Knicks Bulletin: ‘Sometimes, unfortunately, I steal rebounds from my guys’

The Commanders’ loss was the Knicks’ chemistry gain.

Coming off a victory over Sacramento on Saturday that saw the Knicks put three wins together for the first time since they won nine consecutive matchups through December, the lads will be back in action tonight.

In front of them visiting New York City? The Ja-led Memphis Grizzlies, good for third in the West and tied with Houston for the No. 2 seed in games behind the conference-leading OKC Thunder. Not bad!

Here’s the latest we’ve heard from Coach Thibs and a few other Knickerbockers.

Tom Thibodeau

On the delay caused by the no-issue issue with the rim:

“That’s an NBA game. It looked like there may have been a dunk that knocked it off a little bit and it seemed like it was down a little. But when they hung on it a little bit and it looked like it snapped back and it looked like it was fine.

“Stuff happens, you just deal with it.”

On the team’s ball movement and assists against the Kings:

“Yeah, just trust the game. I thought we had good minutes of playing fast and beating the zone down the floor.

“We got into the gaps. They were double-teaming and we got to the second pass. Just read the game.

“The game tells you what to do. But for us, we get stops and we get into the open floor, it’s a big advantage for us.”

On Josh Hart’s contributions beyond rebounding:

“Not only the rebounds, whatever the game [needs]—the hustle, the heart, the toughness. And then getting into the gaps and then making plays.

“He’s a terrific playmaker, particularly when you’re trying to get the ball out of [Jalen Brunson’s] hands. Josh reads the floor well. He reads the game. He doesn’t fight the game. So if someone’s open they get the ball. It’s really simple. When you play like that, good things come from it.

“We feel like he’s a secondary ball handler. We can initiate offense with him. We can bring it to him on the backside.”

Jalen Brunson

On the 53 team assists against the Kings:

“Yeah, the ball was moving and guys were making shots. When you’re playing at that type of pace and out in the open floor, it’s all about finding the open man and having trust in your teammates.”

On Precious Achiuwa’s performance vs. Sacramento:

“He played really well, and that’s what we expect from him. None of us in this locker room are surprised when we see that.

“It’s just who he is and that’s what he brings to the table every night.”

On Josh Hart’s business decision on Sunday:

“Josh left before the 4qtr started.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On Josh Hart having a tough weekend:

“@joshhart answer your damn phone.”

Josh Hart

On why he left the Eagles game early:

“Have to get home so I can sleep. One of us has to play defense tomorrow.”

On Mikal Bridges thinking the net was crooked:

“[Bridges] was the only one who thought it was crooked. He has bad vision anyway, so I think that’s part of it.”

On his dynamic with Tom Thibodeau:

“I think it’s always a good combination when you have a coach and player who match each other’s craziness.”

On his exquisite rebounding:

“I just try to go get the basketball. Sometimes, unfortunately, I steal rebounds from my guys—I don’t try to.

“Whenever I see the ball hit the rim, I see the ball and nothing else. I see arms and all that. I have no idea whose arms they are.

“My thing is just, ‘Go get the basketball.’ So I think it’s that.”

OG Anunoby

On adapting his role to the team’s needs on a daily basis:

“There was a spell when I wasn’t getting touches and I wasn’t getting shots.

“Just trying to be more aggressive, trying to insert myself into the game. We have a great team, so it’s hard to figure it out, but it’s getting better and better.”

Doug Christie (Sacramento Kings Head Coach)

On Josh Hart’s playing style:

“I like him. He’s a good player, I like how he gets down. I respect [him], and Thibs finds those guys and he puts them out there and they do what they do.

“Next time we see him, we’ll be better. Hats off. That’s how they play. It’s a brand of basketball that if you don’t buckle up, it can get bumpy. And tonight it did for us.”

On Hart’s rebounding and basketball IQ:

“He’s actually going to do something every single time. If you’re in help [defense], if you’re wherever you’re at, and you don’t get a body on him, he’s getting in there and he’s either getting the ball or he’s getting his hands on the ball. So you almost have to play him mano [a] mano on the backside, kind of like Dennis Rodman.

“It’s like, you face-guard him and don’t worry about what’s going on [elsewhere] so he’s not getting [the ball]. You’re not getting it, but the key is he’s not getting it. But give him credit.

“That’s part of who he is and what he does, and you gotta respect that.”