BOSTON — Tom Thibodeau likes to say the Knicks begin the season with the end in mind. For a team with championship aspirations, that meant all roads were bound to run through Boston.
Which meant beating the reigning champion Celtics — and containing their All-Star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Those five first-round picks? That franchise-record contract? Just the cost of doing business. Because you can’t put a price on the job OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges have done against Boston’s stars to open their second-round playoff series.
Through two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Tatum and Brown have combined to shoot just 27-of-85 from the field and 8-of-37 from three. After averaging 54 points per game against the Magic in Round 1, they’ve managed just 79 total points across Games 1 and 2 against the Knicks.
Thibodeau said the Knicks didn’t acquire Anunoby and Bridges specifically to match up with Boston. But the duo now known at Madison Square Garden as “Wingstop” has effectively cut the head off the Celtics’ offensive snake.
“I think a premium is put on long wings in the league. And versatility. So guys that can guard two, three, four and even point guards, as well,” Thibodeau said after Game 2. “We obviously felt that they were good players and they could make us better. And I think the length at that position, the wing position, is huge. You’re asking guys, particularly the five out, to get in protect the paint and also to get out and cover the line. And then when the ball gets shot, to also rebound. So I think the length is very important. And just having the versatility to play the two, three and four, but it also allows you to do a lot more switching.”
Speaking of switching — Mitchell Robinson has held his ground, too.
The Knicks outscored the Celtics by 19 points in Robinson’s 22 minutes in Game 2. He finished plus-13 off the bench in Game 1, even as Boston tried to hack him off the court with intentional fouls. It hasn’t worked. In Game 2, he was part of the game-sealing stop on Tatum’s final drive.
“He’s got great feet and anticipation. Not only his defense, but he’s very disciplined — learning how to become the second jumper,” said Thibodeau. “I think all those things helped eliminate the reckless fouls. He’s a hard guy to score over. Even if you score over him, it’s going to be a tough shot. I think he’s learned that. He doesn’t back down and more and those cheap fouls are gone.”
The Knicks know Tatum and Brown won’t stay cold forever. Elite players adjust — and eventually, they find their rhythm.
But Anunoby and Bridges don’t consider themselves stoppers. They’re just trying to make every possession a battle. And through two games, that’s exactly what they’ve done.
“I think it’s been huge. Give OG a tremendous amount of credit, played huge for us last game, really carried us offensively last game along with [Jalen Brunson],” said Josh Hart. “And ‘Kal, you really can’t say enough about his toughness and grit and mentality. He had 14 points, I think he went into the fourth with no points. And fourth quarter he made huge plays for us offensively to keep us in the game. Defensively, he has the ability to change the whole course of a game. You give him credit, even when his shots not falling he’s making huge plays.”
