After the Knicks‘ swarming defense, led by wings OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, limited Boston to 90 points on 36.2% shooting in a Game 2 victory, veteran forward P.J. Tucker told reporters, including Stefan Bondy of The New York Post, that Anunoby was overlooked in a major way by Defensive Player of the Year voters this spring.
“OG’s been off the charts. I don’t know how he didn’t win Defensive Player of the Year,” Tucker said of his Knicks teammate. “I don’t think it’s even close. I think he’s the best two-way player in the league. He’s always played defense, but this year offensively he’s taken it up another notch. I don’t think we ran one play for him (in Game 1) and he had 30 points. I’m telling you, it’s incredible. He’s amazed me this year and he’s the Defensive Player of the Year, no doubt.”
This year’s voters weren’t aligned with Tucker — while 13 players showed up on at least one Defensive Player of the Year ballot, Anunoby wasn’t among those 13. Neither he nor any other Knick received a single DPOY vote.
The Knicks only finished 13th overall in defensive rating during the regular season, but they’ve taken their play up a notch in recent weeks and rank fourth in that category in the postseason.
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- Which of the Pistons‘ top four veteran unrestricted free agents are most and least likely to re-sign with the team this summer? Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press (subscription required) considers that question, identifying Malik Beasley as the most likely to be back, followed by – in order – Dennis Schröder, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Paul Reed. Sankofa wouldn’t be surprised if there’s mutual interest in each case, but thinks it makes sense for Hardaway to test the open market and suggests Detroit might need more size in the frontcourt than Reed provides.
- Ahead of Monday’s draft lottery, Eric Koreen of The Athletic examines four hypothetical outcomes for the Raptors, including one where they remain at No. 7 and three where they move into the top four (but not to No. 1). Koreen likes Maryland’s Derik Queen as a potential target at No. 7 and notes that Baylor’s V.J. Edgecombe could be the “cleanest fit for the Raptors in the lottery” if they move up to No. 3 or 4.
- Asked during an appearance on FanDuel’s Run it Back show (Twitter video link) for his thoughts on Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s future, veteran big man Bobby Portis said his longtime Bucks teammate “bleeds green,” adding that he believes the two-time MVP would like to spend his entire career with one team. Portis also pointed out that any team trading for Antetokounmpo would have to give up so many assets to land him that his new club may not end up in a better position than the Bucks to contend.
Yea Portis, keep saying that loudly. A new team could never be better, right?
I think he’s saying the team acquiring Giannis wouldn’t necessarily be better after giving up the number of players and draft picks the Bucks would seek. Kind of like what happened to the Bucks themselves when they made the move for Damian Lillard.
He didn’t win dpoy because he wasn’t the best defender during the regular season lol. You don’t win a regular season award for a couple of good postseason games. I’m happy for the knicks but some of these quotes are demented.
OKC would still be good if they got Giannis, so would raps, so would spurs.
Rox wouldn’t be as good, neither would pistons or Miami ( unless heat got Zion too in the process) cause they would give away most of their top assets.
Yeah, agree with those 3 teams. OKC still has a treasure-load of picks they can pull from, and some good young players to dangle. They’d still be a contender even after the trade.
The Raps have an early pick in this year’s draft, plus their own future picks to dangle, and team him up with Scottie to become contenders also. Ingram just signed, so won’t be available, but they have guys like Quickley/RJ/Gradey to dangle too that would help with a Bucks rebuild/reset.
The Spurs can surround Giannis with Wemby, and have some picks and young players like Castle to dangle too, but do they have enough that the Bucks would want?
The Jazz have the assets, but have no players the same caliber as the above three teams to build around Giannis. Rockets might actually have enough assets, but prob the same as the Jazz. And Miami don’t have the assets to finagle Giannis away.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens this summer.
The reason Thibs went after OG and Bridges. Is positional size and 2way talents. That is an incredible combination to have. Maybe now all the geniuses here. Will start to understand me.
Remember during the season. Knicks were at the bottom in team D. No Mitch and Precious missed significant time. Now with Mitch back and in game shape. Their team D is a force again. Celtics know that now. Here is some more knowledge about OG.
Kirk Goldsberry
@kirkgoldsberry
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Celtics are shooting 5-of-29 when OG Anunoby is the contesting defender this series.
Tatum 2-8
White 0-6
Brown 1-5
Others 2-10
link to si.com
Basketball is a 2Way sport. No team wins in the playoffs. If they don’t play D. Ask Luka ….
Celtics biggest issue to me is no KP. Knicks are too good a team. To beat missing a key player. Celtics are good enough to come back from two down. They will need their full team healthy. Gm 3 is huge for both teams to me. Celtics can’t go down 3-0.
Knicks play their first gm at home. I expect a war today. “In Thibs we Trust”
ReplyFlagMute
Lil D MVC aka Uno
May 10, 2025
He didn’t win dpoy because he wasn’t the best defender during the regular season lol. You don’t win a regular season award for a couple of good postseason games. I’m happy for the knicks but some of these quotes are demented.
This is the comedian of the board. Who probably hasn’t watched a Knicks game. Yet has knowledge about their season. And knows better than PJ Tucker. A guy who made a living playing only Defense. OG is not DPOY but he is first team defense. And I actually watch ALL the games.
That’s why I muted Lil D Uno boy. Dude lives to troll and doesn’t provide much else.