Just when you thought the Nets might go on to upset the Knicks, Brooklyn paid homage to its history in the League and flopped, losing 113-105 to New York in both teams’ season finale.
Everybody was happy with the results, as all folks in attendance, including our own Russell Richardson, had a nice and short trip back home.
Here’s what Coach Thibs and a few Knickerbockers had to say before and after yesterday’s affair.
On Landy Shamet’s performance on Sunday and his value:
“The way he finished the season was terrific. He just makes really good basketball plays. He knows how to space the floor, how to move without the ball, he’s good in transition, knows how to play off people. He doesn’t force things. When he’s open he shoots, and when he’s guarded he makes the right play. I think that goes a long way. He has the ability to think on his feet and he’s a great competitor.”
On resting players in the regular-season finale:
“It was really medical, the recommendation that they had. Then we thought that that was the best thing for our team. We’re always going to put that first.”
On evaluating the young players:
“The starters were out, good opportunity to give the bench guys extended minutes and to get a look at [the young guys]. I thought McCullar was fantastic in the second half. He was huge.”
On the bench unit’s contributions:
“I feel like we [the second unit] are playing really good basketball. I feel like we’ve given a good spark off the bench, guys like Cam, Landry, myself do whatever we can. And then obviously we have bigs: Precious, Mitch.
“So whoever’s night it is coming off the bench, we’re gonna continue to play positive and play the right way.”
On Shamet’s performance against Brooklyn and his preparation:
“It’s what he does.”
On Tom Thibodeau’s strategy against Brooklyn, removing him after six seconds of play following an intentional foul:
“I guess [Thibs] was okay with us being aggressive, pressuring the ball.”
On giving his minutes to young teammates in the season finale:
“I could play a quarter, play a half. But that would take away from young guys—Pac [Pacome Dadiet] and Kev [Kevin McCullar Jr]. For their minutes to come up there, Landry [Shamet] coming out there, playing more.
“So it’s more just taking minutes away from them versus—I took a lot of minutes all 81 [games] prior, so just give them guys a chance, give them a chance to play and play the right way.”
On playing every game and what drives him:
“Just trying to be available. Just for my team – trying to win as many games as possible and be out there for my team. And I think we have a better chance [if I’m on the floor]. So just be out there as much as possible.”
On how he maintains durability:
“I think it’s just a lot of everything. The lifts and the treatment and stuff like that. Put in a lot. Just try to stick to what works.”
On returning to Barclays Center after his trade to the Knicks:
“I always love playing here, my teammates here, a lot of guys still here, the coaching staff before I got traded. I was with them in the summer before I got out of there, and they’re great people, too.
“The staff, the workers, it’s a great energy when I walk into here.”
On trying to match Chris Paul’s complete 82 starts year in his 20th NBA season:
“I don’t know. That’s why CP is one of the greatest. But I don’t think I’ll make it that long.”
Stan Van Gundy (Former NBA Coach)
On Knicks fans and their support:
“Well, they’re passionate … love affair? I don’t know. Love affair when they’re playing well, and hate affair when they’re not playing well. The Knicks fans and the Philly fans, they are … they’re front-running fans. They’re in love with their team when things are going well, but they’ll boo their team off the floor when they’re not playing well. That’s not a crowd that’s focused on lifting you up.”
On how the Knicks will treat the series against Detroit:
“I know this: Tom [Thibodeau] and his coaching staff aren’t gonna overlook anybody. Tom never has. I think they’ll have great respect for Detroit and what they’ve done, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. And I think the Knicks have veteran guys who have been through battles, and they’re mature. They understand that you respect everybody. There’s no way you could look at that Detroit team — how well they’ve played, how hard they play, how hard they compete — and think anything’s gonna be easy. There’s just no chance of that.”