New York returns to the scene of the crime and the Knicks are only requesting some fair officiating.
The Knicks destroyed the Pistons on Friday, remained in town to enjoy a good old college football Saturday, and went back to practice on Sunday ahead of Monday’s flight to Houston where they’ll fight the Rockets.
I don’t think I need to remind you of what happened between New York and the Nasa Boyz last year, but you can always check the report.
For now, here’s what Coach Thibs, Jalen Brunson, and Josh Hart said on Sunday about today’s game.
Tom Thibodeau
On Precious Achiuwa’s recovery progress:
“He’s doing a little bit more each day but hasn’t been cleared for regular practice yet. But he’s doing better.”
On Jericho Sims’ contributions even if he doesn’t score at all:
“Every player has certain strengths, so whatever that is, understand what it is and bring that to the team.”
On Cam Payne’s injury status:
“[Payne’s] just a little nicked up. We’ll see where he is [Monday].”
On the refs trying to call the game properly while allowing some physicality:
“Overall from our own games and from observing other games, I think there is a good balance right now to the physicality of the game.
“I think they’ve taken a lot of trickery out of it where guys are exaggerating contact and all that stuff. But if a guy gets fouled, legitimately gets fouled—the easy part for me is if a guy is going to the basket and he’s attacking the basket in an aggressive move and there’s contact—that’s a foul. Right?
“You can’t allow someone to gain an advantage, but if a guy is fading away from the basket and exaggerating contact, the way it was before, you were never given free throws for that. You have to attack the basket to get free throws.”
On Jalen Brunson not getting the respect he deserves:
“I always think [Jalen Brunson] can be officiated better.”
On whether or not Brunson tends to exaggerate contact:
“No, because I watch the plays. To me, if you study the footwork and the body position, you would see exactly what happens…
“The thing that he has the ability to do, probably as well as anyone in the league, is put players at a disadvantage. Now it’s on them to recover from that.
“If you’re looking at body position and you’re looking at attacking the basket, you would know those are fouls.”
Jalen Brunson
On last season’s controversial call after his game against Aaron Holiday:
“I mean, I wasn’t thinking about it. But thank you.”
On officiating consistency at the start of the season:
“I think it’s the beginning of the year and things are called pretty strictly or whatever.
“I guess throughout the season, depending on how the game starts, physicality—it’s how the game goes.
“I don’t think I’m being officiated any differently. Regardless of what happens, you’ve got to adjust.”
Josh Hart
On the crew scheduled to officiate Monday’s matchup:
“Do we know if Jacyn Goble [is] officiating?”
On officiating trends early in the season:
“How NBA officiating works—whatever the point of emphasis is that offseason—it’s like that for the first couple of months of the season and then just kind of goes back to normal. You know it, so you just kind of go with it.
“Obviously, after All-Star break is when things start cranking up a little more. They let us be more physical.”