Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau knew that filling the defensive void Mitchell Robinson’s injury left would be a collective effort.
But if you thought New York’s defense would fall off completely after Robinson broke his right hand in mid-February, you must have forgotten about Nerlens Noel.
Noel is putting the league on notice that he’s protecting the rim at all costs. His philosophy for protecting the rim is simple. “If you don’t know, you’re going to find out,’’ Noel said after Sunday’s win against Detroit.
“I’m protecting the rim by any means. It’s a great aspect to my game. I try to play at a high level. Just do enough to change the game. Just come in and find out.”
Teams are certainly finding out. The Knicks have the second highest defensive rating in the league and are (6-2) since losing Mitchell Robinson.
“I definitely don’t want anybody to be hurt on this team and I’m wishing Mitchell a speedy recovery, that’s my brother,” Noel said. “But I’ve taken that spot and tried to make a focal point to man this team and be the anchor on the defensive end and do the small little things that will help us win the game. I think I’ve been doing that at a high level.’’
‘Thibs is my Dog’
Defensive anchor is no easy role to fill, but Noel is doing it seamlessly and the Knicks are excelling. After Sunday’s win against Detroit, the Knicks sit at (18-17) and the 4th seed in the East. Noel credits Thibs with giving the team the energy to compete every night.
“Thibs is my dog, man,” Noel said with a smile. “You just look at him and you know what you gotta do. He’s definitely an exceptional coach that gives you the energy that you need to go out there and do your job.”
When asked whether or not he’s been happy with Noel’s contributions to winning basketball since Robinson’s injury, coach Thibs was straight forward.
“Well, one, I’m never happy. Two, I always think we can do better,” Thibodeau said following the win in Detroit. “I’m proud of Nerlens for being ready, which we knew he would be. And then we have a lot of other guys stepping up. I don’t think you replace a guy like Mitchell individually.”
“We have to do it collectively. If we play hard, we play smart, we play together, we can find a way to win. That’s what I want us to do. And whenever someone else is called upon, someone goes into the rotation, just be ready, get in there and get the job done. That’s what being a team is all about.”
Kentucky Connection & Randle Durability
As far as Julius Randle’s ascension, Noel is excited to see a fellow Kentucky Wildcat grow into an All-Star before his eyes.
“Obviously this is my first time being on the same team with him… but just seeing his evolution, I remember playing against him last year, years before. But now it’s just a different confidence, All-Star, simply put. He shoots the ball with ultra-confidence.”
“I think that’s really taking a real step forward with him to be a leader of this team. Lead by example. Julius is just a fantastic person, fantastic player. I really enjoy playing with him.”
If you’re worried that Randle has been logging too many minutes recently, don’t be. After Sunday night’s game Randle said he’s happy to be at a point in his career where he can be durable and available for his team.
“I take pride in that,” Randle said. “I take pride in being durable and being available for my team every night. To go out and give all-out effort. That’s what the training is for in the summer. Running, lifting weights, pushing yourself everyday even when you don’t feel like it. That’s what this is for. [Playing this much], honestly, is the easy part.”
The Knicks (18-17) take on the Spurs (17-13) tonight at 8:30 (EST) in San Antonio before heading back home for a rematch with the Pistons (9-25) on March 4. Expect a gritty game between two solid defensive teams with two of the top head coaches in the league. If Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich hasn’t read up on Noel’s philosophy around the rim just yet, he’ll have to find out tonight.
