SAN FRANCISCO — The Knicks’ suddenly huge defense will be put to the test by Stephen Curry.
Although they have held teams to 94 points or less in five consecutive games, which is even more impressive in today’s run-and-gun NBA, the Knicks have held teams to 94 points or fewer, and they have held teams to 94 points or less, an even more impressive number in today’s run-and-gun NBA. He’s going to try to stay stingy even though he’s the best long-range shooter in league history.
Curry, already two seasons removed from setting the all-time 3-point record, dropped 31 points with eight treys and 11 boards in a win over the Knicks at MSG less than three weeks ago.
He was ejected in the first quarter, but the Knicks were unable to recover from the blowout loss, with the Warriors building a 20-4 advantage in just seven minutes.
But that was before the Knicks started applying the clamps on opponents, fueled by the return of OG Anunoby and a league-wide trend of referees allowing contact since the All-Star break. With Saturday’s 98-91 victory over the Kings, they became the first team in six years to allow fewer than 422 points over a five-game span.
And Anunoby, who is 15-2 with the Knicks, understands he will match up with Curry at some point Monday. This also assumes Curry is available after returning from her ankle injury to beat the Lakers on Saturday.
“It’s always going to happen during the game, during cross-switches and transitions,” Anunoby said of Curry’s guard. “So I’m ready for that.”
What’s it like trying to stop a constantly moving sniper?
“Screens are coming from everywhere, so just pivot,” Anunoby said. “He goes from on-ball to off-ball. You can never relax with him.”
Lately, the Knicks (40-27) have benefited from their own version of Curry in Jalen Brunson, averaging 29.7 points since Jan. 27, compared to Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous He is fourth in the league behind Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
What’s even more impressive is that Brunson has continued to cook without much scoring help. That means the defense can take a huge hit on the point guard and still be able to stop him.
He’s scoring 43 percent of the Knicks’ points in back-to-back games.
Sacramento coach Mike Brown was perplexed by Brunson’s 42 RBI drop on Saturday, and coincidentally compared it to his game plan against Curry.
“Jalen, he’s a hell of a player,” Brown said. “Maybe Steph, but I don’t know if we blitzed anyone as much as we did tonight with Jaylen. We tried to send him two, but he still scored 42 points.”
Brunson and Curry are probably the top two players under 6’3 in the NBA this season. Barring anything else, both will earn All-NBA honors — Curry’s 10th, Brunson’s first.
A Knicks guard hasn’t been named All-NBA since Walt Frazier in 1975.
“I think he really has a chance to earn it. I think he deserves it,” Josh Hart said of his teammate. “He’s got consistency, he’s got durability compared to guys at his position. I think that’s what he deserves. I hope you, the media, understand that. And… Games like [against Sacramento] Obviously guys have been in and out of the lineup here, but he carried us through. I hope they realize that. He deserves it and is the one to get it. ”
Brunson and Curry have done relatively well with their respective offenses this season, but the big difference between the Knicks (40-27), who are fourth in the Eastern Conference, and the Warriors (35-31), who are ninth in the Western Conference. , Tom Thibodeau’s defense. .
An identity built around physicality and rebounding was reflected in March — and heading into Sunday’s game — with the NBA’s fewest points allowed, slowest pace, most rebounds, and best defensive rating. Ta.
It will be difficult to maintain that against Curry.
“They’re good. There’s no way around it,” Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo said of his former team, the Warriors. “They beat good teams. They dealt with the injury bug. They’ve traded guys inside and outside, Draymond [Green] I am suspended from school. They’ve been through it, but they’re still in the race for the playoffs and play-in. ”
