If healthy, this Knicks The team should have no problem scoring points. It’s the defense that will dictate how many games they win.
And on Saturday, the Knicks defense was as bad as it has been all year. Disjointed against the pick-and-roll. The stages are slow in transition. The result? Cade Cunningham and the The Pistons dominated the Knicks, 120-111, at the Garden.
New York had no answer for Cunningham (29 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds). The Pistons made 50 percent of their threes (18 for 36) and dominated the glass as the Knicks struggled without Cities of Karl-Anthony (knee) and Cam Payne (elbow).
“I think communication was the most important thing” Mikal Bridges » declared Saturday evening. “A lot of (miscommunication) during the transition…And it’s not like we don’t like each other or anything. It’s just this sense of urgency… We have to understand that when we don’t talk to each other, it’s going to hurt us.
Bridges sees a correlation between the Knicks’ execution on offense and effort on defense.
“When things aren’t going well offensively, we tend to not talk (on defense),” he said. “It’s just something we still can’t do when we’re struggling on one side of the offense. When we come back (on defense), we don’t communicate.
OG Anunoby also said the Knicks had communication issues in transition against Detroit. Bridges and Anunoby believe these errors can be corrected.
Still, the Knicks rank 18th defensively after Saturday’s loss. They are 22nd in opponent three-point shooting percentage.
Bridges was asked to evaluate New York’s defense at this point in the season. He gave an honest assessment.
“Not good, not good. I think we choose when. We’re not that good at being able to choose when we want to play defense. I don’t think a team is as good at choosing when they want to play defense,” Bridges said. “I think it starts with me too. I just need to be more vocal and lead by example as well. But it’s all of us.
Tom Thibodeau expects the Knicks to bounce back Monday when they play in Toronto.
“I want us to learn, I want us to improve. We have to react to this in the right way,” said the head coach.
Hart questions second technology
Josh Hart was whistled for a second technical with 1:10 left in the fourth quarter Saturday.
The eight-year veteran disagreed with the call. He felt that the referee was not consistent.
” I didn’t understand. I had my (first) technology to tell someone (to) participate in the game. I think I was 10 feet from the referee (and) I was entering the group (when I said). I didn’t insult or speak disrespectfully to the referee,” Hart said.
Hart demanded an explanation from the manager. The referee told him: “That’s not how we talk to each other.”
“And I said, ‘OK,’ and I stood there,” Hart said.
Late in the fourth quarter, Cunningham was speaking to a referee. He did not receive any technique. Hart wasn’t happy about it.
“We’re running away and another player comes up to a referee and he’s swearing,” Hart said. “I just didn’t understand.”
The Knicks were down by seven when Hart got his second technical.
“Josh plays on emotion, which is great,” Thibodeau said. “But there’s a fine line and we can’t have that in the fourth quarter.”
Robinson progresses
Thibodeau said Mitchell Robinson continues to progress during his rehabilitation following off-season foot surgery.
“He has done more things (on the field) but nothing so far with the team. He is making steady progress and we are going to be patient with him,” said the head coach.
Robinson hasn’t started running or sprinting yet, but he has progressed to shooting lightly on the court.
Alumni evening
The Knicks hosted more than 40 alumni – or their loved ones – for Saturday’s game. The players were presented to the Garden audience at halftime. (JR Smith received a loud ovation.)
Thibodeau enjoyed seeing former players at the Garden.
“I think the organization (the team governor) Jim Dolan obviously, made an important commitment. Leon (Pink) And (William Wesley) deserve a lot of credit for the time they put into making this happen,” Thibodeau said of the Knick team president and executive vice president.
“It’s just awesome to see all these guys and see what they mean to each other and what they mean to the city and the organization,” Thibodeau added. “….I think the backbone of every organization is all the players: former players, current players. I think it’s cool for our players to see. And for the whole league, it’s great. Just hearing them share their stories is really cool. I’m disappointed we couldn’t win for them tonight.
Share seats
Thursday, the organization Share seats welcomed 13 children to the Knicks-Hornets game.
The children – aged 12 and 13 – come from an Israeli kibbutz attacked on October 7, 2023.
They came to New York as part of Project 24
