OGAnunoby's Impact on Celtics Quantified: A Graphical Representation of His Stifling Defense
Article Revised:
ogs-ballin': Anunoby Owns the Cage, Silencing Celtics with Lockdown D!
Yo, the numbers? They're freakin' insane!
OG Anunoby, this defensive beast, has been the Knicks' unsung hero since he joined 'em in December 2023. He ain't just kept the Celtics off the scoreboard; he's practically stopped them from shooting altogether when they're matched up against him.
Boston's superstar Jayson Tatum's numbers against Anunoby? 1-for-7 from the field across 17 minutes in the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinal series – and he took just one shot in Game 2 with that matchup, according to the NBA's tracking data. The rest of the Celtics? They've converted 6-for-27 shots with Anunoby as their primary defender. Jaylen Brown, Boston's second-best scorer? His percentage wasn't much better, going 2-for-7.
Anunoby's defensive rep followed him from the Raptors to the Knicks, where he's been pegged as a potential missing piece. Last season, a hamstring injury limited him to only parts of three games against the Pacers in the second round. But this year, he's been solid, anchoring the Knicks' defense, helping them take a 2-0 lead entering Game 3.
"It ain't easy," Jalen Brunson said after practice. "Those are great players over there, and so we have to help him out. He's been doing a phenomenal job, and as teammates, we have to help."
Last month, Anunoby declared he deserved Defensive Player of the Year. He boasted the best defensive rating among Knicks starters during the regular season (112.3). Once the playoffs hit, his defensive dominance continued.
Tatum's numbers since the series started? He's shot just 28.6% and scored only 36 points, admitting Thursday he needs "to be better." While Mikal Bridges grabbed plenty of headlines for stealing the ball from Jaylen Brown on the final possession of overtime in Game 1 and blocking Tatum's shot to end Game 2, Anunoby's sustained effort resulted in the Celtics avoiding shots – and he was alongside Bridges during that end-of-game sequence Wednesday.
Anunoby's been the primary defender in a matchup with Tatum for nearly seven more minutes than any other Knick, according to the NBA tracking stats. The Knicks haven't been surprised by Anunoby's D, Brunson said, because they've always known what he's capable of. And it's been on display during the biggest moments of his Knicks career against the defending champs.
"I think when you put that with Mikal and Josh [Hart], that wing versatility is huge," Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said. "To add in what [Mitchell Robinson] has brought to that and also Karl [Anthony-Towns]'s defense, I think it vastly improved."
So, what do you think about Anunoby shutting down the Celtics like this? Leave a comment below!
- The defensive prowess of OG Anunoby has been evident in the NBA's Eastern Conference semifinal series, as he's limited Boston's Jayson Tatum to a dismal 1-for-7 shooting across 17 minutes in the first two games.
- OG Anunoby, the Knicks' defensive beast, has not only held Jayson Tatum accountable on the court but has also disrupted the entire Celtics offense, holding them to a dismal 6-for-27 shooting when matched up against him, according to NBA tracking data.
