With Jalen Brunson sidelined recovering from a proper ankle sprain, the Knicks have needed to change the captain’s scoring output as a committee.
But two video games earlier than Brunson went down in extra time of a March 6 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, OG Anunoby had already begun making his case as New York’s third scoring possibility.
So it’s no shock the versatile two-way manner who inked a franchise-record five-year, $212.5 million contract over the offseason has stepped as much as maintain the Knicks offense from crumbling with its ground common and All-Star scorer on the shelf.
The Knicks will want extra of that in the event that they’re going to maintain a agency grasp on the Japanese Convention’s No. 3 seed, however the consistency the star ahead has discovered within the latter stretch of the season is promising for a staff with deep playoff aspirations.
Getting into Monday’s matchup at Madison Sq. Backyard in opposition to the Miami Warmth — the Knicks’ first recreation again within the metropolis after going 2-3 on a five-game West Coast highway journey — New York’s star ahead scored 20 or extra factors in all however one of many seven video games performed within the month of March.
“I think he’s playing at a really high level right now, all around – both sides of the ball,” head coach Tom Thibodeau stated forward of tipoff on Monday. “And his defense has been terrific. Getting us into the open floor so there’s a lot of easy scoring opportunities that are coming from that. Shooting the ball, he is in a good rhythm right now.”
Anunoby is averaging 21.9 factors per recreation halfway by means of the month, up from the 16.8 factors he’s averaging on the season in totality. He’s capturing 40 p.c from three-point vary and is averaging about two steals and a block throughout this stretch.
It’s a stark distinction from a December stretch the place he logged single-digit scoring numbers 5 instances in an eight-game span.
So what’s been the distinction?
“I don’t think we’re doing anything specifically or schematically. He’s making a constant effort and is being more aggressive in his box.”
There’s additionally the dialog relating to touches on offense. By way of the 4 video games since Brunson’s harm main into Monday night time’s matchup in opposition to the Warmth, Anunoby averaged 49.8 touches per recreation. The quantity nonetheless ranks final amongst all 5 Knicks starters, but it surely’s up about 14 p.c since Brunson’s harm.
Coincidentally, so is his scoring.
However Anunoby hit his stride earlier than Brunson left the rotation. He scored 23 factors in an extra time victory over the Miami Warmth, then 29 factors in a March 4 loss to the Golden State Warriors, although Karl-Anthony Cities missed that recreation for private causes.
The scoring output is a welcome sight. In any case, Anunoby was billed as a shut-down defender who spaced the ground primarily as a three-point shooter earlier than his commerce from the Toronto Raptors in December, 2023.
The beginning ahead has confirmed he’s greater than only a spot-up shooter in Yr 2 in New York. Anunoby is comfy placing the ball on the ground, scoring off cuts and even within the low publish. He has additionally helped drive a Knicks staff thriving in transition by getting out on the break to attain off stops.
“Yeah, he’s scored in different ways,” Thibodeau stated. “He’s been comfortable in the post, he moves extremely well without the ball. Obviously he’s worked really hard on his shooting and shoots the ball extremely well. His size is a factor. Getting to the line quite a bit now.”
With Brunson anticipated to overlook no less than one other two weeks, the Knicks don’t have the luxurious of ready for his or her chief to return earlier than discovering solutions.
Anunoby is exhibiting he could be one among them.
The Knicks don’t want him to be Brunson.
They simply want him to maintain being this model of OG Anunoby — as a result of it is perhaps the important thing to conserving New York afloat till their captain comes again.
