There was less than a minute left to play when DeMar DeRozan found himself with the ball in hand, at 109-109, against the Knicks. Facing the basket, the Bulls winger attempts a penetration, but OG Anunoby pushes him away the first time. DeRozan passes, then comes out of the racket to attempt a long shot. But once again, the Knicks winger is too close, and DeRozan has to come out on Nikola Vucevic. The latter misses the target. But, on the throw-in, Caruso steals the ball from Brunson.
Never two without three, DeMar DeRozan tries his luck again. This time Anunoby forces him to take a shot by turning to the right side of the basket. The shot misses. Anunoby wins a third time against DeRozan with one last possession to play. This is the kind of defensive sequence that OG Anunoby can provide in important moments, and it will be very valuable in the playoffs against the best attackers on the East Coast.
The leader of the Knicks defense
“He’s a hell of a defender”, confirms Precious Achiuwawho also knows a little about defense. “He plays the same way from the jump ball until the end of the match. His defensive intensity is still the same, and he's a killer in that regard. »
Like every evening, Anunoby was on a mission Sunday evening against the best opposing attacker. He forced DeRozan to drop the ball several times and prevent him from taking a preferred position. This is the mark of great defenders.
“He showed a lot of mental strength. DeMar is definitely something to deal with on every possession. He's an excellent shooter. One of the best, “ recognizes Tom Thibodeau. “And, OG, what I love about it is that it’s going to make you work.” Even if you score, he will come back next time and do it again and again. That's what I like about him. His resistance. »
A real bond with Precious Achiuwa
Tom Thibodeau can also rely on the pair he forms with Precious Achiuwa. The Nigerian was also decisive defensively at the end of the match to prevent DeRozan from restoring his team's lead in overtime. Traded for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, Achiuwa and Anunoby created automatisms among the Raptors, and it is the Knicks who benefit from it today.
“ For us, switching is always automatic”, specifies Achiuwa. “ When OG hears my voice, I come over and announce the screen. He just knows he needs to change immediately. It's not like it's a one-game affair. We've been doing this for years playing together, so we have that cohesion on that side of the court. » A cohesion that could benefit the Knicks, whether to challenge the Butler-Adebayo duo if it is Miami, or the Maxey-Embiid tandem if it is Philadelphia.
