Can the Knicks reach another level the more OG Anunoby plays?
Julius Randle of the New York Knicks celebrates a basket in the second half against the Denver Nuggets with teammates Precious Achiuwa , OG Anunoby and Josh Hart at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
On a night when two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and defending champion Denver were at Madison Square Garden, when debate raged about whether Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle were snubbed in the All-Star Game voting, OG Anunoby was arguably the best player on the floor as the Knicks dominated the Nuggets.
But after the game was over, while wiping blood from his lip — the residue of an elbow Tuesday against the Nets and a pass from teammate Donte DiVincenzo on Thursday — Anunoby spoke about still living out of a suitcase in a hotel room and finding his way in New York on and off the court. Which raises an interesting question: Can this Knicks team that is 11-2 and the NBA’s best defensive team since Anunoby's arrival reach another level?
“I think so,” he said. “I think we’re getting better and better every day, every practice, every stretch we have to pull practices together. The longer we’re together, the more we’ll get used to each other and figure out tendencies and just figure out how we’re going to play.”
The funny part of that is that since he arrived in New York on New Year’s Eve, there have been rare opportunities for practice. Anunoby, along with Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn, who joined him in the trade the Knicks made with Toronto, gather ahead of morning shootarounds or the rare practice sessions with coach Tom Thibodeau and work through lessons to acclimate themselves to the Knicks' system.
Anunoby had 26 points — a high since his arrival and evidence of a point Thibodeau made two nights earlier when he insisted the scoring would come — and six steals against the Nuggets. He was a plus-38 on the night and is a mind-boggling plus-239 in 437 minutes since joining the Knicks.
Those numbers almost certainly are not sustainable, but still, the difference on the team is easily seen even without statistics. His fit has been perfect, a missing puzzle piece that has covered up weaknesses on the defensive end and created better spacing on offense.
When the All-Star balloting was revealed Thursday night, Anunoby had zero votes from NBA players and zero from media members and was ranked 15th among Eastern Conference frontcourt players in fan voting. But his new teammates certainly appreciate what he’s done.
“He makes life a lot easier,” Brunson said. “He can switch one through five. It looks effortless when he plays out there defensively. So what he’s been able to do has been special. I think we’re a decent defensive team. I think we have a long ways away to be the best. As long as we’re chipping away and not being complacent, that’s a good place to be.”
Some of that long way will shorten with time and the opportunity to practice and learn. Some will come when Isaiah Hartenstein returns to the lineup after sitting with an Achilles injury or Mitchell Robinson returns to the lineup, which still is a remote possibility.
With five straight wins, the Knicks (28-17) are in a virtual tie with the Cavaliers for fourth place in the Eastern Conference, and it makes you wonder if their high point has not yet come.
“Did I know this would happen?” Anunoby said. “When I came, I wasn’t even thinking about it. I was just trying to get acclimated. But happy it is happening. Whenever we get guys back, Isaiah, Mitch, it’ll be even better. They’re great players. They’ll help out even more. Because just playing them in the past, knowing they're monsters back there, both of them. So it’ll be really good.”
As Thursday's 122-84 win over the Nuggets was ending, it seemed as close to a celebration as the Garden has witnessed in decades. Randle’s young son Kyden took a seat on the bench, slapping hands with Anunoby. Not quite the championship parade speech of Denver’s Mike Malone, but Thibodeau smiled and laughed after the game. Teammates were joking about Brunson’s barely-over-the-rim dunk and mocking his All-Star starting lineup snub.
Even if Thibodeau’s smile seemed out of character, his mantras have taken hold. His team knows that even a win like this one is not the goal.
“It’s great,” Randle said. “It’s more about us building the correct habits. Don’t want to get too high or too low, so keep improving . . . I ain’t gonna lie to you, bro, it’s regular season. I could care less. I just like the fact that we won, first and foremost. We don’t want to be on that end. We’re building the right habits. But for me, it only matters in April.”
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
