Knicks forward Obi Toppin, who has averaged just 10.7 minutes per night in six games since returning from a leg injury, is a good candidate to play an increased role with Mitchell Robinson on the shelf due to a broken thumb, according to Peter Botte of The New York Post.
In order to earn those extra minutes though, Toppin recognizes that he has to play better, Botte writes in a separate New York Post story. The former lottery pick has made just 4-of-18 shots since his return and has gone scoreless in three of his last four games.
“I don’t know,” Toppin responded when asked why he thinks he’s struggling. “Just confidence? Shoot the ball when I have open shots, drive the ball when I have to drive the ball. Just play great basketball. It’s just more repetitions in the game. Just having an opportunity to shoot some shots in the game, get that touch again. And I feel like once I get that touch – I’m shooting well in practice, I’m shooting well here, it’s just in the game, having those game looks, finding that rhythm again.”
Of course, while Toppin could play alongside Julius Randle in smaller lineups, the Knicks will also need one or both of Isaiah Hartenstein and Jericho Sims to step up in Robinson’s absence. Fred Katz of The Athletic explores what to expect from the team’s two backup centers, noting that – while he’s not the rim protector Robinson is – Sims is a more versatile defender than Hartenstein, with the ability to get out to the perimeter to guard non-bigs.
Here’s more from out of New York:
- A recent report from Michael Scotto indicated the Knicks would like to get two second-round picks back in exchange for Cam Reddish, but Ian Begley of SNY.tv hears from teams in touch with the Knicks that one second-rounder may be enough to get something done. New York’s ability to get draft compensation for Reddish could come down to what sort of player the team is willing to take back for salary-matching purposes.
- Elsewhere on the trade front, Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic cites an NBA executive who said earlier this week that he doesn’t believe Immanuel Quickley is “gettable” in a trade anymore, like he was earlier in the season.
- As Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News writes, Isaiah Hartenstein still doesn’t seem entirely comfortable with his role as a center in Tom Thibodeau‘s system, but he did say the Achilles injury that was bothering him earlier in the season has improved. “I feel like I can jump a little bit, dunk the ball a little bit more,” Hartenstein said. “So I think when that keeps getting better and better defensively I’ll feel more confident.”
Justin Holiday is ideal guy for NYK to get in return for Cam. Vet shooter on an expiring deal that doesn’t hog the ball & won’t complain about his role. And I’d def be willing to give up 2 2nds along with Justin… but if they only need 1 that’s even better
Just keep trying to speak something into existence that is never going to happen.
Why all the hate for Reddish? He wanted out of Atlanta and now you want him to have to go back to that?
We don’t want Cam or Holiday. You can have em both. Cam is an underachiever. Only wants to get paid. Talent and playing with teammates is all you need to do. You got real talent. And you can play with 8 other guys in a rotation. You will get paid. Cam still a kid …..
This comment about Cam is as delusional as this enept coach who plays Fournier McBride and Harentiseo over Cam who is all around better player then these three one demensional sided players. Last night this delusional coach sits Obi in the fourth quarter to play Fournier who can’t guard my grandma and gives Obi 11 freaking minutes when he had it going. James Dolan has to step in and end this sorry lame love affair between Tom Thibs and his nut scratcher Lazy Do Nothing but hoard first round picks Leon Rose. This is a joke . We are sitting players at the detremint of winning games and making the playoffs
How long I’ve been telling you about Okongwu. A real PF ….
Toppin would be a better fit with the Bulls than P. Williams.
Knicks vs Hawks ….. good gm.
Hawks triple teaming Randle…. Daaaaammmmm
The two fouls called on Hartenstein were BS. He plays like Frankenstein but those calls with Trey and Hunter were really bad.
Agree …
Hawks got more talent. They just got issues. I like Sims, we need to give him a good look.
Tonight’s result shows why Mitch is so valuable to our bottom line. Analytics have always reflected this, but here are two traditional stats that are telling.
– Opponent Points in the Paint: 62. We’re the 2nd in the league (behind only MIA) in this stat, giving up an average of 45.
– Offensive Rebounds: ATL had 14, we had 9. We’re 1st in the league in this stat, averaging 13.4. Mitch averages 4.3 by himself (2nd only to Adams in the league) and his presence helps others here. Even in the prior two losses to TOR and WSH, we won this category, 20-14, and 20-18.
We actually out shot ATL (overall, 59% to 56%, and from 3, 43.3% to 38.2%). Yet, we still lost by 15 going away in the last half of the 4th Quarter.
It’s one game, but a poor first showing for the Hartenstein/Sims tandem.
Yup, I said last night. Mitch is the most underrated player on the team. It’s night and day with and without him on the court. It’s easy to see on TV.
As other mentioned these injuries with him really suck. Every time he has a few week good stretch and hits his groove, he gets hurt. Then he comes back and it takes a week or two for him to get into peak form.
Only for him to get hurt again a couple weeks after that lol.
I just hope Mitch come back in shape, so it doesn’t take long for him to ramp back up. It’s just a thumb so he should be able to do plenty of cardio.