Speaking to Steve Aschburner of NBA.com, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau acknowledged that losing Isaiah Hartenstein leaves a hole to fill in his rotation but expressed satisfaction with the front office’s work this offseason on the whole.
“Obviously the OG signing was huge for us. And then adding Mikal was phenomenal,” Thibodeau said of re-signing OG Anunoby and trading for Mikal Bridges. “Getting Julius (Randle) back will be huge as well. We lost Hartenstein, which is what we’ll have to replace. But I think we have versatility, where we can play smaller at times because of OG’s ability to guard big. Julius and (Josh) Hart can guard big as well.”
As Thibodeau pointed out, the fact that players like Anunoby and Bridges are capable of defending a wide range of positions will give the Knicks the ability to switch frequently on defense and force opponents to settle for lower-percentage shots.
The Knicks’ head coach discussed several more topics with Aschburner, including what makes Jalen Brunson special, Randle’s return to action following his shoulder surgery, and how he envisions replacing Hartenstein’s production in the frontcourt.
The conversation is worth checking out in full for Knicks fans, but here are a few highlights:
On how adding Bridges to Anunoby on the wing will help the defense:
“What it adds to us is the versatility of both allows us to give different looks to a primary ball handler. We’ve been playing Donte (DiVincenzo) on those guys to start. Now we can come after that with Bridges, then OG, then Hart. We can constantly change up our look for who’s guarding that ball-handler. Also, OG and Hart are very disruptive off the ball, so I like to use them that way. The versatility of the defense will be a big thing for us.”
On why he’s optimistic about Randle’s outlook for 2024/25:
“I think Julius has always adapted to whatever challenge he’s faced each year. People forget the level that he’s played at. Four years ago, he had a monster season and we didn’t have the shooting we have now, so the floor is going to be more open. We got a glimpse of that in January, which was his last month of basketball.
“People forget the guy was 25 (points), 10 (rebounds), and five (assists per game). He’s had a lot of success and he’s been a big part of winning the last four years in New York. The more good players you have, the more sacrifices you have to make. Not only by Julius, by everybody.”
On what he expects the frontcourt rotation to look like without Hartenstein to back up starter Mitchell Robinson:
“We’ll probably have to do it by committee. We’ll look at some different things, because we have versatility — we could see Julius more at the five. I don’t want to do that for long stretches, it would take its toll, but to have him do it for 10 or 15 minutes, I think he can do it well. He also would create a lot of (offensive) advantages.”
Omari Spellman’s out there somewhere. Big body, ‘Nova dude.
I think he’s concerned about the Center position. Doesn’t seem sold on Mitch. And he helped Mitch get here. IMO if Knicks have a trade to upgrade at C. I think they do it. We got time, I guess.
Knicks do have versatility but a few flaws with the current roster if copying the Celtics small ball line up to the chip is the plan. In short, Brunson isn’t Jrue and White on the defensive end. Brunson will get hunted and worked over in a seven game series. As will Robinson who’s a drop coverage guy over switching and guarding smaller guys well. IH was a drop coverage guy too, pacers feasted on that. Speaking of….someone like Myles Turner be perfect for the knicks. Very unlikely though. A big that can switch defensive end and spread the floor offensive end.
Knicks are fine with Mitch. Unfortunately we need 38 mins a gm Mitch. Which ain’t happening. Knicks are deeper than Celtics. Will out rebound them and play better D. You should ask yourself how will Celtics match up to Knicks ….. opening night
Thibs seems optimistic, so I’ll be as well. We’re good. As far as going beyond good to being a true contender, like it or not (scary or not), that is all about Randle. He has to buy into Less Is More on the offensive end. If he does, then we don’t have a ceiling short of a championship. If he doesn’t, then we’ll be a tough out, but too dependent on a single offensive option to be a true contender.
I figured that Randle would play some C this year, both because of the bigger perimeter guys we now have and the overall minute demands of the perimeter group. Randle has played a lot of C in his career, and was considered a C by most of the league before Thibs got here. Obviously, he wasn’t and won’t be a rim protector, but his physical strength played well man up against most C’s, and he was a plus rebounder wherever he plays. It’s not like it’s a matchup that opposing teams are going to immediately go inside to exploit.
Randle is a big key, I agree. The Center position is a concern. I feel it and it seems Thibs does too. We will need Sims.
Absolutely. C is the only real concern. At every other spot, we’re better and deeper than we were. Sims was playing hurt (or not playing hurt) most of last season; had a good summer; we’ll see.