in great positions to accomplish that. That’s everybody’s goal at the beginning of the year to win a championship, and we’re all hoping that happens.”
On how the Knicks finish the job:
“They have to continue to do what they’ve been doing. We’ve been definitely hot in these last two rounds. We have to continue to do the same thing that we’ve been doing — playing as a team, both offensively and defensively taking care of business, no turnovers, just all the things that they’ve been doing.”
John Calipari
On how playing through Karl-Anthony Towns elevates the Knicks:
“What everybody is seeing is that playing through him the way they are doesn’t take away from anybody else’s game. On the contrary, it adds to everybody else’s game. And is exactly right for this team. The style of game he’s been playing, especially since they got behind the Hawks, I call that Jokic style, and that’s without him getting a ton of shots. Good for Mike and good for Karl.”
On Towns handling regular-season criticism:
“You know why I’m happy for him? He never said a word when he was taking all the grief he took during the regular season. He just kept walking. There’s a word for that, by the way: Professional.”
“Hey, I know it’s hard to listen to me when I’m talking about him. I admit I’m biased. But I stand up for my guys and this time it was easy, even when it looked as if he was scuffling. Now he’s started making things easier for everybody else. I told Spike the other day: If they keep playing through Karl this way, they can win the whole thing.”
On Towns’ versatility and unselfishness:
“You can’t foul him because he shoots free throws like a guard. He can absolutely make the right pass if you make a hard cut. And because of his size, he can pass the ball over the defense if he has to. As good a scorer as he’s been, guy’s not thinking shoot first. It just speaks to how unselfish he is. Hey, back when we were both at Kentucky and I needed him to play 21 minutes a game so Dakari Johnson could get 19, you know what he did? He went and sat down and didn’t say a word then, either.”
On first recognizing Jalen Brunson’s talent:
“I remember seeing [Brunson] when he was on his way to Villanova. And even though I knew Jay Wright had him locked up, I called up Jay and said, ‘I need to recruit the hell out of this Brunson kid.’ Because it was clear how good he was.”
Naz Reid
On supporting Karl-Anthony Towns during the Knicks’ playoff run:
“I’m trying to get out there back home for sure, trying to see him play in person, you know, from a spectator aspect, that’s a brother for sure, I’ve been years in with him as well. So, and him also being from Jersey, I’ve known him long before NBA. So I mean, just trying to make sure I give the same love to him that he’s reciprocated to us and so forth and so on. I obviously want to be there for him as much as I can. I mean, he’s been there for me more than you guys know. So I mean, just showing that love is the least I can do.”
Baron Davis
On comparing Jalen Brunson to Allen Iverson:
“Jalen Brunson to me is like Allen Iverson in this era. Like nobody can guard him. No matter what you do, he going to get his shot off. He gets hot. You know, it’s on fuego and he can play to the moment.”
Jamal Crawford
On the similarities between Jalen Brunson and Allen Iverson’s usage:
“I think they are a little more diverse in using Brunson. To me, they’re using Brunson, as AI was used in Philly. And they got him off the ball some. They moved him around. Then they got him in pick-and-roll situations. Obviously, we know the playoffs slow down, and you want the ball in your best player’s hands, but they’re a little less predictable.”
Stephen A. Smith
On why the New York Knicks are LeBron James’ best option:
“Now, I understand that it’s emotional. I know that. But what I’m thinking about when it comes to the New York Knicks is two things. If you don’t win the title this year, again, you don’t … He gonna be with the Knicks. That’s the brand that will easily enable LeBron to pocket an additional half a billion dollars. And then you got LeBron with Brunson, with OG, with Karl-Anthony Towns.”
Paul Pierce
On why LeBron James should retire:
“Yeah, I think he should, man. Just like for the simple fact that at the age that he still receives the criticism that he still does. The greats wasn’t getting this criticism late. Nobody was criticizing Kobe when he wasn’t going to the playoffs in his last year. They was just enjoying his moments. Like, the same with Jordan in Washington.
“For the simple fact that the man is 41, and we still critiquing him like he 25 and should be winning championships still. Just the criticism he gets still. He still gets criticism.”
