The Knicks can’t earn a win outside of MSG to save their collective life.
New York is nearly impeccable at home (8-1) but atrocious on the road (0-4) as we near completion of the first month of play. Something
has to change.
Here’s a bunch of staff said by the protagonist of yesterday’s affair before and after the game.
Mike Brown
On not calling a timeout during the final possession vs. Miami:
“We had a timeout, but most times, in that situation, it’s almost like a defensive rebound. Like most teams, [the Heat] were confused. Tough shot probably by Deuce initially, but he got it up on the glass, and we had a numbers advantage because they weren’t matched up. So that situation, I would do all over again. Just go play. [We’ll] go back and see if anyone was open, but I’ll take that again and put the defense in scramble mode before calling a timeout, letting them get set and letting them talk about what we’re gonna do.”
On the final minutes against the Heat:
“I don’t think we played bad [late]. Deuce had an open look at the top. [Jordan Clarkson] had an open look in the corner. They just didn’t fall. I think [Miami] made a couple tough shots. Dru Smith made like three or four threes today. In that stretch, we didn’t play bad basketball. Sometimes, plus minuses are a little misleading. We had good shots that didn’t fall and they had some tough shots that fell.”
On installing his system with limited practice time:
“It’s hard. Really hard. You have to have trust in your team, and you have to have a pretty good feel of at what stage your team is. When I was at Golden State as an assistant, we didn’t need a lot of reps. It was a veteran team that knew what they were doing. When I was in Sacramento, initially it was a younger team and not many of those guys had been to the playoffs. They needed a few more reps. This is similar to the Golden State situation where it was a veteran team so you watch and you give them an opportunity to teach you at times but you also have to utilize your coaching staff, and that’s part of the reason why we have a big staff.”
On the many missed threes vs. Miami:
“Most of the looks from the three-point line, I’ll take any day of the week. They were good looks by a couple of our guys and we usually knock those down. They didn’t go in today.
“A couple of them were rushed and contested. But we had some in the second half that I thought were wide-open that normally go down. They just didn’t.”
On challenging a call early costing him later:
“It was a bad challenge that I did. I gotta be better. As much as I’m telling those guys to be better, I’ve got to be better.
“It was a bad challenge just from the simple fact that I couldn’t use it in the second half because I blew it in the first half. I have to be better in that area. … At the end of the day, we have to leave the officials alone.”
On the importance of point differential in the NBA Cup:
“[Steve] used to preach to our guys, ‘Nah, we’re not holding the ball. Finish the game. If they don’t wanna play defense, screw ’em.’ We’re gonna finish the game. We’re gonna keep getting better.
“In this situation, it’s natural because of the point differential. And I think at the end of games, it should be the way Steve says: just freakin’ play. The guys on the floor need reps. You want execution, not turnovers. Keep playing. That’s what competition is about. I like it. I hope others do, too.”
Mikal Bridges
On adjusting to playing without Brunson:
“Not too many people in the league can do what Jalen does so you can’t really just mimic what he does by subbing somebody else in. But I think just playing within our game. Jalen is a great iso player, and not many guys can score like him. So that’s a part of his game. Other guys got their games where it might be a little different. I think we just plug in new guys and do what you do. Play to your strengths.”
On the team’s awful three-point defense:
“Too many times we give up a lot of [threes to] guys we don’t want shooting them. So that’s why their percentage is a little bit higher. So just doing a better job with personnel and knowing who we want taking a shot more than other guys. So I think that would help the percentages.”
On being ready for top wing assignments with OG out:
“Whatever coach got, whatever coach game plans for. I’ll be ready, and they’ll be ready to guard whoever we gotta guard.”
On Landry Shamet’s role in the rotation:
“I’ve been around Landry, and I know if I was ever building a team, or if I’m coaching a team, I’ll always have Landry in my lineup or our rotation. We know what he’s capable of, how hard he works on both ends. Don’t leave him open. I’ve played with him so much, he makes a couple and he don’t see anybody after that. That ball going to go in.”
On Brunson’s toughness:
“Just mental toughness. Just going through pain — I know a lot of guys be in pain and some guys sit out longer than usual. But I think it’s just mental toughness to get through it. You ain’t gotta be 100 percent out there. He’s got that.”
On the culture of winning teams:
“I think it’s just demanding from the coaches, too. You can be more demanding on a winning team than a losing team. And be focused on what you’re trying to get towards. Usually on winning teams, you’re dialed in even more, just knowing you’re trying to go as far as you can.”
On OG Anunoby’s absence:
“OG impacts on both ends, but he’s one of our leaders — especially on the defensive end. It’s just next guy step up and be there and help each other.”
Josh Hart
On his early-game foul call leading to Brown’s lost challenge:
“I don’t know. They called a foul, so yeah. It is what it is.”
Karl-Anthony Towns
On enduring a fourth straight road loss:
“I’m going to keep shooting, keep being aggressive. Keep finding ways to impact winning and hopefully help us win games.”
On his three-point struggles:
“I thought I took some shots that were good, that felt good. It just didn’t go in. The numbers will always number out, the averages average out. I’m confident in my shot.
“I thought we took some good shots. We just didn’t make them. It’s unfortunate. I can only speak for myself.”
Miles McBride
On his dunk vs. Miami:
“I needed it. It would have been a lot better with a win though.
“I like that y’all remember [my dunks]. I’m racking ’em up. It feels good, though. I’ve gotta continue to attack the basket with force.”
Jordan Clarkson
On how to replace Anunoby’s defense:
“[OG’s absence is] big time. He’s a big part of what we do especially on that end. With him being out, we’ve all gotta lock in on that end.”
On adapting the defensive scheme with OG out:
“Last game we threw in the 2–3 [zone] and we all had to kinda figure it out on the fly. So I think you’ll be seeing new actions and different things we’re gonna try to put in while he’s out to help our defense.”
On staying locked in:
“It’s a level of focus. I’m glad to be back in this and part of this and back contending, be in the playoffs and know that we’re playing for something. That changes a player’s mindset. It’s just a bunch of focus that goes into it and I’m locked in.”
On the Knicks’ shot quality and system fit:
“I just think it’s our system. I think we generate a lot of good shots. They’re not good — they’re great shots. I don’t really have to force as much and I’m not in that position to do that on this squad. I don’t get as many grenades, whereas I used to take four or five of those with under five on the clock. But when those opportunities come I’ll try to make the best of those as well. We just have a good system and I’m trying to take advantage every time I’ve got it.”
On reaching his peak at the right time:
“That’s when you want that thing flowing, getting ready for the playoffs, knowing what you’re doing. In the playoffs you have to make adjustments, but I think we’re starting to get a good feel of our offense and our defensive concepts. I know [coach Mike Brown] has a bunch of stuff that he still wants to throw in. We’re just getting to the foundation of what we’re doing. There’s definitely a lot more basketball to play.”
Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat Coach)
On Jalen Brunson and his USA Basketball future:
“We have plenty of time for that. And I’ll defer to Grant and those guys.”
On working with Brunson during the World Cup:
“What I can say is I really enjoyed working with him. I really dislike myself — I can’t look in the mirror — because of how much I grew to like him. He texted me the other day, just checking in on me and the family. He has such a great heart. My two sons are Jalen Brunson fans, but I told them it’s not allowed in my house.”
