As soon as the blockbuster trade was made in September to bring Karl-Anthony Towns to New York, Kenny Atkinson believed it elevated the Knicks to title contenders.
Atkinson, the former Knicks assistant and Nets head coach, is in his first season leading the Cavaliers after spending a few seasons working under Steve Kerr with the Warriors.
Towns, a four-time All-Star center and power forward with the Timberwolves, was acquired in the massive deal that sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota.
“What an incredible pickup for the Knicks. I mean, as soon as I saw that, I said they are championship contenders, because he’s that good,” Atkinson said before his Cavaliers beat the Knicks, 110-104, on Monday night at the Garden. “I think he’s really improved. His defense has improved since his first couple of years [in the NBA]. Heck of a player. Heck of a matchup problem for us tonight.”
The Cavaliers also are a tough matchup for the Knicks, with two bigs — Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley — in their starting five.
Towns — who scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds before fouling out in 32 minutes of action on Monday — played mostly at power forward last year after the Timberwolves acquired center Rudy Gobert, but he’s needed in the middle with the Knicks after the free-agent departure of center Isaiah Hartenstein and the injuries to start the season of bigs Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiuwa.
The 7-foot Towns rebounded from a quiet Knicks debut in a blowout loss last week in Boston (12 points and seven rebounds) with 21 points, 15 boards and two blocked shots in a win in the home opener Friday night over the Pacers.
The New Jersey native also converted three of four 3-point attempts in the first two games.
“I’m sure every coach that comes in here says the same thing, but it makes it really hard because of [Towns’] ability to spread the floor,” Atkinson added. “But he can spread the floor and shoot the 3, obviously, but also [score] in the post.
“And he’s expanded his game where he can drive a close out. So when you’re a center in this league and you can do all three of those things, it’s really difficult.”
The Knicks had obtained another premier starter earlier in the offseason when they acquired wing Mikal Bridges from the Nets.
Despite a scoreless first half against the Celtics, Bridges is averaging 18.7 points in the Knicks’ 1-2 start.
Towns and Bridges have joined returning starters Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby.
“It’s hard. It’s really hard to judge what the team is right now,” Atkinson said. “They have new pieces. If they had the same pieces from last year, you’d go to last year’s tape. This is hard. It’s definitely where we are right now. I tell the guys, it’s us first. We’re probably 85-90 percent focusing on our stuff and probably 10 percent scouting.
“Like I said, I think they’re championship contenders. When you add two All-Stars, they’re going to be really good and really tough to beat in the East. Obviously with Jalen, they’ve got a great group. [Knicks president Leon Rose has] done a heckuva job. [Coach Tom Thibodeau] has done a heckuva job. I expect to have a lot of battles with these guys. I know they’ve owned us. … I think they’re better, personally. Stretch five who does all the things he does, really good.”
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