The Knicks have one of the NBA’s best on-ball defenders (Mikal Bridges) and two of its best off-ball defenders (OG Anunoby and Josh Hart).
What happens when you put all three in the same lineup?
“That could add a whole different 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 switch-ability confounded the Wizards, as this video from @IQfor3 shows.
The Knicks had 16 steals overall and turned Washington over 30 times.
Obviously, it’s 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 of those factors, the defense from Bridges, Hart, and Anunoby was noteworthy.
“I think we’re just learning each other some more,” Bridges said after the game. “Defensively, I think we can be really good. Just need time and being around each other more, and having practices and playing these preseason games is gonna help a lot.”
Bridges has already gotten a feel for playing off of Anunoby.
“I learned a lot from OG defensively in the past month, and I told him that. Obviously, it’s all five guys locked in together (on defense), but I just know if I mess up or something, everyone else has got my back, especially OG,” Bridges said Wednesday. “If I mess up, he’ll come from anywhere, and I’ll just read and react off 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 wager.
TALK OF THE TOWNS
Karl-Anthony Towns rebounded from some early shooting woes to finish with 25 points in his Garden preseason debut.
New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives to the basket against Washington Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas (17)…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/knicks-notes-defense-meshing-mikal-122934776.html
Author : SNY
Publish date : 2024-10-10 12:29:34
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