Knicks Bulletin: ‘If we leave him open he’s going to make those’

Shout-out Julius Randle for beating New York just by showing up.

The Knicks are so kind a team that not only did they welcome Julius Randle back to MSG with an ovation, but also handed the chap a win in another disastrous outing by the home team, final score 116-99.

You read that right: New York failed to score three-digit points even though they claim offense as their calling card, while still struggling mightily on defense. Sheesh…

Here’s what Coach Thibs and a few other Knickerbockers and Wolverines said after yesterday’s affair.

Tom Thibodeau

On the loss to the Timberwolves:

“We didn’t cover the line like we needed to, got beat off the dribble. Didn’t start the game the way we needed to. We gave up second shots, the three-point line, the rebounding probably hurt us.

“Edwards is a tough cover, but you have to do more than one thing, have the ability to get in and get out and have an awareness with Naz Reid that open.

“If we leave him open he’s going to make those.”

On Anthony Edwards’ performance:

“He was very, very aggressive throughout, and the one thing is his volume of 3s has gone way up this year, so I knew he would keep shooting, and he made a number of good plays as well.

“But he’s a tough cover, and you need all five [players on the court] working together, and you’ve gotta try to make him work, and that’s probably the biggest thing.

“He’s gonna get some, but you’ve gotta make him work for those points, and that requires everyone working together.”

On the Knicks’ atrocious three-point defense:

“There’s a couple of ways to look at it. We’re pretty high in what we allow. We didn’t cover it tonight. We gave up 40. The best way to guard the line is to prevent the 3s and that’s where we’re pretty good. But we do have to challenge [shots].

“We have to have the ability to get in and get out, and have an awareness if a guy gets hot. We’ve got to make sure we’re there on the catch, take his air space away.

“You’ve got to read the game, make guys do one or two things that they really don’t want to do.”

On playing Karl-Anthony Towns alongside Robinson:

“That’s obviously a possibility. We feel like with Karl’s comfortable doing both, playing both positions. So we feel like it will be an added weapon for us.”

On Mitchell Robinson’s recovery:

“Just working individually right now. So he hasn’t been cleared. There will be a progression and it starts with one-on-zero, which is really where he is right now. He hasn’t been cleared for contact yet. So that will be the next phase.

“He’s done a really good job. Obviously, he’s in the pool a lot, so he’s doing that type of stuff and on a bike—the low-impact stuff—and obviously diet’s a big part of that as well. And he’s lifting, he’s doing a lot of things like that. Whatever he can do, he’s done, which is good. He’s making good progress.

“I’ve been very pleased with the way he’s approached the rehab. Very diligent. Working hard. He’s doing all he can every day. Working on his conditioning. So he’s done a good job. And then we focus on what we have to do with the team right now and who’s available, preparing for each game. But he’s done a really good job.”

OG Anunoby

On the Timberwolves’ three-point shooting against the Knicks:

“It’s pretty difficult when they’re making shots like that. We just try to keep up, get stops, but tonight was their night.

“They’re just making shots so I guess we’re not doing a good job of closing out. We gotta improve on that.”

Jalen Brunson

On defending against hot shooters like Anthony Edwards:

“Once a player gets confidence it’s hard to slow them down, especially at this level, so we got to establish our physicality and presence early.”

Mikal Bridges

On the team’s mentality after losing streaks:

“We just gotta be better and help each other. Just us. Guys in the locker room, coaches. Us.

“We just gotta be better, that’s all I can say.”

Julius Randle (Minnesota Timberwolves Player)

On the Knicks’ success during his tenure:

“That team was incredible, man. I feel like that was the best basketball I had played up until that point in my career. Not just numbers, it was the flow. It was like—it was crazy, man.

“We went into every game expecting to win. Teams would hang around and we would end up winning by like 20 points. It felt like we were starting to get super dominant. We had everything. And everybody’s game was going to the next level. Chemistry was dope.

“It was unfortunate the injuries happened. But that team was incredible.”

On the ‘What if?’ nature of last season:

“It sucks. I guess we’ll never know what could’ve been.

“I think the more unfortunate part is everything was a build, a constant build—I feel like all our teams overachieved year after year. And that team last year was our best team.

“So then to see if we could’ve taken it to where we had a shot, where we could’ve taken it without all the injuries, including myself. I think that was the most unfortunate part.”

On his inspiration from Kobe Bryant when he decided to sign with the lowly Knicks:

“I enjoyed the challenge. And I think a big reason is my idol and my mentor is Kobe.

“I feel like it was his legacy and his imprint that he left on me—to do the impossible—and take on challenges that people don’t want to take on or are scared of or afraid of or whatever.”

On his pride in building the Knicks team that led to the current version of it:

“I take a lot of pride in it. It wasn’t in the greatest of places when I first got here. But being here from the start, I take a lot of pride in what we were able to build and just what this team meant to the city.

“And the success of the team and the joy it brought. I took a lot of pride in that. I always wore my heart on my sleeve.”

On the Knicks fans’ ovation during his MSG return:

“It was good. This is a place that will always be home to me and my family. I enjoyed every second I played here.”

On what Madison Square Garden means to him:

“It’s a place that always will be like a home to me, my family. So many great people and friends that I have here. I enjoy every second that I play here in Madison Square [Garden].”

On Knicks fans:

“Knicks fans are amazing. The energy that they bring and the passion that they bring every single game, the playoffs, everything, it’s unmatched.

“I had a tremendous time here.”

Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves Player)

On Julius Randle’s play:

“I was happy [with Randle’s performance]. He’s been passing the ball tremendously well.”

On beating the Knicks at MSG:

“My best friend texted me before the game just trying to motivate me, like, ‘Bro they have tried us again.’ Someone on media was saying something about me. I’m not on social media, and he sends me the little posts. He just texted me, ‘Whatcha gonna do?’

“So, I had to show up for him. He don’t usually text me with stuff like that. So, that was my motivation.”

Chris Finch (Minnesota Timberwolves Head Coach)

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ absence:

“The way he kicked our ass last time I’m glad we didn’t have to play against him tonight.”

On Julius Randle taking 6 shots in the Garden

“Julius wants to win. He’ll do whatever we need him to do to win.

“He’s a plus-20, that’s the only number on this sheet that I really care about other than the win.”

On Donte DiVincenzo’s absence:

“It’s a tough one for us. He had finally settled in. He looked great. He was playing amazing, doing everything for us. Not just making shots, but he was rebounding, tough defense, and winning plays.”

On Julius Randle’s contribution to the Timberwolves:

“I’ve got nothing but a lot of admiration for Julius for what we’ve asked him to do.

“We’ve asked him to score. We’ve asked him to play-make. We’ve asked him to guard in a lot of different situations. His biggest contribution for us has been doing all of that.”

Kevin Garnett (Former NBA Player)

On the Knicks’ minutes distribution:

“My only problem with a lot of the traditional stuff, it doesn’t download the latest update. Our league is high-paced. Scores are 130 to 140 (points). The average is 120. That is All-Star (Game) s–t. The pace of the league is the reason why we’re looking at it like that.

“On top of that, no one has told Thibs–including the players. If I’m Karl-Anthony Towns or I’m (Jalen Brunson), I’m pulling Thibs in the room and I’m saying, ‘Listen!’

“It’s a players league, they can get this off. Thibs so stubborn, though, that I don’t know. But it’s going to have to be something. Because you can’t go up against the Bostons, the Clevelands and not have a bench.”