THE Knicks performed arguably their most full sport Friday night time towards the Milwaukee Bucks and OG Anunoby‘s protection was a significant cause for this.
Within the 116-94 overwhelmedAnunoby didn’t enable the Bucks’ greatest participant Giannis Antetokounmpo going offensively to assist your crew obtain victory. The 2-time MVP scored 24 factors on 11-of-21 taking pictures (52.4 p.c), each down from his 31 factors per sport and 61.7 p.c taking pictures common earlier than Friday’s sport.
“He’s an amazing participant, so make him as tough as attainable,” Anunoby mentioned of his technique for Giannis. “You already know he’s going to attain, simply attempt to restrict the scoring and in addition preserve him from being as snug as he often is.”
Head coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned it was Anunoby’s distinctive mixture of energy, pace and anticipation that made him an amazing defender and that it was one thing his teammates appreciated.
This was no extra evident than within the Knicks locker room after Friday’s sport.
“He was good. That is all you possibly can ask for,»Josh Hart mentioned. “[Giannis is] He’s a giant participant, so with the ability to be bodily, making pictures tough for him, that’s massive.
“The best way he’s in a position to do that appears so easy and easy,” Jalen Brunson mentioned of Anunoby. “It’s the pure expertise he has. The best way he is capable of preserve the ball, the best way he performs with the ball in sure conditions, it is a phenomenal piece that we have now. He is been nice since he is been right here.
Anunoby says if he can change one factor, it is to restrict the errors he is made. Some early foul bother allowed Giannis to get right into a rhythm a bit within the third quarter, however as soon as Anunoby returned he was cleaner and the Knicks pulled away.
Cities of Karl-Anthonythe brand new addition to this Knicks crew, has confronted Anunoby earlier than however is beginning to see how nice his new teammate is defensively now that he is taking part in alongside him.
“He’s particular. He’s so particular, what he brings to the protection,” Cities mentioned. “I’ve been within the league for a decade now. I do not know many individuals who play like OG in my lifetime. Top-of-the-line defenders I’ve seen and performed with Rudy Gobert. He’s particular. I can not say it sufficient.
Excessive reward contemplating Gobert is a four-time Defensive Participant of the 12 months. However the Knicks’ middle offense additionally helped the defensive finish. He scored a game-high 32 factors and dominated the sport early on on the offensive finish to present New York a lead.
With that lead, Anunoby and the remainder of the crew’s protection went to work. Holding the Bucks to 43 p.c taking pictures and forcing 12 turnovers.
Mikal Bridges, the Knicks’ different newcomer, did his half defensively because the Bucks’ main No. 2 defender, Damien Lillard. The guard scored 19 factors on 6-of-15 taking pictures Friday and that mixture of defenders is a trademark of Thibodeau’s Knicks groups,
“You’ll be able to’t measure each little factor in each possession you personal. [Anunoby] do. Identical with Mikal,” Thibodeau mentioned. “He takes on the primary ball handler all through the sport and he retains going. That claims lots about him.
“If we do this and everybody commits to taking part in protection, we could be good.” We’re shorthanded, so we have now to play arduous and rebound the ball. If we do that as a crew, good issues will come out of it.
The victory allowed the Knicks to finish their two-game dropping streak and even their document at 4-4. They are going to journey to Indiana on Sunday to face their rival Pacers.
