Knicks Bulletin: ‘I’ll leave the scared-to-shoot narrative for y’all’

New York gave Phoenix no option and the postgame soundbites were heartwarming.

One year after he dropped a 50-burger on them, Jalen Brunson (nearly) did it again, leading the Knicks to another sublime victory against the Suns in the desert of Phoenix, AZ. Final score: 138-122 in favor of the visitors.

New York started their five-game road trip through the West Coast on Wednesday, and they did so in impressive fashion, dumping a ridiculous 44 points in the first quarter alone wrapping up the night in 12 minutes.

Here’s what Coach Thibs and a few other Knickerbockers said before and after Wednesday’s late affair.

Tom Thibodeau

On the overall improvement after winning four in a row:

“The guys are starting to get used to playing off of each other. Each game you can see they’re seeing things. They’re reading the game extremely well.

“I think they’re creating good spacing. They’re cutting extremely well and what that’s doing is it’s opening up the floor and we’re playing into space.

“Everyone’s unselfish. We had 30 assists. I think that’s huge.”

On his players performances:

“The activity of OG and Josh was off the charts—their steals and getting us into the open floor—big-time.

“Jalen’s aggressiveness to start the game was big for us. Then KAT.

“Cam, great minutes off the bench. Mikal all over the place…

“A lot of guys stepped up. Tyler, Jericho…Everyone doing their job.”

On Precious Achiuwa’s status:

“He’s moving pretty good right now.”

On Mitchell Robinson’s recovery:

“It’s going to be a long progression. So obviously he started but be patient, go step by step.

“He hasn’t been cleared for practice but he’s done some shooting and that sort of thing. Can do conditioning in the weight room.

“He’s making good progress. Just have to be patient.”

On load management and player durability:

“The narratives could be a million different ways. I think when you really dig deep into it, you see that injuries have always been a part of the game.

“If you’re playing professional sports, basically the only way you can prevent an injury or guarantee an injury won’t happen is don’t participate, don’t practice, don’t play, don’t do anything. You’ll never get hurt. But if you’re out there, that’s why there’s a value of being in great shape all the time. So, you have to do all the things you can to prepare yourself to endure a long season.

“When you look at the players that have been durable, it’s usually the ones that are in unbelievable shape, who stay in shape year-round and prepare themselves for what they’re going to go through.”

Mikal Bridges

On the team’s mindset going against Phoenix:

“Just got to start with Phoenix and be ready for that game. And that’s all that matters at this point.”

On the improvement the team has experienced of late:

“It was tough in the beginning, trying to figure it out, especially getting Karl-Anthony Towns late. But it’s been good.

“Every day—understanding our offense, trying to figure out where I can be and play off everybody.

“Our main goal (is to be the) last team standing. Keep learning.”

On taking midrange shots over going to the rim:

“You pay guys like Rudy (Gobert) to protect the rim. You pay big guys to protect the rim. It’s not easy to go in there and just give them chances to show why they make that much money averaging five blocks a game. So just reading the game.

“There’s a court made and it’s not just for the rim and the 3s. You got the rest of the court, too.”

On his midrange approach:

“I just think when you watch the playoffs, a lot of guys get to the midrange.”

Jalen Brunson

On offensive execution against Phoenix:

“Ball was moving. And the ball went in the hole early.”

On whether or not his 50-point game from last year impacted his outing on Wednesday:

“Not really. I try not to think about the past. Doesn’t help you going forward. I don’t think and it.”

On his father’s coaching credentials amid the NBA investigation:

“He’s more than qualified for that position. He’s a person who has been around the NBA for a long time, who has been around [Tom Thibodeau] for longer than he’s been around the NBA.

“I think he understands the business, I think he understands the game, I think he understands the head coach. So he’s more than qualified.

“Look at the way he’s taught me and raised me and how I’ve seen him impact others in all different levels of basketball—high school, college, pros.”

On his father’s influence on his game:

“He helped me work on my game since I told him I wanted to become a professional basketball player.

“Whether I was pissed off, happy, whatever, he always asked me before and after every workout, ‘Is this what you want to do for a living?’ And the answer was always, ‘Yes.’

“He pushes me every single day and he still does.”

Josh Hart

On putting up a career-high shooting percentage early this season:

“I’m confident in my shot right now. I’ll leave the ‘scared to shoot’ narrative for y’all.

“I like to play my game how I wanna play my game—take my shots how I wanna take ’em—I don’t let anyone else dictate that.”

On the four-game winning streak:

“We’re starting to click.”

On the team’s offensive prowess:

“The energy’s flowing. The ball has energy, guys are able to shoot confidently or make plays confidently.”

Cam Payne

On the team’s camaraderie:

“Everyone’s connected; you can joke around off the court, but when you get on the court, everybody holds each other accountable. No one’s out there pointing fingers. I think everyone’s cool with each other. That’s big for an NBA team.”

On the Knicks embracing him and other new players this season:

“They’re really good guys; they make it easy to go out there and play. For new guys that’s coming in, that’s all you can really ask for. To have good guys on the team that really embrace you.

“They make it comfortable to be here. J-Hart, he’s funny, he loves playing, but at the end of the day, I think this team has great chemistry. I feel like we all like to be around each other, and that’s good.

“Everybody wants to win, so it’s cool to be around. And when you joke, you know it’s from the heart because when we get on the court we hold everybody accountable. We’re allowed to talk to each other any kind of way. And that’s how it goes. You play around on Twitter, play around in person, but when we’re on the court it’s all seriousness, all about winning.”

On his arrest in Phoenix last summer:

“It was just a little mistake I had. Wish it never would have happened. Won’t ever happen again.”

Jamal Crawford (Former NBA Player)

On joining the Knicks broadcast team on the road:

“It was their idea—I think they may have seen it even before I saw it, that I could do a pretty job, so I’m excited about it.

“Obviously, the Knicks for me have always been family, so I’ve always stayed connected and in touch with the people there.”

On Walt “Clyde” Frazier’s legacy:

“He was calling games way before I was playing, but I remember some of his sayings. And I would go back and watch [replays of] the games when I was playing just to hear what he said.

“You can’t duplicate him. You can’t try to create something like that, you just have to be yourself. Because he’s obviously somebody that we all look up to. He’s the GOAT when it comes to analysts working with [one] team.

“I’m not gonna try to be him, because I can’t. But I’ll just go and have fun and be ready to work.”

On his future broadcasting plans:

“Not looking at it that far. I’m just happy to be in the mix.”

On the Knicks’ potential this season:

“Stuff like that takes time. Obviously, we’re in the first month of the season, and they’ll be a different team a month from now, I think in a good way, obviously as they get more familiar.

“It sounds good on paper, but you have to work through it and it takes time, but I have no doubt toward the end of their season they’ll hit their stride.

“I think the sky’s the limit for them. I don’t want to put any pressure on them, but I think when they’re right and they’re gelling and hitting on all cylinders, I think they can be as good as anybody in the East.”

On being a fan favorite in New York:

“It’s weird because when I walk around [the city], it’s almost like I played there last year versus almost going on two decades ago.”

On the Madison Square Garden faithful:

“It means everything. One thing I take pride in, to be honest with you, is when I was playing, I was one of the only, I think, guys that didn’t get booed in almost five years. I took that like a badge of honor because I laid it on the line every night.

“I wasn’t the perfect player. I definitely had my flaws. But they can tell I was playing with my heart. I left it on the court every single time. I never cheated the game.”

On Jalen Brunson’s leadership:

“It’s been unbelievable; it’s been incredible. It’s been fun to watch Jalen.”

On Knicks fans enjoying success now:

“I’m so happy that these guys get to experience that. A little jealous in that standpoint, wishing I could have played on a really good team. But I’m happy for these guys.”

On keeping strong NBA relationships:

“I’m so connected to these generations, from the past to the present to the future to the future’s future. I think that’s a sweet spot to be in, because I’ve got relationships with everybody on every level.

“I think that’s how you stay connected to the game but also get knowledge to give that to the next generation as well.”