Knicks Notes: Difference in defense; Karl-Anthony Towns update; Julius Randle-Jimmy Butler trade development to watch

Throughout the season, Mikal Bridges has given you an honest assessment of the Knicks' defense.

In early December, he said the Knicks "pick and choose" when they want to play defense. In early January, Bridges said the Knicks let missed shots on offense affect their defense.

So when Bridges said on Monday night that the Knicks were "going in the right direction" on defense, it meant something. And the numbers support Bridges' opinion.

In their four-game winning streak, the Knicks are No. 3 in turnovers forced per 100 possessions. They are fourth in opponent triples and 10th in opponent field goal percentage.

And they are creeping up to the top 10 in defensive rating.

What’s been different the past few games?

"Just time together, practices, knowing that we need defense," Bridges said after Monday's win over Memphis. "Offense can win us some games but not where we want to get to. (We're) learning about each other. Think we're going in the right direction."

Bridges and the Knicks bottled up Ja Morant on Monday, holding him to 10 points on 13 shots. He turned it over four times and Memphis as a team had 26 turnovers. Some were unforced but most were the result of a Knick disrupting a play.

"I thought our defensive activity was terrific," Tom Thibodeau said. "Big-time multiple-effort game. Twenty steals. OG (Anunoby) and Mikal were all over the place. And that set the tone for us."

The Knicks will wake up on Tuesday ranked 14th in defensive efficiency. They are roughly 0.9 points per 100 possessions behind the 10th-best defensive team. They have the No. 2-ranked offense in the league. Generally speaking, teams who are in the top 10 in defense and offense play in May and June.

"When you look at us, you can see the understanding of how important that side of the basketball is," Karl-Anthony Towns said of the Knicks' defense. "We've proven on the offensive end, we're really really good, one of the best in the league. I think that we want to be the best we can be on the other side, the defensive side.

"I think we're just making a big commitment of not just having one game where we play great defense and the next game trying to win by offense. Trying to be able to win the game either way, with our defense or our offense.

KAT GETTING COMFORTABLE

Towns has said that his right thumb injury is impacting his perimeter shot. Entering Monday's game against Memphis, he was 1-for-10 from beyond the arc in the past three games since returning to the court with a bone chip in his sprained thumb. On Monday, he made 2 of 4 shots from beyond the arc and finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds.

"Man, it's been a struggle, huh?” Towns said with a laugh. "It was bad. I ain't gon' lie to you. I was worried my damn self."

He credited his teammates for his perimeter shooting against Memphis.

"Regardless of what happens, shooter's mindset -- the next one's in -- and just kept shooting the basketball," Towns said. "My teammates instill a bunch of confidence in me regardless of what's happening. And I just wanted to reward them for that kind of trust in me, and happy that tonight I could hit some threes to give some more spacing on the offensive side."

Did Towns' shooting improve on Monday because he's getting used to playing with the sprain/bone chip? Or was it a sign that his injured thumb is feeling better?

"It ain't the last (question). I think it's more just getting more comfortable," he said.

Towns is obviously playing through discomfort and he plans to play through it for the rest of the season.

SOUTH BEACH JULIUS?

The Jimmy Butler saga is the biggest trade story at the moment ahead of the trade deadline. According to reports, the Suns and/or Heat have talked to several teams about a three, four, or five-team deal involving Butler.

Keep an eye on Minnesota in a Butler deal. In the offseason, the Heat were one of the teams that expressed interest in trading for Julius Randle, per SNY sources. Randle has remained on the Heat's radar during the Butler saga, sources say.

I don't know if there are any active trade talks between Minnesota and Miami. But the two teams have been in touch on Butler trades.

As we all know, the Suns want to acquire Butler. The deal is complicated by Bradley Beal's no-trade clause. Phoenix would have to send Beal out to acquire Butler via trade.

MICHAEL RAY RICHARDSON BOOK

Former Knick Michael Ray Richardson has written a memoir: "Banned: How I Squandered An All-Star NBA Career Before Finding My Redemption."
Richardson was a remarkable talent. In his second season, Richardson led the NBA in both steals and assists. Richardson played eight seasons in the NBA and was a four-time All Star. He made three All-Star teams in his first four seasons – all with the Knicks. Richardson’s promising career was derailed by his drug use. He was the first player in the NBA to be banned for drugs. He was excommunicated in February 1986 and reinstated in 1987. Instead of coming back to the NBA, Richardson played several seasons overseas.
In his memoir, Richardson opens up about his life both on and off the basketball court, discussing all the highs, lows and everything in between. "Banned: How I Squandered An All-Star NBA Career Before Finding My Redemption" is available everywhere books are sold.