Of course, the Knicks broke the skid.
It was the Nets on the other end, what did you expect?
Here’s a bunch of quotes from the protagonists following a historic trouncing inflicted on New Jersey/Brooklyn.
On Wednesday’s historic win over the Nets:
“I didn’t know about the record until it was mentioned. But just seeing us play the way we’re capable of playing again, I don’t know what the score will be every night we get out on the floor. Our guys are more than capable of going out there and putting it together for 48 minutes, and that was a lot of fun.”
On the Knicks standing despite struggles:
“We know it’s not an aberration. We are sitting in either third or fourth place. We haven’t played well. We are still in a pretty good position to win a lot of games now. Obviously, we’ve had some struggles and it may not be the last time. But what it does continue to show is if we play the right way, it doesn’t matter who is in front of us. We will find ways to get a win.”
On the recent adversity and accountability:
“The reality of it is, when you go through adversity it starts with an individual looking in the mirror, starting with me. I have to see how I can help. We all do. We know we’re better on both sides of the ball, we know we’re better than our record.”
On the challenge of fitting Jordan Clarkson into rotation:
“Yeah, it could be tough to get him in the rotation. Obviously Deuce played well during his time, Mitch played well, Landry played at a pretty high level before he got hurt. So trying to find minutes for those guys as well as for our starting group is tough. I can’t even hit the minute threshold for all those guys that I’m looking for. It can be tough from time to time.”
On Mohamed Diawara’s development:
“Mo’s played well. I’ve been pleasantly surprised. He’s got great size. He’s got really good instinct for a young guy. A part of that instinct is a feel on the offensive floor of how to move the basketball which makes the game easier for everybody. He’s working really hard on the shot and his decision-making. He’s a pretty good rebounder and a pretty good defender for a young guy.”
On the truth behind the reported players-only meeting:
“We didn’t have a players-only meeting. Y’all dragging it. We didn’t have a players-only meeting. I don’t know who said it, who did all that, but we didn’t have a players-only meeting.”
On discussions being overblown:
“We talked, but it wasn’t like some big thing. So that got dragged. We didn’t have a players-only meeting. We know what we have to do. We cleared stuff up yesterday in film and practice and today in walkthroughs. We know we haven’t been playing up to our capabilities, but we’re gonna continue to play off this win.”
On the need for accountability:
“We all need to do some soul-searching. Right now we’re playing embarrassing basketball. We’re not executing on the offensive end. Defensively, we’ve been abysmal. We’ve been terrible defensively all year.”
On refocusing after the recent struggles:
“Just sticking together, talking it through, having each other’s back, worrying about the little things on the court. Not just the stats, but the stuff that doesn’t make the stat sheet. The stuff that actually makes a difference in close games that can break teams. So that’s what we’ve gotta continue to focus on.”
On building momentum following the win vs. Brooklyn:
“We just had to be focused and get back to who we are. This is a good start for us but we’ve gotta continue to press the issue.”
On the offensive pace and execution on Wednesday:
“It starts with pace. Obviously getting stops and running helps, but our pace offensively was great. We got in the paint, made plays, and just made a lot of good reads tonight. I think us focusing on the things that matter, like the little stuff that allows us to kind of play free on offense, it’s big time for us.”
On having an ever-improving mindset:
“We just had to refocus and get back to who we are. This is a good step for us but we have to continue to press the issue of getting better every single day. It was just sticking together and talking it through and having each other’s backs.”
On the importance of breaking the losing streak:
“A win—it’s the most important thing. Find a way to break the ice and put one in the left column. Good game, good day for us to show what we’re capable of. Consistency is what makes champions. We’ve got to find that consistency of bringing this kind of intensity, energy and execution every single night.”
On building off Wednesday’s performance:
“Try to get two wins in a row. Execute plays with this aggression and have this kind of determination every single night.”
On urgency following team discussions:
“I think losing four in a row better get everyone on the same page. Glad tonight that everyone looked like they saw what was going on and what we needed to stop the bleeding. Consistency is what’s going to make us great. And it’s going to make this season a successful season. We just go to build off of this.”
On adjusting to his new, reduced role:
“I read the room, I see what it is. I’m just a vet, coming here, doing my work, staying ready. When I’m playing those minutes with the young guys, I ain’t taking nothing away from them. Being a pro, talking to them, trying to get them in their spots.”
On staying professional amid the loss of minutes:
“Still play but I’m not gonna go in there and f–k the game up. I’m just gonna try to keep continuing to play the right way, help these guys grow and continue to get better. That’s all I can do.”
On staying confident in his talents:
“I can help any team in the league. I help winning. You saw it early on in the year. I know I got a lot left in my tank. I can impact winning wherever. I’ll impact winning here. Just gotta stay prepared and control what I can control.”