The Knicks will have to adapt — or, in this case, rotate.
14 trips and carries were called during the win over the Cavaliers Sunday marked the most NBA games in 25 years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Eight of the 14 whistles were blown against the Knicks.
A league source said no recent memos have been issued to crack down on trips, but players taking extra steps or dragging or switching feet have been the focus of attention this season.
“The goal [points of emphasis] you don’t have to call anything. “It’s to focus on areas that we feel are not being called as well as we would like,” a league source said. “Then throughout the year, we’ll be reinforcing those points to ensure we’re making the right call.”
Through Saturday, travel calls have increased from 1.3 per game last season to 2.9 this season, according to the league.
“I’ve never seen that in my life,” Julius Randle said Sunday, after being in the league’s spotlight. with a game shortened by fouls.
“I’m going to look at the film and I think it’s good for the most part,” said coach Tom Thibodeau, who received a technical for arguing a possible extra-traveling foul on Cavs guard Darius Garland. “Also – I think you have to be consistent in how you call it. If it’s hard for one team, it should be hard for the other team.”
It was RJ Barrett whistled for three walking fouls. Quentin Grimes had two walks and Immanuel Quickley, Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson each had one.
“We’re going to have to adjust,” Jalen Brunson said of the Knicks, who host the Hawks on Wednesday.
Brunson said the Knicks communicated more during Sunday’s win, which is a positive.
“We have to talk every time,” the guard said. “I think it’s a small thing that can go a long way for us. No one deliberately tries not to say anything. We all run, we all try to hide each other, but at the same time we know where our man is.
“I think if we talk more, we can help each other more. It’s just a work in progress.”
The Westchester Knicks traded Feron Hunt to the Pelicans’ affiliate Birmingham for guard Justin Wright-Foreman. Wright-Forman, 25, of Queens, starred at Hofstra.
Hunt, a forward who signed a two-way contract with the Knicks last Tuesday, was waived.
The Knicks assigned Jericho Sims, Svi Mykhailiuk and Myles McBride to Westchester, with the trio available for Monday’s game against Capital City.
— Additional reporting by Zach Braziller