After missing the Knicks‘ past two games due to left Achilles tendinopathy, center Isaiah Hartenstein will return on Saturday afternoon vs. Miami and is reentering the starting lineup, tweets Ian Begley of SNY.tv. Head coach Tom Thibodeau had previously said on Thursday that Hartenstein was doing “a lot better” (Twitter link).
Hartenstein became the Knicks’ starting center last month following Mitchell Robinson‘s ankle injury. The veteran big man has averaged 7.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.4 blocks in his 17 starts (33.8 MPG). New York has gone 11-6 during that stretch.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Josh Hart, who griped about his role with the Knicks earlier this season, still doesn’t agree with the notion that he’s a power forward and isn’t necessarily thrilled by his career-low 12.1% usage rate. However, he has gotten on board with what the team has asked him to do and embraced his new role, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. “Yeah, it took me 40 games. It’s a process,” Hart said. “Obviously it’s not something I thought it was going to be like entering the year. But it’s where we’re at. Now it’s just you got to sacrifice and do some of that.”
- In a subscriber-only story for The Post, Bondy takes a deep dive into how OG Anunoby‘s arrival and explains how his impact has gone beyond his defense. Within the same article, Bondy says Raptors guard Bruce Brown and Pistons guard Alec Burks are the two potential trade targets he has heard connected most frequently to the Knicks as of late.
- Would it be in the Knicks’ best interest to stand pat at the trade deadline, given how well they’re playing recently? Steve Popper of Newsday considers that question, writing that if the team does make a move on the trade market, a player’s fit will be as important as his skill.
- In yet another story for The New York Post, Bondy shines a light on the role that Thibodeau has played in the Knicks’ success this season, pointing out that several key players on the roster are playing the best basketball of their respective careers and arguing that wouldn’t happen “without the touch of a great — and tirelessly focused — coach.”
You can have Brown for a late 2025 FRP
Had a good schedule since the trade have the knicks, are playing well though. NY will miss the legs, energy, ability to create for himself and others off the bench that IQ bought come playoff time. Need a few more moves to get near the top dogs in the east.
They destroyed the Nuggets the other day and have had a lot of dominant wins since the Anunoby trade. I wouldn’t chalk it up to a weak schedule and conversely I don’t think they miss IQ that much in the playoffs. Brunson’s a clutch time stud in big games and having two smaller guards on the court together isn’t ideal. Personally I think if Anunoby stays healthy he already puts them in the same tier as the top East teams as he’s the type of elite two-way impact player that really makes a difference come playoff time especially since they don’t need him to be any higher than their 3rd scorer. With the Celtics and Bucks having major coaching issues (that sort of thing almost always has exaggerated importance in the playoffs) and the 76ers having the most mentally soft superstar in a long time – go figure he’s ducking the Nuggets in Denver yet again today not wanting to face the boos for stealing the MVP last season with all his whining and media pandering – who come playoff time will probably be relatively struggling as usual when he’s not getting those 10-15 extra FTs per game off the phantom fouls he always gets in the regular season and will be throwing teammates under the bus again after yet another second round exit… Anyways I digress, but point being, I think the Knicks maybe a lot closer to Finals contenders than some people realize yet if things break their way and they can stay healthy in the playoffs.
Knicks are gritty team that perhaps lack only consistent shooting, but come of playoff time the gap between them and top teams will be even smaller as shooting efficiency of top teams will suffer more due more physicallity allowed. I think NYK have chance to advance to ECF.
I like to see Sims get more mins. We will need him in playoffs.
DeM >>>> to Knickerbockers
And if not then Bruce Brown or Keldon Johnson for Fournier, Ryan A and a pick. Sign Bismack B
No.
Y’know, with the Randle injury, you might get your wish
The irony of Alex Burks possibly coming back if true. Moved him to dump his contract and Duren went with him for a protected first. Burks is the break glass emergency point guard if something goes sideways. Personally I’d go after Clarkson and get that 20pg off the bench 6th man while Randle and Brunson are on the bench. Contract ends at the end of the year and doubt he’ll go for much.
Knicks need to get some more bench players Thibs trust or he will once again grind his starters legs to a pulp by playoff time.
Ryan A is a Nova brother should stay. Fournier and a second round pick for Burks. Grimes only gets moved if Mikal becomes available.
you should worry about Brunson being doubled in the playoffs. don’t have enough shooting around to win big.