What OG Anunoby is Doing Different in Latest New York Knicks Return
OG is finally off the IR.
The New York Knicks enjoyed a pleasant surprise on Friday as OG Anunoby was removed from the injury report for the opener of a four-game road trip. Though New York dropped a 108-100 decision, getting Anunoby would've been enough of a victory for the metropolitan psyche.
“I’m happy he’s back, happy he’s healthy,” point Jalen Brunson said, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “Obviously, we didn’t win so it clouds my judgment right now (on how Anunoby played), but (I'm) just happy he’s healthy and out there.”
If standings were the only criteria, Anunoby would be the Knicks' undisputed MVP: even with Friday's loss, the Knicks are 15-3 when he dresses. Anunoby's elbow injury marred an otherwise brilliant January and it caused him to miss 27 games. Eighteen of those departures came in the immediate aftermath and he missed nine more after a flare-up amidst a brief return last month. The Knicks went 13-15 when he wasn't on the floor, forcing them into a seven-team logjam that has second and eighth place separated by 4.5 games.
So how does Anunoby plan to generate a longer stay? The in-season acquisition hinted at holstering in Bondy's report.
“Maybe less shooting, building up the shooting, not just going back to shooting like I normally shoot,” Anunoby said in Bondy's report. “So (I'm) just taking my time and it’s going to get better and better.”
Anunoby tried only eight shots (hitting five) in his first game back on Friday night. He's trying just under 11 a game as a Knick, but everyone involved with the franchise knows that Anunoby was brought in more for his defense than his shooting, though he's been happy to pick up the slack in the latter category on several occasions (14.4 points on over 50 percent in 18 appearances).
The Knicks are bit of a different team than they were in January: while fellow imports Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks have struggled to live up to expectations, Josh Hart and Miles McBride (who stepped out of the starting five upon Anunoby's return) have taken on expanded roles in the New York rotation. Speaking of injury revivals, Mitchell Robinson has also made his way back from a 50-game departure for his December ankle ailment.
Anunoby will thus get a few chances to build chemistry with the new group but head coach Tom Thibodeau didn't appear to view that as necessary as some observers do.
“His game is unique because it’s defense, it’s rebounding, it’s moving without the ball, it’s running the floor, being versatile on offense,” Thibodeau said per Ian Begley of SNY. “(So) he can fit in seamlessly.”
Anunoby will have a chance to show off his progress on Sunday night when the Knicks face the Milwaukee Bucks (7 p.m. ET, MSG/NBA TV).
GEOFF MAGLIOCCHETTI
Editor-In-Chief at All Knicks