New York Knicks
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Knicks Bulletin: ‘It looked like we were playing not to lose’
Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...in-it-looked-like-we-were-playing-not-to-lose
Photo by Kent J. Edwards/Getty Images
New York does its part to make it Knicks In Six, but they still need to lose one more game.
The Knicks made history on Wednesday, though not particularly one we’re very fond of, losing a 14-point lead with just under three minutes left in regulation to allow the Pacers to earn a 1-0 lead, beating New York 138-135 in overtime.
If you’re like me, however, you know that’s not a problem because we already entered the series very sure it’s going to be Knicks. In. Six.
Here’s what Coach Thibs and many other folks have said before and after the Game 1 MSG Collapse.
Tom Thibodeau
On Indiana’s effort and giving up a massive lead:
“They can score the ball, Nesmith got loose, Haliburton hit big shots. You just can never let your guard down against them. No lead is safe.”
On becoming the first team of 995 squads to give up a 14-point lead with 2:51 left in a postseason game:
“Your defense, you gotta be able to count on your defense. We missed some free throws. We gotta make sure we have an awareness as to what’s going on.
“The turnovers were costly. They converted them into easy buckets. And so, that sort of fueled their offense as it got them going again. They started off the game in a good rhythm and then we did much better as the [first] half went on.
“And then down the stretch, we didn’t do what we needed to do.”
On the loss and how to move forward:
“There’s obviously disappointment when you fall short. We have to take a look at the film, make our corrections, and then we’ve got to change quickly for Game 2.”
On the heightened playoff emotions:
“There’s a lot of emotional highs and lows in the playoffs. You’ve got to bounce back quickly.”
Jalen Brunson
On learning from last year’s loss:
“We obviously know what happened last year. Nothing to really compare. Just kind of to learn from and how we get better from it. Yeah it’s different but we’ve got a lot of guys here who can share experiences and figure out how can we be better.”
On guarding Aaron Nesmith late in Game 1:
“I got to do a better job of finding him.”
On dealing with playoff pressure:
“In the playoffs, when you win, it’s the best thing ever. When you lose, it’s the worst thing ever. The best way to deal with all that is to stay level-headed and making sure we have each other’s backs.
“Obviously, it’s not a good feeling, but there is a lot of basketball left to be played. We can’t sulk. We just got to get better.”
On the Game 1 collapse:
“Give them a lot of credit. They closed the game out like they’ve been doing all playoffs. Just not really good on our part.”
On allowing Obi Toppin to go in for a dunk that pushed the Pacers’ lead to three:
“I think we should have fouled. We just didn’t.”
On defending the Pacers’ shooters:
“Obviously contest all of his shots, limit his clean looks, make sure we’re rotating if there’s a breakdown in coverage. Just gotta make everything contested and try to make everything difficult. They’re a team that plays very freely and they love sharing the ball, finding the open man and they make it hard on defenses. So we’ve gotta make things as difficult as possible.”
On guarding Nembhard and Nesmith:
“Two physical defenders. Playing against those guys is gonna be a challenge because of how physical they play and the tenacity they play with. So two great defenders that I’ve gotta be ready for.”
On staying grounded amid hype:
“Truly it’s not that difficult. I’ve always said you’ve gotta remain levelheaded when it’s positive and when it’s negative. Can’t listen to the positive and think you’re not gonna listen to the negative and vice versa.”
“So I just do my best to kind of — obviously I understand what’s going on. But I have a great support system around me that helps keep me level-headed.”
Josh Hart
On failing to close Game 1 against the Pacers:
“We didn’t close the game out. Our intensity dropped. We started playing slower. We were playing more into their hands. We let that one slip.
“Now, we just have to make sure that tomorrow we go in and watch film on where we need to get better. Right back on Friday.”
On failing to compete for the full 48 minutes:
“Defensively, we let off the gas. The intensity and physicality weren’t there.
“Offensively, we were playing slower, and more stagnant. It looked like we were playing not to lose.”
On the Game 1 loss:
“It’s disappointing, but we didn’t think this was gonna be an easy series. We knew that’s a tough opponent.”
On the late-game issues:
“It looked like we were playing not to lose. We’ve got to make sure we don’t make that mistake again.”
Karl-Anthony Towns
On the Knicks’ late collapse:
“We played 46 good minutes. Those two minutes is where we lost the game, and that’s on all of us.
“We didn’t do what we needed to do; otherwise, we’d be in here talking about a whole different ballgame.
“There’s a lot of things we did good, to put ourselves in the position to win. It’s just about … and I’ve said this multiple times, executing and discipline for 48 minutes.”
On writing new playoff history:
“It’s our job to make history. We’re not here to repeat history, we’re here to make history.”
On the loss:
“Any game you lose is tough, especially in the playoffs.”
On team accountability:
“Like you said, we played 46 good minutes. Those two minutes is where we lost the game, and that’s on all of us. We’ve all got to be better. We’ve all got to step up to the plate.”
OG Anunoby
On the Game 1 defeat:
“They made shots and we didn’t. We made some mistakes, missed some free throws.
“They made a bunch of shots in a row and we went a little bit cold at that time. It just happened like that.”
On still having six games left:
“The series just started. Just one game, just watch the film, learn from it and go from there.”
On Haliburton’s impact beyond scoring:
“I think it doesn’t matter how many points he scores or how well he shoots, he’s still capable of playing well and getting his teammates involved, the spacing he provides. I can’t judge him off the points he scores on a certain night. He’s a great player and capable of making an impact on any play.”
On guarding Myles Turner:
“Just communication. Calling out the screen early. If you see something early, even if you’re not involved in the action, call it out just to make sure you are on the same page.”
On trying to stay healthy throughout the playoffs after last year’s events:
“You can’t really think about that. Just move forward and it’s another opportunity.
“No one ever wants to not be healthy. It’s part of the regular preparation I do. But also, a little bit of luck. And taking care of my body and eating right and eating well.”
On Pascal Siakam:
“Pascal is a great player. He is super talented and can do everything. Plays both ends. Will be fun for sure.”
On playoff lessons learned in Toronto on his way to the championship:
“Just seeing the ups and downs of the playoffs. Being in Toronto that year, the Philly series was tough, Milwaukee we were down 2–0 and came back and won. Just knowing the ups and downs of it and knowing you are never down and out of it. Just keep playing.”
Rick Carlisle
On the Game 1 result and the series outlook:
“This is Day 1 of 13 days, and remarkable resilience by our guys. Hanging in and finding a way to get the thing to overtime. And they made enough plays. It’s a long series. We’re not going to get too excited about this. We got things to clean up. They got things to clean up, and Game 2 is going to be another war.”
On Haliburton’s gesture:
“He was clearly carried away by the moment. It was an emotional game, high intensity, and these things happen. But it’s not something we want to make a habit of.
“I’m not getting into any of that stuff. It doesn’t make any sense. This fanbase is difficult enough to deal with without getting into a lot of unnecessary words. We have great respect for these guys.
“Players can do what they want. It’s an emotional thing. It’s not a big deal. The place is unlikely to be any louder (for Game 2) than it was tonight. I mean, it was crazy out there. The environment, it never disappoints you. It’s never disappoints here.
“Tyrese has earned the right to do whatever he wants.”
On the Pacers’ comeback chops and resilience this postseason:
“It’s a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it gets. And it’s not easy.”
On Jalen Brunson:
“He’s a great player, and he’s got an indomitable will to attack, to score, to be great within their system. They’re all very tied together. So we certainly have our work cut out for us there. I know he’s one of the most productive guys in the playoffs if not the most. He’s a special player and a very difficult player to deal with.”
On Haliburton’s skillset:
“I think he’s an offense unto himself. Has great size, he can shoot the ball, off the dribble, he’s a terrific passer, he’s got vision. So we have to make sure that we’re guarding him with our team. When he gets into space, that’s when he’s problematic. So we’ve got to make sure he’s seeing bodies.”
Tyrese Haliburton
On the rivalry and MSG atmosphere:
“They don’t really like us too much. So it’s all fun with it, man, and like I said, excited to add more chapters to this storied rivalry and just continue to be a part of it. I look forward to playing in that building, and I look forward to the crowd environment. It’s a good thing.”
On Aaron Nesmith’s performance:
“Obviously, Aaron’s heroics, they can’t be talked about enough. He was amazing down the stretch. … [Nesmith] works his tail off. I think each shot that he made just kept giving us more confidence that we could really win this game. He was really big for us. And I think for him to do what he did today, while also having to guard Jalen Brunson for probably 30 minutes, is very difficult to do.”
On doing the choke gesture:
“I wasn’t like plotting on it or anything. Everybody wanted me to do it last year at some different point. But it’s got to feel right, and it felt right at the time. If I would have known it was a two, I would not have done it. So I think I might have wasted it... I don’t plan on using it again.
“I thought we did a great job of sticking with it in overtime to make big play after big play.”
On the game-tying shot:
“It felt like it got stuck up there. Honestly, when it like went in, I thought my eyes might have been deceiving me in the moment. It felt good when it left my hand. So I thought it was going to go in. The ball felt like it was up there for an eternity. But man, just a special moment.”
On the MSG-Reggie Miller feud:
“Definitely a special time, and yeah, really cool that he was in the building.”
On being close to Miller:
“I’ve seen that ‘Winning Time’ doc probably like 50 times growing up, so I know that they didn’t win the series. Would not like to repeat that.”
On taming postgame emotions:
“It ain’t over till it’s over. We just figured out a way to win, man. I’m so proud of this group.”
On last year’s series:
“For sure, it’s a lot of fun, man. I think last year the series was a lot of fun, back and forth, it felt like nobody could win two in a row until we were able to do it [in Games 6 & 7]. Going into the series, I think that [the MSG fans] didn’t like the [Pacers] organization, but I don’t think there were certain guys that their fans didn’t like. But now they don’t really like us too much. So it’s all fun with it, man., and like I said, excited to add more chapters to this storied rivalry and just continue to be a part of it.”
On Brunson:
“He’s a great player. I love competing against him.”
Aaron Nesmith
On his hot shooting streak in Game 1:
“It’s unreal, it’s probably the best feeling in the world. I love it, when that basket feels like an ocean, anything you toss up, it feels like it’s gonna go in. It’s just so much fun. Didn’t really realize what I was doing in the moment. Just trying to win a basketball game.”
On wanting the shot Haliburton took at the end of regulation for himself:
“A little bit. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t.”
On the Pacers win at MSG:
“It’s always special. It’s always fun. This is what we live for.”
On confidence and performance:
“I just knew what the game needed, what my teammates needed me to do, and I know I’m a phenomenal shooter, so I just trusted the process and let it fly.”
Obi Toppin
On playing at MSG:
“Always fun playing back in The Garden. And definitely coming out here with a win.”
On talking to former Knicks teammates:
“I missed them, just saying what’s up. That’s it.”
On the Pacers’ comeback:
“I feel like they slowed down a little bit and we just kept it going.”
Charles Barkley
On John Haliburton’s ban:
“It’s time to let Mr. Haliburton back in the building. Adam, I’m asking you, hey, my man paid his dues. He did something really, really stupid, but he’s been punished. And I’m asking you and the Indiana Pacers to let Mr. Haliburton back in the building for Game3 and 4. Listen, he paid his dues. It shouldn’t be indefinite. He’s been punished enough. He would never do anything that stupid again.
“He come up to New York doing that crazy stuff, he won’t make it back to Indy.”
Source: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/...in-it-looked-like-we-were-playing-not-to-lose
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