Following a disastrous loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the New York Knicks have reportedly called a players-only dinner on Monday, per Zach Braziller of the New York Post. According to RJ Barrett, it was Julius Randle who organized the gathering.
“Just trying to hold each other accountable,” Barrett told Braziller on Tuesday. “Trying to get this going because we want to win.”
In a jaw-dropping, yet chaotic fashion, the Knicks crumbled to pieces on Sunday against OKC. Upon their heartbreaking loss, the most painful one is the fact that they allowed their opponent to drop a gigantic 145 markers in front of the depressed Madison Square Garden crowd.
It was good, good to have a team dinner like that,” added Barrett. “Try to figure this out the best that we can. We all care, trying to get this going on the right track.”
Their lackluster defensive display drew irk and murmurs most especially on the part of Tom Thibodeau, who notably possesses a defense-first coaching approach.
Thibodeau has been absorbing questions regarding his capabilities to handle the Knicks’ deteriorating efforts to start the season. As pointed out by Braziller, the franchise under his watch is currently ranked 24th in defensive rating and 29th in three-pointers made per game (14.1).
The Knicks currently sit with a 6-7 card. For Barrett, the criticisms being hurled against Thibodeau are plainly unfair given that the season is still in its early portion.
“His body of work speaks for itself,” Barrett said of Thibodeau. “He knows what he’s doing. … I didn’t even know he was [getting criticized]. That’s what [happens here]. You win a game, we’re superheroes. You lose, everything sucks. Really just got to take the good with the bad.”
The Knicks are set to embark on a daunting road trip wherein they will face the Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, and Phoenix Suns. These upcoming challenges put up a test their recent regrouping has worked well into its primary goal.
