The Knicks will face the Jazz on the road, and somehow, some way, the game won’t force you to lose sleep. Even though it’s scheduled to take place in Salt Lake City, it’s set for an early evening tip-off in Eastern Time.
New York continues navigating its first West Coast trip of the season with the second of five matchups away from MSG, as they aim to extend their active winning streak to five games.
Here’s what Coach Thibs and a few other (current and former) Knickerbockers have said recently—much of it focused on the madman we know as Josh Hart.
Tom Thibodeau
On Cam Payne’s versatility:
“He’s like a Swiss Army knife. There’s so many different things that he does.
“He can initiate offense. He moves well without the ball. He plays fast. He can play in transition. He’s worked extremely hard on his shooting. I think he feels good about his shot. He put a lot of time into it, so that’s positive for us. But I think having the ability to initiate is huge for our team.
“The defense, the toughness, the hustle plays are I think the big thing. He’s just got a knack for coming up with the ball. Those extra-effort plays give your team a lot of energy, and we need that.”
On Josh Hart’s do-it-all role:
“He has a good feel for the game, but it can be choppy at times. I know, at the end of the day, there’s going to be a lot more good plays than there are bad. That’s what you want.
“He’s going to get you extra possessions because of the all-out hustle. That’s what winning’s about.”
On the team’s offense against Phoenix:
“I think the guys are starting to get used to playing off 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 and everyone’s unselfish.
“30 assists? I think that’s huge.”
Jalen Brunson
On Hart’s reliability:
“He’s always been that guy. Whatever the objective is, whatever is needed, he comes to the table ready to go. He’s always had that.
“Obviously, you get to the NBA, roles change. But his approach and mindset have always stayed the same.
“He was the same (at Villanova). A lunatic.”
Josh Hart
On his chaotic steal-and-score play against the Suns:
“I got the steal and it was just kind of chaos. I had it, then I lost it, then I had it again and lost it again. Once I got it off the fake spin, the half spin, it got tipped. It was just me and the basket. And I was like, all right, cool. I was yelling at the ball, telling it to go in its hole.”
On the Knicks’ offensive progress:
“For sure, the offense is clicking. We’re getting good shots. We’re getting some stops. When we’re getting some of those stops, we’re able to run and push and get some quick, easy ones. Offensively we’re getting into a really good rhythm.”
On his career and goals:
“I mean, I’m looking at it, I’m about to turn 30 this season. I always told my wife, I’m hanging it up around 34 or 35, maybe with God’s grace get 36 in there. But I’ve got hopefully five years left in the league.
“One thing I’ve always wanted was a [championship]. For me, that’s more important than the statistics. When you win a [championship]no one remembers how much you scored. No one remembers what your role is. They care about [if] you got a ring.
“At the end of the day, I’ve got hopefully five years left, maybe six. I’m on the back end. That’s what I’m trying to accomplish.”
On his no-scorer role and mindset:
“I think I kind of always knew that—even going into the league. I think it was a big realization the year I got traded from New Orleans to Portland.
“I think for New Orleans I was averaging [13.4 points]. I think I only played 12 games for Portland, but I averaged like 20 [19.9]. I had pretty good shooting splits.
“So, like, that season I averaged [14.9] and it didn’t matter. That’s when I realized that my job isn’t to go out here and try to score.
“My job is to go out there and play my game, bring energy defensively, pick my spots, be a connector, especially with a team like this. We have three guys that have been No. 1 options at certain points in their career. And then you have OG, who is a champion, who knows how to play the game.
“So my job is to go out there and be a connector, pick my spots and be aggressive. I’m out there to connect the dots, and I’m happy with doing that.”
On his role leading him to turn down shots:
“I think sometimes that’s part of the reason why I might turn down some shots. That’s not my role. That’s not what I’m paid to do—shoot eight threes a game. I’m paid to play my game.”
Karl-Anthony Towns
On what defines this Knicks team:
“This team will be known for the discipline, work, and grit we’re gonna bring every night, even on the nights when things are not looking right.
“We’re gonna go out there and leave everything we got on that court.”
On everything else:
Check out the full interview between Hall of Famer Ahmad Rashad and KAT!!!
Carmelo Anthony (Former NBA Player)
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ adjustment to the Knicks:
“The Knicks are a seamless team, everything flows with them. KAT’s still got to figure out when to roll, when not to roll. When to pop, when to get in the corner, when not to get in the corner. KAT’s still got to figure out his [stuff].
“He’s playing well, he’s shooting the ball extremely well. I love that he’s rebounding the f***ing ball, that’s the biggest thing about that. He’s still got to figure out his pace with the team.”
