With Jalen Brunson expected to return to the New York Knicks lineup on Sunday, Tom Thibodeau pushed back on the idea that OG Anunoby’s style would “have to change” with the point guard back on the court.
“The notion of all that stuff, it’s white noise,” said Thiboeau. “The game tells you what to do, you know? So, whose shot is it in transition? The open man, right? And if there’s two on somebody, who shot is it, right? You have the responsibility as a primary scorer to make the right play. So, the notion that it has to be this way, that way, no. There has to be a willingness to sacrifice by everybody.”
Anunoby is averaging 26.6 points and 5.2 free throws per game over the last five games.
Thibodeau also pushed back on the idea that Anunoby spent most of his time on offense in the corners with Brunson in the lineup.
“No, [Anunoby] never spent exclusively… that notion’s a bunch of garbage. I’ll tell you another thing: I value the corners a lot more than most people because I know that’s the most valuable spot on the floor,” Thibodeau said. “He’s all over the floor. That’s the way he’s scoring. That’s the way everybody’s scoring. So if you have a drive pass, pass who’s supposed to be in the corner? It’s drive and kick and if you’re cutting and you’re moving without the ball, which is what you’re supposed to do, right?”
The Knicks finished 9-6 without Brunson in the lineup.