The New York Knicks are one of the hottest teams currently in the NBA. Since the calendar turned to 2024, they have been playing an excellent brand of basketball, going 10-2 and making a move up the Eastern Conference standings.
From the middle through the end of December, the Knicks began to flounder as their production on the defensive end of the floor slipped. Without starting center Mitchell Robinson, the team was surrendering points at an alarming pace, putting a lot of pressure on their offense to continue producing.
Knowing that a change was needed, the Knicks made a big trade with the Toronto Raptors. Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and a second-round pick via the Detroit Pistons were sent north of the border. Coming back to New York were OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, New York Knicks Updates
That trade has helped revitalize the Knicks and get their season on track. The inclusion of Anunoby into the starting lineup in place of Barrett has turned New York into a dominant two-way team.
Their starting lineup for most of this stretch, Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Anunoby, Julius Randle and Isaiah Hartenstein, was one of the most dominant units in the NBA. They were producing elite numbers on both sides of the court, leading to victories being stacked up.
Tom Thibodeau is a defensive-minded head coach, so it had to be killing him to watch his team give up points as easily as they were. He has to be thrilled with how things have turned out with Anunoby, who has been everything the Knicks and their fans had hoped for and more.
It should come as no surprise, given his defensive acumen, that he is part of what is the best defensive trio in the NBA in January. According to StatMuse on X, formerly Twitter, Anunoby, Brunson and Josh Hart have the best defensive rating and net rating in the NBA for trios with at least 100 minutes played in 2024.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, New York Knicks Updates
That is yet another feather in the cap of Brunson, who has had his performance on the defensive end constantly questioned. Being a little undersized certainly hampers him, but he is as tough as they come and you won’t see him backing down from anyone.
Hart is also very versatile, capable of defending multiple positions as well with the athleticism to defend guards but the strength to hold his own against bigger wings and frontcourt players. Anunoby is one of the best defensive players in the NBA, helping the Knicks overcome any deficiencies when he is on the court.
While those three make up the best-rated trio, everyone in the rotation is getting the job done defensively. DiVincenzo can now get aggressive playing passing lanes with Anunoby taking the top assignment. Miles McBride is an excellent point-of-attack defender and Hartenstein is the highest-rated defender in the NBA in Defensive EPM.
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