The NBA landscape was changed drastically when the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors completed a trade right before the new year. In total, five players and one draft pick were on the move in what was a major deal for each franchise.
The Knicks, looking to cement their status as playoff contenders, felt their current group had reached their ceiling. Looking to shake things up, they acquired the headliner in the deal, OG Anunoby. It wasn’t cheap, as they had to part ways with Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett to get the deal done.
Not surprisingly, Quickley and Barrett had thrived in their new surroundings. Both are being deployed in bigger roles more conducive to their skill sets and making the most of the opportunity.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, Isaiah Hartenstein, Tom Thibodeau, New York Knicks Updates
However, since the trade, the Raptors are 3-3. The Knicks, on the other hand, are the hottest team in the NBA. 5-0 since adding Anunoby into their starting lineup, New York has steamrolled all of their opponents.
It hasn’t been a cupcake schedule either, as they defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves to start the winning streak and defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, on the road, by 36 points. The Knicks have hit the ground running with their new lineup combination, as Anunoby has had a major impact on both ends of the floor.
Defensively, the Knicks are back to the stifling unit we normally see from a Tom Thibodeau-coached team. They have held their opponents to an average of 97.4 points per game. No team has scored more than 106 and three teams have been held under 100.
The turnaround on that side of the ball after a disastrous December, where the Knicks ranked near the bottom of the NBA, is encouraging. But, the change on offense is where New York has really kicked things up a notch.
For the majority of Thibodeau’s tenure, the Knicks have been a slow, methodical team. They wear down opponents with an isolation-heavy system that relies on crashing the offensive glass for second opportunities.
While their offensive rebounding still exists, they are no longer as reliant on isolation basketball and are getting into the open court for fast break points more often. As Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups noted, this isn’t the Knicks of old anymore.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, Isaiah Hartenstein, Tom Thibodeau, New York Knicks Updates
How much have things changed since the trade? As shared by Tommy Beer on X, formerly Twitter, the Knicks ball movement has improved immensely with Anunoby taking RJ Barrett’s spot in the lineup.
Before the trade, the Knicks were dead last in the NBA with 39.9 potential assists per game with an average of 272 passes. Since the trade, in five games, they are averaging 50.6 potential assists per game, which is fourth in the league, on 297.4 passes per game.
With a more efficient, faster-paced offense being run, the Knicks have found a lot of success on that end of the court. The ball is moving freely and there is a lot of continuity with the lineup combinations despite players being in new roles and still building chemistry.
If this is what the Knicks look like after limited practice time, as Anunoby admitted he still is learning what to do, they are going to be scary come April. Already looking like a well-oiled machine, New York is going to be a team no one in the NBA wants to face come playoff time.
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