The way RJ Barrett sees it, the fix to the Knicks’ transition defense is an easy one.
“Get back,” he said matter-of-factly. “Defense is effort. I think that’s about it.”
It was a problem during the preseason for the Knicks.
They allowed 32 points off of 15 turnovers against the Wizards last Wednesday and another 29 points on 18 turnovers in a loss to the Timberwolves.
While some of that can be attributed to regulars sitting and different combinations, it was concerning.
The Knicks only allowed 20.7 points per game in transition last year, which was tied for the 13th-fewest in the league.
Mitchell Robinson pointed to transition defense as a focus of recent practices.
“Getting back, talking,” the center said. “Stuff like that, so that’s what we’ve mainly been focusing on. Just communication.”
Robinson described recent practices as “intense,” coming off an uneven preseason.
“We’re getting after it, fixing ourselves and getting ready for the season,” he said.
Former Knicks general manager Scott Perry has been hired as an analyst by ESPN, it was announced on Monday.
He will appear on ESPN shows such as “NBA Today” and “SportsCenter,” among others.
Perry spent six seasons with the Knicks and helped put together their current core.
In a diary with Andscape, All-Star guard Bradley Beal said the Knicks were one team that was involved in trade talks to land him from the Wizards.
The Heat were his top choice.
He eventually went to the Suns.
Coach Tom Thibodeau said that Ryan Arcidiacono and DaQuan Jeffries’ prior experience playing for him with the Knicks may have helped them make the team.
“I think probably, because they’ve come through the system. They’ve been here in the summer. They’ve been here in the fall. They were here last year,” he said. “They earned their way. And then when they got their opportunity, they did extremely well in terms of their attitude, approach, their readiness and all the things that we value. So, that’s why we did it.”