The Knicks made TD look like Madison Square for a quarter, then got mollywopped and sent packing to the one and only Garden.
New York keeps losing road games they should win against subpar teams. Alas. The Knicks are back at MSG tonight with a get-right chance against the ludicrous Hornets.
Here’s what you need to know that came out of the protagonists’ mouths.
On complaints to officials hurting the Knicks:
“At the end of the game, we had 17 free throws, and they had 14. We went to the free-throw line more than they did. One of the things we pride ourselves on is to try and be a ‘no excuse’ team. I thought tonight we were all on the officials a little too much. That was big.”
On the horrible second and third quarters vs. Boston:
“I thought the second and third quarter, we didn’t play up to the level we’re capable of, which is going to happen. Their bench had a really good impact on the game.”
On player attitude toward officials:
“We got caught up in the officials a little too much. They’re human, they’ll make some good calls and some bad calls in the course of the game. But we had 17 free throws and they had 14. One of the things we pride ourselves on is being a no-excuse team. Tonight we were on the officials a little too much.”
On the offensive execution against Boston:
“A post-up is a paint touch, and a drive is a paint touch. If anyone draws two … they got to spray it. I thought through the first quarter we did a good job of spraying the basketball. I think we had seven sprays in one quarter, which we lead the league in. … We didn’t do a great job in that second quarter of touching the paint and spraying it, and Towns was one of the few guys that didn’t do that.”
On Jalen Brunson’s shot selection on Tuesday:
“I thought he got the normal looks that he normally takes. So he’s got to keep shooting them, he’s got to keep getting to his spots. I thought he took good 3s, too. They just didn’t go in. And that happens sometimes. So a guy like him, he’s got to keep letting it fly if he’s open.”
On Mikal Bridges’ effort vs. Boston:
“He was feeling it and he was aggressive and I thought our guys did a good job trying to find him, and he hit some big shots for us. He was one of the guys trying to will us back into the game offensively.”
On the defensive breakdowns against the Celtics:
“We just couldn’t get it done defensively. We didn’t play at the level we’re capable of. We know we can play better. That’s going to happen from time to time.”
On managing player minutes:
“If we had our whole roster, it would be less. This is why we try to manage our minutes from jump street, because we’re gonna have injuries. We’re gonna have tough, tight, overtime ballgames. So guys are gonna have to play extended minutes from time to time. But you hope, more so than not, when you have everybody, you can have the minutes for everybody in the low 30s. At the end of the day, it’s gonna all balance out. Eventually, we’re gonna get guys back and it will start balancing out a little bit better.”
On minutes management philosophy:
“It’s important to win, but you also have to understand, ‘Hey, I want to keep this guy’s minutes here, this guy’s minutes here, this guy’s minutes here, instead of trying to extend everybody’s minutes.’ Because if the season is long, we don’t want anybody worn out by the end.”
On his awful performance in the Celtics loss:
“I didn’t do my team any service. It’s unfortunate. Throughout the game, I just didn’t help at all.”
On the need for team accountability and attention to detail:
“[We’re] holding each other more accountable, paying attention to detail a little bit more. I think we can still get better at that. I think the little things matter more than you think, and if we keep believing that and keep doing that, we’ll keep winning games. But playing in this league — there’s obviously so much talent in this league — the little things can make or break wins and losses. So we’ve gotta continue to do all the little stuff and keep piggybacking and going off those wins.”
On Jalen Brunson’s struggles against Boston:
“Things like that happen. It’s 82 games in the season and he’s one of the best players in the NBA. So things happen. He didn’t lose his mojo. We know who he is, what he does. So he’s going to be all right. I expect him to bounce back like he’s been doing all season.”
On the current starting lineup:
“It’s just a different lineup. Mitch in the starting lineup, Josh Hart in the starting lineup, we feel comfortable going out there every night that we have a chance to win. And it’s because of the work we put in in practice and on our games individually in our free time. Josh has done a great job of playing recently, and he’s been fantastic all year, but any one of us could be in the starting lineup and feel like we can contribute and impact winning. So that just speaks to our locker room.”
On the Game 1 comeback against Boston last playoffs:
“That was not our strategy. We did not big-brain that. I know Thibs is a madman with an amazing IQ. That was not one of the ideas. I think that Game 1 showed all the improvements that we made not only as players, as physical talents, but you know, mentally. Last year we were such a mentally tough team that nothing bothered us or wavered us. And the 20-point deficit against the champs and being in their home, that didn’t matter to us. We keep fighting to the horn goes off.”
On the Game 2 win in last year’s series:
“We just kept fighting to the horn went off and found ourselves with the win and Mikal getting an amazing steal. So didn’t expect deja vu, but it was. And it showed that if you doubted us Game 1 we showed what we can do with the same situation. Obviously not favorable for us. Not something we wanted to be in. But it just shows the mental fortitude of our team.”
On his desire to stay with the Knicks by signing a long-term deal in New York:
“Hell yeah, hell yeah. I want to stay here. Obviously get a chance to be home, see my family. It means more than the money, you know. So just to be able to be here with the fans, be with the family. It means a lot. I would like it to continue.”
On his relationship with the front office:
“Me, Leon Rose and Gerson Rosas and everyone, we’re great. I’ll go have lunch with them right now. We’re good.”
On playing center vs. power forward:
“It’s just a different place I’m in in our system. Totally different system. So when I’m 5 or I’m 4, it’s a totally different script for me in the game. Trying to impact winning as much as possible and I’m happy I’m able to do that so far this year.”
On the defensive breakdowns vs. Boston:
“We weren’t guarding the ball well, but, also, secondary help. Obviously, we have to guard the ball well. But there was no help the helper. We can’t do that to a really good team. It felt like we were leaving guys on an island, and guys can get blown by — there was no stepping over and making them kick it out.”
On the minutes load under Mike Brown:
“Not complaining at all.”
On adapting to a new coach and system:
“Just understanding and adapting through a new system, a new coach, and for the guys not listening to noise. I know fans and stuff — I’m not saying all because I know a lot understand what a new system and a new coach does for players — how difficult it can be trying to learn, especially off past success. It’s different. It’s going to take some time. I think we’re learning and not paying attention to what others think and knowing that being here every single day all we’ve got to do is learn. It’s going to take growth.”
On the Celtics being dangerous despite missing players:
“Man, they still got the coach, coach Joe Mazzulla, and I think he’s a hell of a coach. They’ve got guys that are going to play hard, smart, a lot of talent. I know they’ve got guys banged up or not here, but they’ve got next man up and they come out playing hard, physical, and doing whatever it takes to win.”
On the team priorities going forward:
“We have to make sure we’re locked in on making sure the success of the team is the No. 1 objective.”
On letting Tuesday’s game slip away:
“We got off to a good start, and we relaxed.”
On th need to avoid complacency with big leads:
“We can’t get bored with what’s working, what’s winning basketball. I felt like we got bored doing that. And then we started doing whatever, playing bad offense, giving up anything defensively. So we’ve got to make sure we’re locked in on making sure the success of the team is the No. 1 objective. I mean, it’s human nature sometimes when you get those big leads. Now you’re up 15, up 20 sometimes, let me figure out a way to score, how to get mine. Not in a bad way. That’s human nature. We’ve got to try to combat that. We’ve got to make sure even when we get up 15, we get up 20, we’re continuing to push the pace, continuing to play fast, continuing to play our basketball. I think it’s frankly just kind of stupidity to play one style of basketball, get a 15, 20-point lead, and then abandon what got you the lead. We’ve got to make sure we continue to focus on that and build off of it.”
On playing starter minutes again:
“Sometimes, obviously when you’re starting, it’s a little bit different, because your body is already moving, you’re already warm, those kinds of things. When you come off the bench, you gotta get your body warm again. … It’s a lot of getting warm, cooling down, trying to stay warm, those kinds of things. Starting and playing, you obviously don’t gotta worry about getting cold or stiff.”
On the Knicks’ improving chemistry:
“We’re extremely comfortable. I think we’re starting to make reads and starting to play off each other’s movements and those kinds of things and knowing where guys are going to be and knowing certain spots. So we’re getting more and more comfortable.”
On his recent hot shooting stretch:
“I expect to make shots. My teammates did a great job of find me. I just wanted to shoot it with confidence.”
On hearing the crowd shouting his name:
“Usually after it goes in the net… that’s when I start listening a little bit. But whoever started [the chant], shout out to them.”
On shooting routine changes helping improve his numbers:
“Honestly? [I haven’t done] anything different than I’ve done my whole life.”
On adjusting to Hart’s hot start:
“I thought Josh Hart got off to a great start in that game. When something like that happens, it forces you to have to decide what you’re going to do from an adjustment standpoint.”
On Bridges’ trash talk:
“I don’t mind that stuff. I like it. It’s part of the game. Keeps me going and I thought the guys handled it well.”
On beating the Knicks:
“It’s a great win for us. That was a great win. I’ll take every one we can get. Obviously, a team that knocked you out in the playoffs, it’s even sweeter to come back. But it’s just one game. We’ve just got to focus on the next one now and that’s what’s most important.”