Day off for New York Knicks Tuesday after a glorious victory at Golden State where they beat the Warriors on Monday, making it four wins in a row, including three on the road.
The Knicks (41-27) will have to take it to the next level tomorrow as they visit the defending champions in Denver for a game against the Nuggets (48-21) before returning home for a Saturday matinee against the Nets.
Here’s what we’ve heard from some of our beloved Knickerbockers and a few GSW haters over the past few hours.
Isaiah Hartenstein
Increase your playing time every night to try to overcome your Achilles problems…
“I think what Thibs and the medical staff are doing: they just don’t want to rush in and bring me back to my minutes too soon.”
“I feel good. I sat down with Thibs, and his biggest thing is he just wants me to be healthy. He doesn’t want me to be put in a situation where I come home early and that ignites. I feel really good right now.
“I am also grateful that the medical staff and Thibs are looking out for me in this situation.”
Josh Hart
On his up and down shots throughout the season and how he made the most of them…
“I’m not making any shots, so I have to do something else. But I think the benefit of being kind of in a bad situation shooting wise, teams are playing against me and I’m able to figure out what I want to do with the ball. I’m able to get in the lane, make guys shoot and make plays like that. So even if I don’t make shots, I feel like I’m still capable of being effective.
Jalen Brunson
On playing under coach Steve Kerr while with Team USA last summer at the World Cup…
“The experience was great, especially under Steve’s leadership [Kerr], understand his philosophy and get to know him. We have built a great relationship. I need to understand how his mind works.
Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors head coach)
On Tom Thibodeau’s decision to start Miles McBride in place of Precious Achiuwa against the Warriors…
“I thought Tom took a big step by starting [Miles] McBride with OG [Anunoby] out. Putting McBride in there spaced the floor and obviously he started and they really spread us out early.
On McBride’s 29-point outburst Monday…
“You probably don’t expect Miles McBride to go 9 for 13 and have 29 [points], but it’s a hell of a play. He’s an NBA player for a reason and so he had a night and I thought they split us up early with that starting lineup. And with the pick and roll, McBride got free a few times and that got him going. So there are evenings where you can try to do everything right, but the guys are just free. That said, I thought we had a lot of breakdowns.
Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors player)
On Jalen Brunson’s breakthrough in the league after being a second-round pick…
“I know how it feels.”
On Brunson’s All-Star, possible All-NBA caliber season…
“He’s playing at an All-NBA level. It’s good to see him getting what he’s owed. I faced Jalen Brunson, we did, in the playoffs a few years ago with Dallas. He was a totally different player. And by the way, he was really good back then, so I’m not going to act like he was a bum then. He was really good back then, so much so that in that playoff series he was my opponent. …So he’s been good, but I’m not sure any of us thought he’d be like this. It was fun to watch. JB is one of those guys you root for because he’s humble.
On what Brunson brings to the table on offense and how to defend him…
“It’s difficult to defend him. He’s so crafty, man. Jalen Brunson is a three-level scorer. He can finish at the rim, he can finish at mid-range, he has a floater, he has a three, he has a pull-up. He can score at all levels.
“For me personally, I’d rather keep him one-on-one than keep him in the pick-and-roll – the thing is, with most guys, when you blitz them, they get sped up. It never speeds up. He plays at his own pace, so even if you’re blitzing, he’ll wait for the field to open up and he’ll take action. And what’s interesting is that it works every night.
On Josh Hart’s impressive season and his time with the Knicks…
“Josh Hart is playing crazy. And when I say it’s crazy, I don’t mean that in a disrespectful way. I don’t mean to say he can’t do it. But I think Josh Hart has had four triple-doubles in the last two or three weeks. He plays incredible basketball. When you look at this trade, [Portland] I offered it for a packet of peanuts, and it was a great addition.
On the rest of the New York Knicks and the franchise’s prospects for the playoffs…
“These boys look good!” I have to take my hat off to them, despite all the injuries they’ve had, they’re playing at a very, very high level. And it starts with the head of the snake Jalen Brunson, then Josh Hart, Donte and Miles McBride going at us. But these three guys in particular, they do it night after night. I hate to be on the bad side, but Jalen Brunson, in particular, is an extremely tough goalie and he gave us hell. [Monday night].”
