Knicks Bulletin: ‘My role is to be a servant for these guys’

On a random Wednesday, New York remembered how to play winning basketball.

The Knicks finally won a game and might never lose again.

New York welcomed RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley home in their first game at MSG playing together this season and all the Knicks did was trouncing the struggling Dinos, final score 112-98.

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

Tom Thibodeau

On the need for balance in offensive execution and shooting.

“Well, you want to be well-balanced. I think that it’s easy [for] people to look at the volume of threes and then you’re going to go through stretches where you don’t. But it all really starts with getting as many layups as you can.

“You want to attack the rim, you want to cut. You’d like to have balance to it. We want to get to the line more. We want to get more layups, we want to get good open threes.

“But we need easy baskets. And everyone is responsible for creating them.

“It’s a compilation of not only [getting the ball in the] deep paint, creating the space, attacking the space and then making the right read and then after making the right read, relocating. That requires constant movement and that’s where we have to pick it up.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ knee management.

“You trust him, trust medical. He does a really good job. And I think that that’s a big part of his growth.

“After the Chicago game, he goes and works out. He knows how to get through and prepare for the entire season and I think that’s important.

“So overall I think he feels pretty good.”

On Jalen Brunson’s shooting struggles.

“Yeah, I want him to read the game, I don’t want him to just jack threes just to jack threes.

“If he’s being double-teamed or they are face-guarding him I want him to make the right play and I think he’s done that.”

On Pacome Dadiet’s stint in the G League.

“What the G-League does is give [Pacome] an opportunity to get game minutes.

“Study, prepare, and keep getting better.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On playing through his knee injury.

“I’m playing basketball, that’s all I can think about.”

On his performance against the Raptors and breaking the team’s losing streak.

“There’s things I wished I could have done better, some shots I wish I could get back. But I’m not really worried about me, I’m worried about the team.

“We had a three-game skid, for us to find our way today and for me to be able to play, I’m just happy we were able to get this win.”

On the team-wide effort against the Raptors.

“I thought we did a good job of executing. I’ve talked a lot to y’all about Knicks basketball.

“I think for us we’re at our best when we’re getting turnovers and converting them into points. So I thought we did a great job of doing that.

“We got some big rebounds, pushed the pace.”

On Patrick Ewing watching courtside.

“It’s crazy. He played against my dad when they were playing in their days in college. It’s crazy to be in a place where he’s made such magical moments and to be able to have him sitting courtside watching me play.

“The little kid in me is jumping for joy. I’m really honored, I’m blessed to have this opportunity.”

Jalen Brunson

On Towns’ impact against the Raptors.

“Towns is capable of doing so much on the court and the gravity he has opens up a lot for us.”

On snapping the three-game losing streak.

“We were focused. We were determined to bounce back from the way we did. And we know that it’s unacceptable and we hold each other accountable when it comes to that. Just happy with the way we responded and we just have to build off that.”

On his recent shooting slump.

“Ball just hasn’t been going in the hoop.”

On minutes management.

“I don’t know if it’s a dumb conversation, but shout-out to our training staff. They do a great job. And our strength and conditioning staff. And our coaches. All of them.”

Josh Hart

On the Knicks’ mindset while navigating the losing streak.

“Recently there’s been a lot of excitement about being contenders and all that. We’re not listening to it. Gives you guys something to talk about—when we lose a couple of games everyone panics.

“But at the end of the day, we’re good. We’re grounded. We’re going to keep getting better.”

On the team’s response against the Raptors.

“We just came out with energy, with focus, attention to detail. They came out with physicality early. I felt like we matched that. It was a good game and continue to build what we’re trying to build.”

On his role in helping teammates.

“My role is to be a servant for these guys.

“To make sure JB and KAT are in the right situations, to find them when they’re open. So they don’t gotta work so hard. To make sure Mikal (Bridges) and OG are playing well, getting open shots, getting good shots.

“And making sure these guys reach their goals and their accomplishments. And get All-Star love and those kind of things.”

On talking to refs about what he’s doing wrong to get tech-foul calls.

“Some of the techs I got, I haven’t even cursed so I kind of been surprised by them. So I’m not going to say what ref but I asked him, ‘Do I have a bad reputation? Or what? Man-to-man, let me know. Because I’m trying to work on it.’

“And he was just like, ‘No, you’re an amazing competitor. But sometimes in the heat of competition, it’s like you’re against us, too. Like you look at it 8 on 5.’ Which I do sometimes.

“So I think my complaining and getting techs hurts us. We’re giving them free points or the ball or whatever it is and those kind of things.

“It’s just something I’m trying to be more cognizant of and work on.”

On Pacome Dadiet’s development.

“He’ll be good. He’s a hard worker, always trying to get better physically and mentally. But you know how it is. He’s a rookie, man. Sometimes you’ve just gotta develop, bide your time, and when the opportunity comes, you seize it.

“Obviously it’s tough because you’re relying on guys that haven’t been there before, so you don’t know how they’re going to be. So it’s all part of a process. When he gets his opportunities, he’s gotta go out there and use em.”

OG Anunoby

On his availability this season.

“Luckily, knock on wood, I’ve been able to be out there.”

On facing the Thunder next.

“They’re a great team, so it’ll be a great test for us.”