{"id":81699,"date":"2022-09-29T12:07:56","date_gmt":"2022-09-29T12:07:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/knicks-obi-toppin-looking-to-improve-defense-jump-shot\/"},"modified":"2022-09-29T12:07:56","modified_gmt":"2022-09-29T12:07:56","slug":"knicks-obi-toppin-looking-to-improve-defense-jump-shot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/knicks-obi-toppin-looking-to-improve-defense-jump-shot\/","title":{"rendered":"Knicks&#8217; Obi Toppin looking to improve defense, jump shot"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Obi Toppin was relaxed Wednesday, leaning back in his chair and joking with reporters.  He&#8217;s heading into his third NBA season with the Knicks and his confidence is palpable.  Toppin&#8217;s production skyrocketed at the end of last season, when he averaged a 20 points over his final 10 games, and he&#8217;s not too worried about what teams were resting players or tanking at the time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt helped me a lot,\u201d Toppin said.  \u201cI feel like I was always able to do stuff like that.  I just feel like coming off of those last games of the season, it helped me a lot going into the summer, kinda showed me what I can do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Knicks want to see Toppin, a top-10 pick in 2020, take the next steps this season, and that means getting to the next level defensively and improving his outside shot so his shooting percentage ticks up a few points.  By the way, that&#8217;s what the Dayton product spent the summer doing.<\/p>\n<p>Though Toppin spent most of his offseason in New York, working at the Knicks&#8217; practice facility in Tarrytown, he also spent a month in Los Angeles, working out with a group that included Paul George, Karl-Anthony Towns and Coby White at Proactive Sports Performance, a run put together by former UCLA standout Don MacLean.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><figcaption>Obi Toppin<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Jason Szenes<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Given that defense \u2014 particularly the ability to guard all five positions \u2014 isn&#8217;t the easiest thing to work on without competition, that time was especially helpful.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignright\">\n\t<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cGuarding guards like Jalen [Brunson], for instance, in pickup games here or guarding guards like Coby White in LA \u2026 helped me a lot,\u201d Toppin said.  \u201cI feel like even if I can&#8217;t get down low, I have to find a way to stay in front of them, still contest their shots and make it hard for them to do things.  I feel like I worked on that this summer and I&#8217;m a lot better now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDefensively, I think he can get there,\u201d Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said.  \u201cThe NBA game&#8217;s a lot different than a college game.  You gotta not only learn how the game&#8217;s different, you gotta learn all the personnel, you gotta learn the schemes, you gotta learn all those things so that it becomes instinctive to you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If Toppin becomes more comfortable guarding multiple positions, it would unlock a slew of possibilities both for him and for the Knicks.  That could, perhaps, include a bigger lineup, with Toppin alongside Julius Randle.  Thibodeau, however, didn&#8217;t sound enthused with that combination on Wednesday, when he noted that the numbers showed it \u201cwasn&#8217;t very effective\u201d in the past.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut you always want to get a look at things, particularly in the preseason,\u201d Thibodeau said.  \u201cAnd so we&#8217;ll take a look at it there.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n<p>Quentin Grimes was spotted in a walking boot during practice.  He is considered day-to-day with a sore left foot.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Obi Toppin was relaxed Wednesday, leaning back in his chair and joking with reporters. He&#8217;s heading into his third NBA season with the Knicks and his confidence is palpable. Toppin&#8217;s production skyrocketed at the end of last season, when he averaged a 20 points over his final 10 games, and he&#8217;s not too worried about &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/knicks-obi-toppin-looking-to-improve-defense-jump-shot\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Knicks&#8217; Obi Toppin looking to improve defense, jump shot<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[6],"tags":[68,312,27388,6023,307,7445],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":53192,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/the-hurdle-in-knicks-jazz-talks\/","url_meta":{"origin":81699,"position":0},"title":"The hurdle in Knicks-Jazz talks","date":"August 22, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"It's not about the players in the package. It's not about the amount of first-round picks. According to sources, Jazz president Danny Ainge and Knicks president Leon Rose are at a Donovan Mitchell stalemate over really one thing \u2014 the amount of \u201cunprotected\u201d first-round picks in the package. On draft\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) against the Mavericks on April 22, 2022.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/08\/donovan-mitchell-knicks-trade-rumors.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":61448,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/knicks-jazz-rumors-barrett-grimes-toppin-mitchell\/","url_meta":{"origin":81699,"position":1},"title":"Knicks\/Jazz Rumors: Barrett, Grimes, Toppin, Mitchell","date":"August 31, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"the Jazz are high on knicks wing RJ Barrett and were \u201cpushing\u201d for him to be included in a potential trade for Donovan Mitchell, writes Tony Jones of The Athletic. Prior to agreeing to an extension, sources tell Jones that Barrett's camp was \u201cbracing\u201d for the 22-year-old to be dealt\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4979,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/new-york-notes-irving-durant-harris-grimes-quickley-toppin\/","url_meta":{"origin":81699,"position":2},"title":"New York Notes: Irving, Durant, Harris, Grimes, Quickley, Toppin","date":"July 5, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"July 4th 2022 at 10:54pm CST by Dana Gauruder the nets have leverage in trade negotiations and intend to use it, which could drag out the process into training camp, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. Kyrie Irving has opted in to the last year of his deal\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2514,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/pt-roundball-table-are-the-knicks-a-playoff-team-after-their-free-agent-spending-spree\/","url_meta":{"origin":81699,"position":3},"title":"P&#038;T Round(ball) Table: Are the Knicks a playoff team after their free agent spending spree?","date":"July 2, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"the knicks finished six games back of the play-in last season. This week, they added free agents Jalen Brunson and Isaiah Hartenstein. They also re-signed Mitchell Robinson. Are these upgrades enough to vault the Knicks back into playoff contention in 2022-23? The P&T staff weighs in... Joe Flynn: no. could\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":53702,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/report-reason-for-donovan-mitchell-trade-stalemate-between-knicks-jazz-revealed\/","url_meta":{"origin":81699,"position":4},"title":"Report: Reason for Donovan Mitchell Trade Stalemate Between Knicks, Jazz Revealed","date":"August 23, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"the knicks have been the team most mentioned team regarding a potential trade for Jazz star Donovan Mitchell but a deal has yet to be done. According to the NNew York Post's Marc Berman, the reason for the stalemate in negotiations is because Utah wants four unprotected first-round draft picks.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":30427,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/knicks-jazz-havent-spoken-in-two-weeks-about-donovan-mitchell-as-trade-talks-stall\/","url_meta":{"origin":81699,"position":5},"title":"Knicks, Jazz haven&#8217;t spoken in two weeks about Donovan Mitchell as trade talks stall","date":"July 30, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Trade talks between the Knicks and Jazz over Donovan Mitchell have apparently stalled. the two teams haven't talked in two weeks, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. The news comes after New York backed away from a reported offer in mid-July of six future first-round draft picks,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"Donovan Mitchell remains a member of the Jazz \u00e2\u0080\u0094 for now.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/07\/1240314504.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/Obi-Toppin-1.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1001","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81699"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81699"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81699\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}