Knicks schedule unrelenting with undefeated Cavaliers up next

The Knicks schedule isn’t letting up rather yet. 

After starting their play pinch an opening-night travel to nan 2024 champion Celtics and a location opener against a Pacers squad that knocked them retired of nan playoffs past season, nan Knicks are readying to spot nan undefeated Cavaliers successful Game 3 of nan twelvemonth connected Monday nighttime astatine Madison Square Garden. 

Cleveland, which has won 3 consecutive games to commencement nan season, features a heavy rotation pinch six players regularly scoring double-digits and Donovan Mitchell arsenic nan caput of nan snake. 

Donovan Mitchell and nan Cavaliers person won their first 3 games to commencement nan season. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

“They were very bully past twelvemonth arsenic well,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Any squad erstwhile you person Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell successful nan backcourt, it’s very dynamic. And past of course, you’re talking astir Jarrett Allen and [Evan] Mobley up front. And past they set and they sewage [Dean] Wade, they sewage [Georges] Niang, they sewage guys. [Sam] Merrill, who tin dispersed nan level and sprout threes. 

“So it’s a squad that’s very potent offensively. They tin play fast, they tin bring it down disconnected nan dribble and nan bigs connected nan boards, you’re concerned astir that. And truthful you person to beryllium beardown successful each area. You person to decorativeness your defense, you person to decorativeness your discourtesy against them. [They] person shot-blocking — they’re a very bully team.” 

With conscionable 2 games of information for nan Knicks to activity with, nary stats tin beryllium taken pinch thing much than a atom of salt, but it was a overmuch improved showing against nan Pacers compared to nan opening-night nonaccomplishment successful Boston. 

The Knicks had each 5 starters successful double-digits, pinch Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns some signaling double-doubles successful a blowout 123-98 win. 

“There were respective sequences successful which I thought our defense was really tied together,” Thibodeau said. “I thought OG [Anunoby] was really disruptive, his activity was done nan roof. I thought Josh’s all-around crippled was immense for us. Jalen [Brunson’s] Jalen. And past nan chair guys are bully arsenic well. 

“It’s a very potent violative team. We’re being tested correct distant by immoderate of nan champion offenses successful nan league. Cleveland falls into that category. We’re gonna person to beryllium tied together successful that crippled arsenic well.” 

When reserve Ariel Hukporti checked into nan triumph complete Indiana, cameras appeared to drawback Deuce McBride impressing connected him nan value of utilizing those minutes to gain Thibodeau’s trust. 

“It’s not only my trust, it’s his teammates’ trust,” Thibodeau said. “It’s everyone’s trust. I deliberation for immoderate subordinate who’s coming into nan league, nan first point is to study really to beryllium a pro and you travel successful initially, you’re learning a wholly different league… It starts pinch practicing good first, past erstwhile you do that, it’s taking nan adjacent step, which is applying it to crippled situations. It’s not easy.”