Knicks forward OG Anunoby isn’t satisfied with his reputation as a lockdown defender. He’s more versatile than that, he told James Edwards III of The Athletic.
“I always prided myself on being a two-way player, not just a defender,” he said.
He’s backing up those words by averaging a career-best 17.4 points through 14 games this season. He’s shooting 50% from the field overall and 36.7% from deep. Fewer than half of his field goal attempts have come beyond the arc, so he’s not just a spot-up shooter.
“OG is a really good player,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He can shoot the ball, he can move without the ball and he’s good in transition. If you put a small guy on him, he can take him inside. He reads the game well. The awareness of where he is because of the shooting, but when he sees the back of his man’s head, he cuts and relocates extremely well. The constant movement by him is extremely good for us.”
We have more on the Knicks:
- Mikal Bridges has begun to show why the Knicks were willing to give up a package of players and five future first-round picks to the Nets to acquire him. Bridges has scored 20 or more points in three of last four games. His contributions go far beyond that, Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post points out. He blocked a potential game-tying shot by Brooklyn’s Dennis Schröder on Friday, then showed his stamina by playing 45 minutes in the rematch on Sunday and 35 more against Washington on Monday.
- Given their financial constraints, it’s unlikely the Knicks will make a significant trade this season, Edwards opines in a mailbag for The Athletic. Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiuwa seem to be the most likely trade candidates but both are injured right now and they’re probably the two best interior defenders on the roster, Edwards notes. A trade is more likely if they don’t start distancing themselves from most of the other teams in the East.
- In the same story, Edwards reports that rookie two-way player Kevin McCullar is still rehabbing the knee injury he sustained at Kansas prior to the draft and will likely be out several months. McCullar, a 6’5” wing, was a late second-round selection and the Knicks took him with the knowledge that he probably wouldn’t contribute this season.
Positional Size ……. how Thibs love to say that.
OG is a serious 2Way player. With Bridges Knicks have two of best 2Way players. “2WayBridges”
OG is definitely a 2way player. The only offensive issue with him was, and is, ball handling (shot creation and/or facilitation). It’s a bigger issue when he’s playing the 3 vs the 4. OG, ideally, is a 3/4, and that’s how he played last season and prior to it (NYK and TOR). This year he’s been exclusively a 4. I’m hoping that’s temporary. I think that multi-position players should be used at multiple positions, or why pay the premium for them? And, the premium here is huge (OG is paid north of 40 mm per year).
A similar issue exists with Bridges, one position up. Bridges has spend most of his career as a 3 (not a 2). This year he’s been exclusively a 3. He’s a fine ball handler for a 3, but he’s never been seen as having guard like ball handling skills. BKN used him at the 2, and did ask him to shot create (with uneven success), but even they didn’t give him much of a facilitation role.
If OG is at the 3, then Bridges is at the 2. That’s an amazing set of wings, with incredible size. But is there enough ball handling? Maybe Brunson wouldn’t play as much off the ball in that lineup, presumably, but, still, one or both of the wings have to help some. Something that’s bound to surface at some point.
To me Bridges is too accommodating. Needs to be more selfish. IMO he’s got serious game both ways . Love him as Player.
Probably, but understandably. He went from option 1 in BKN to option 3 here (and maybe sharing that with OG). Brunson and Hart are prioritizing getting KAT the ball right now. Not their buddy. But Bridges knows his time will come, if only because they know what they have.
My question is whether he can handle it enough that we can run the offense through him like we do Hart. There are more shots for the starters that stay in with the 2nd unit (which lacks scorers beyond McBride), but he can’t stay in the corner and get a lot of them.
I think when Precious comes back, let alone Robinson, you’ll see KAT handling the ball a bit more to open up the perimeter for the backcourt and wings. Hart coming off the bench will have more room to focus on empowering the team on both ends, whereas right now a lot of his attention is focused on defense, similar to what we saw with him last season, and McBride and eventually Kolek will get their share of play-running opportunities as well.
IMO, Bridges’ problem isn’t that he isn’t holding the ball enough, but that he should be more decisive. Get the ball and attack. He’s a good enough cutter and driver to force defenses to collapse on him, and right now teams are expecting him to try and shoot as an off-ball spacer, when the Knicks just need offense from the perimeter in any way they can get it. He’s then a good enough finisher to complete the shot through contact or he can find the open guy and hit them in stride. He’s just more passive than he needs to be at the moment. Let Brunson and KAT set up against single coverage; you don’t have that luxury.
In essence, he should be more like the Suns version of himself than the Brooklyn version on offense. You don’t need to carry the burden alone anymore by finding your way past the defender. Get yourself in good spots and let Brunson and Hart find you, then make the decision of which way to attack.
The finished product is team ball. And anyone can go for 25. I see Towns as top scorer, Brunson, Bridges. To me Jalen should be getting the ball to others. Cause as the PG he will always have a chance as top scorer. Like Thibs always says. The game will dictate where you go with ball. Our top scorers should know they have a green light. But the game tells you where to look for players. And have to attack the game as a group. IMO Bridges will eventually bust out. Just like KAT is doing now. Bridges has to be more selfish.
Debating positions is kinda pointless, but I’d argue that in the starting lineup, Hart is the 4 based on play style: by far the best rebounder of the three, often defends bigger guys while Bridges takes the lead ball-handler and Anunoby takes the best scorer.
It doesn’t change the point. Hart, whatever his position designation, is still (currently) the second ballhandler, and if he’s not in the starting lineup, then someone else has to be that. If he’s replaced in the lineup by Achiuwa or Mitch, then it would have to fall to Bridges or OG.
Pointless ……. lol
Do you know how long Knicks have been looking for a PG !!!!!!
Do you not know they are the worst interior D. No rim protection. Hart is not a 4, PF. he is 6’4” and fearless.
Position-less basketball is a fantasy. It’s the offensive scheme that is working. 3s, 4s, even 5s are more skilled today. Towns is a great offensive player, is rebounding great. But can’t control the paint yet. He’s still trying after playing with Rudy. Hart can’t help him there. Precious can. Team ball is about chemistry and fit. And what works on O doesn’t necessarily work on D. So position always works when you use it right.
It’s going to be interesting when MR and PA return. Two bigs to help what has been the weak spot.
Yes. Issue should be somewhat joined by the end of the current road trip.
I like McCullar for some reason
He was underdrafted because he was unlikely to play this year. He’d have been more of a borderline 1st/2nd if he were healthy.
McCullar is suppose to be another Hart type. And he’s bigger at 6’6”. Waiting on him.
Knicks had a solid draft considering low picks.
Been saying it all year …… Precious starting helps team D, rim protection, rebounding, and KAT (banging). He also helps Bridges get more shots. Since plays inside a lot. And he can hit open looks. Hart can still avg more mins. Precious starting imo is best for team. Especially until Mitch comes back. Him being out is what’s hurting us most now.
The bench scoring and depth. Has to work its way forward. McBride, Hart, Payne, Sims, Hukporti, Kolek, Shamet when he comes back. Are capable.
Sims and Toppin really need to step it up though
I honestly don’t watch but is Sims doing anything?
Yeah I watched McCullur in college this past year and he is decent. He worked hard for his skills