OG Anunoby spoke at New York Knicks practice ahead of Game 4 of the NBA Finals against San Antonio Spurs. The wing discussed his offensive growth during the team's winning streak, his confidence in tight spaces, the turnovers that hurt the Knicks in Game 3, and the need to reclaim their identity from the start: defense, physicality, transition, ball movement, and good shots.
Q. You've had a lot of success in those situations where you're kind of trapped in the corner with very little space to move, and yet you're still creating your shots with fakes, especially even late in the possession, right? What's your mental process in those moments when you don't have much space, don't have much time, and yet you've made so many of those shots?
OG ANUNOBY: Just having composure. Having composure, being decisive in what I do, whether it's shooting, attacking, making a move or whatever. Being decisive and then shooting with confidence. Either I shoot, or I attack, I go to the rim if the rim is open, or I make the next play if help comes.
Q. During this streak you've been on, and especially you, your offensive game seems to have gone to another level. I'm wondering what the factors behind that might be.
OG ANUNOBY: I think just… I mean, I've always worked on my game. Maybe a little more usage. I don't know. Just being ready, being prepared to shoot, being aggressive. Yeah, being aggressive when I get the ball, whether it's to shoot, attack or pass.
Q. Do you think you're still underrated a bit as an offensive player?
OG ANUNOBY: I think so, yeah. I believe so.
Q. The coach talked yesterday about the turnovers. We know there were a lot of distractions around this game. Do you think that influenced things in any way and that you guys have things to clean up?
OG ANUNOBY: I don't know about the other stuff, but we had turnovers that aren't like us, just being careless with the ball, not being on the same page. During the course of a game those things happen. We're going to try to clean it up.
We've already watched film. We're going to keep watching film and try to make sure those mistakes don't happen again.
Q. The first three games have been very tight and very physical. How do you set the tone for Game 4?
OG ANUNOBY: Just coming out aggressive from the start, playing the way we play, our style, being physical, getting stops, running in transition, moving the ball, taking good shots. Just starting the game that way, for 48 minutes.
Q. Over three games, I think especially against Wemby, you've attacked a lot. Of course, you've also shot over him. How do you see that matchup on offense and defense?
OG ANUNOBY: I just try to be aggressive and decisive no matter who's guarding me. Read the situation and let that tell me what I'm going to do, whether it's pass, shoot or attack, and try to finish.