Kenny Atkinson thinks Karl-Anthony Towns makes Knicks title ‘contenders’

As soon arsenic nan blockbuster waste and acquisition was made successful September to bring Karl-Anthony Towns to New York, Kenny Atkinson believed it elevated nan Knicks to title contenders.

Atkinson, nan erstwhile Knicks adjunct and Nets caput coach, is successful his first play starring nan Cavaliers aft spending a fewer seasons moving nether Steve Kerr pinch nan Warriors.

Towns, a four-time All-Star halfway and powerfulness guardant pinch nan Timberwolves, was acquired successful nan monolithic woody that sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota.

Karl-Anthony Towns looks to make a move against nan Cavaliers connected Monday nighttime astatine nan Garden. Corey Sipkin

“What an unthinkable pickup for nan Knicks. I mean, arsenic soon arsenic I saw that, I said they are title contenders, because he’s that good,” Atkinson said earlier his Cavaliers hit nan Knicks, 110-104, connected Monday nighttime astatine nan Garden. “I deliberation he’s really improved. His defense has improved since his first mates of years [in nan NBA]. Heck of a player. Heck of a matchup problem for america tonight.”

The Cavaliers besides are a reliable matchup for nan Knicks, pinch 2 bigs — Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley — successful their starting five.

Towns — who scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds earlier fouling retired successful 32 minutes of action connected Monday — played mostly astatine powerfulness guardant past twelvemonth aft nan Timberwolves acquired halfway Rudy Gobert, but he’s needed successful nan mediate pinch nan Knicks aft nan free-agent departure of halfway Isaiah Hartenstein and nan injuries to commencement nan play of bigs Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiuwa.

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson believes nan summation of Karl-Anthony Towns makes nan Knicks contenders for nan NBA championship. AP

The 7-foot Towns rebounded from a quiet Knicks debut successful a blowout nonaccomplishment past week successful Boston (12 points and 7 rebounds) pinch 21 points, 15 boards and 2 blocked shots successful a triumph successful nan location opener Friday nighttime complete nan Pacers.

The New Jersey autochthonal besides converted 3 of 4 3-point attempts successful nan first 2 games.

“I’m judge each coach that comes successful present says nan aforesaid thing, but it makes it really difficult because of [Towns’] expertise to dispersed nan floor,” Atkinson added. “But he tin dispersed nan level and sprout nan 3, obviously, but besides [score] successful nan post.

“And he’s expanded his crippled wherever he tin thrust a adjacent out. So erstwhile you’re a halfway successful this convention and you tin do each 3 of those things, it’s really difficult.”

The Knicks had obtained different premier starter earlier successful nan offseason erstwhile they acquired helping Mikal Bridges from nan Nets.

Despite a scoreless first half against nan Celtics, Bridges is averaging 18.7 points successful nan Knicks’ 1-2 start.

Towns and Bridges person joined returning starters Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby.

“It’s hard. It’s really difficult to judge what nan squad is correct now,” Atkinson said. “They person caller pieces. If they had nan aforesaid pieces from past year, you’d spell to past year’s tape. This is hard. It’s decidedly wherever we are correct now. I show nan guys, it’s america first. We’re astir apt 85-90 percent focusing connected our worldly and astir apt 10 percent scouting.

“Like I said, I deliberation they’re title contenders. When you adhd 2 All-Stars, they’re going to beryllium really bully and really reliable to hit successful nan East. Obviously pinch Jalen, they’ve sewage a awesome group. [Knicks president Leon Rose has] done a heckuva job. [Coach Tom Thibodeau] has done a heckuva job. I expect to person a batch of battles pinch these guys. I cognize they’ve owned us. … I deliberation they’re better, personally. Stretch 5 who does each nan things he does, really good.”