Knicks 'nowhere near' where they want to be after preseason opener, says Tom Thibodeau

Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News on Oct 8, 2024

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NEW YORK — Though the Knicks’ starters showed promise in their 15 minutes of play during Sunday’s preseason opener against the Charlotte Hornets, head coach Tom Thibodeau made it clear that the team has much to improve upon if they want to fully tap into their potential.

“You’re striving to be a 48-minute team, and so we’re nowhere near that,” Thibodeau said after practice at the team’s Tarrytown training facility Tuesday afternoon. “But that’s to be expected this time of the year. And so I’ll look at [the film]. Be honest with yourself. Here are the things that we did well. Here are the things that we need to improve upon. And let’s just keep getting better each and every day.”

Thibodeau highlighted areas for improvement ahead of Wednesday’s matchup against the Wizards, the second of five tune-up games before their regular-season opener against Boston on Oct. 22. He pointed to the Knicks’ lax defense, which allowed the Hornets to hit 8 of 11 3-pointers in the first quarter and build an early 26-14 lead.

“Obviously there’s a lot defensively that we have to shore up,” the coach said.

While Jalen Brunson led the way with 12 points on efficient shooting, the rest of the starters struggled to find their rhythm. Their collective shooting woes, just 10 of 28 from the field, underscored the need for better offensive cohesion.

The bench, however, provided an early spark.

“Offensively — the offense is timing and spacing. So the more we go through it together, the better it’ll become,” Thibodeau said. “But just put forth the right effort. Have urgency. We’re not going to be perfect. If we make a mistake, hustle, that makes up for a lot. So I think just build the right habits.”

The preseason opener underscored a key point from Knicks training camp in South Carolina: New York’s second unit might be stronger than the national narrative suggests.

As the starters worked through early kinks, it was the bench that picked up the slack. Shooting an impressive 7 of 10 from the field, the reserves brought energy and efficiency, racking up 17 points to quickly erase the Hornets’ early lead. Led by Miles McBride’s 12 first-half points and Precious Achiuwa’s seven, the second unit erased a 12-point deficit, helping the Knicks enter halftime tied at 61 and proving their depth.

McBride finished with 22 points, Landry Shamet added 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting from 3-point range, and Achiuwa played 33 minutes, finishing with 15 points and five rebounds.

“I really like our second group a lot,” Thibodeau said after practice on Tuesday. “I think we can play real fast, and we can shoot the ball. We can break it down off the dribble. We have multiple pick-and-roll players going at the same time. So I think that puts enormous pressure on the defense.”

Despite tying the game at halftime and securing a narrow two-point victory thanks to their depth, both Thibodeau and Brunson recognize that significant improvements are needed. With the regular-season opener looming against the defending champion Celtics, the Knicks are well aware of the work that lies ahead.

“You focus really on your team — but the games are a good measure of exactly where you are,” Thibodeau said. “And then, get to work. Because obviously, there’s a lot of work to be done.”

“It’s always ways for us to get better,” added Brunson. “It’s the first day, so obviously pace and everything can get better. We don’t look at that game and say we have nothing to get better at. It’s just how can we fine tune.”

Who’s the best shooter?

Though Karl-Anthony Towns boasts the best shooting percentage on the Knicks’ roster, OG Anunoby refused to crown Towns as the team’s best shooter.

“I don’t know if he’s the best shooter on the team,” Anunoby said with laugh after Tuesday’s practice. “He’s a really good shooter, I don’t know if he’s the best.”

Anunoby shot 39.4% from deep after he arrived in New York in the trade with the Raptors. His take on the team’s best perimeter shooter was predictable.

“I think I’m the best,” he said. “I’m sure Jalen thinks he’s the best. Josh [Hart] probably thinks he’s the best.”

Which means it’s time for an good old fashioned game of “500” for a Knicks roster with eight players — Brunson, Towns, Mikal Bridges, Anunoby, Shamet, Cam Payne, McBride and Hart — who have shot 39% or better from 3-point range at least once in their careers. Towns shot 40% or better from deep in five of his last seven seasons but connected just once on five attempts on Sunday.

Asked about a potential 3-point contest on the roster, Anunoby said: “Nah, there’s no beef.”