You can add Rick Pitino to the Knicks’ fast growing band.
The coach of St. John sees the possibility that the orange and blue are deep – deeper than it has been in more than 50 years.
Yes, that includes heroism. The Hall of Famer believes this growing group has such potential.
“I think they have nine or 10 best players. They may not have three best players, they have nine or 10 best players,” Pitino told The Post. “Their bench is very good, [coach Mike Brown] use them a lot. Offensive and defensive improvements to OG [Anunoby]the development of Karl-Anthony Towns away from the basket with his passing, [Jalen] Brunson is the most unique player I have ever seen in my life.
“I love it. I root for the Knicks like it’s my team. I think it’s driven by competition.”
The Knicks are on a remarkable run, coming off a semifinal sweep of the 76ers – the first time they’ve swept Philadelphia in the playoffs since Pitino took over as coach in 1989.
They have won seven straight playoff games by an average of 26.4 points and are currently the betting favorites to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
While many experts still see the defending champion Thunder as the favorite, the Knicks are playing just the same.
Ever since the team adjusted its offensive game plan to run more offenses through the middle of City — a change that happened during the series opener against the Hawks — the Knicks have found a higher level. In the postseason, Towns has 66 assists — 40 more than he tallied in the playoffs last year.
“They want each other better than before,” Pitino said. “When you watch Cleveland and Detroit, you know the ball is going to come [Cade] Cunningham or [James] Harden will create or the ball will be in Donovan [Mitchell’s] hands. Even though Brunson is a good scorer, they share the basketball so well that adding Brunson isn’t enough to stop this team. Before the Atlanta series, locking in Brunson was the way to stop the Knicks. That doesn’t work anymore because of their ball movement.”
“They go from one team to a ball movement team, a player movement team. They do a lot of different offensive things that are very pleasing to the eye.”
Brunson remains the linchpin. The three-time All-Star is enjoying another fine postseason, averaging 27.4 points and 6.1 assists.
He is shooting a solid 48.5 percent from the field and 40.9 percent on 6.6 attempts from three-point range. Both are his highest numbers as a Knick in the playoffs.
“How can a player with that vertical get out anywhere around the basket, he’s got Tiny Archibald on him around the basketball. He’s got the best midrange game,” Pitino said. “He gets off any midrange shot and he’s become a great 3-point shooter. He’s an amazing basketball player, an amazing 6-foot, 2-inch. Pound for pound, inch for inch, he’s probably one of the best players I’ve ever seen.”
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The next two rounds will be tough. The Knicks’ opponent in the conference finals has yet to be determined.
The Pistons-Cavaliers series is tied at 2-2. If the Knicks go through that round, it may be the Thunder or the Spurs led by Victor Wembanyama who will follow.
They wouldn’t have a home court case against one of those teams. But with the way the Knicks are playing right now, nobody should be afraid of them.
“The only downside is home court,” Pitino said. “Other than that, I think the Knicks have the best team. Now OKC is obviously good, they’re the defending champions. But the Knicks are deep, they’re talented, and the way they play offensively – I don’t mean the three-point shooting, I’m talking about the movement of the ball, the movement of the players – it’s much better than what I watched in January.”
