After returning to the Knicks‘ lineup Friday night, OG Anunoby said it was “just inflammation” in his right elbow that forced him to miss the previous nine games, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Anunoby, who is operating under a minutes restriction, believed it was important to get back on the court before the postseason begins.
He was able to play three games after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on the elbow in February, but suffered a setback that kept him out of action again. He told reporters that he took a different approach to rehab this time than he did immediately after the operation.
“Maybe less shooting. Building up the shooting, not just going back to shooting like I normally shoot,” Anunoby said. “So just taking my time and it’s going to get better and better.”
Anunoby played 29 minutes on Friday, scoring 12 points and shooting 5-of-8 from the field. He replaced Miles McBride in the starting lineup and guarded DeMar DeRozan for most of the night. Anunoby made an immediate impact after being acquired from Toronto in late December, and Friday’s loss dropped the Knicks to 15-3 with him on the court.
“I’m happy he’s back, happy he’s healthy,” Jalen Brunson said. “Obviously, we didn’t win so it clouds my judgment right now (on how Anunoby played), but just happy he’s healthy and out there.”
There’s more on the Knicks:
- Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks were expected to provide much-needed shooting help when they were acquired in a deadline deal with Detroit, but both players are in danger of being left out of the playoff rotation, Bondy states in a separate story. Bondy notes that Anunoby’s return pushes Burks to the 10th spot in the rotation, which is more players than coach Tom Thibodeau typically uses in the postseason. Bogdanovic and Burks have struggled with efficiency since coming to New York, and they’ve seen their playing time reduced recently.
- Josh Hart was ejected in the first quarter Friday for kicking Javonte Green in the side of the head on a play that appeared to be accidental (video link), Bondy adds in another piece. Referee Scott Foster said “intent was not a criteria” in handing out the Flagrant 2.
- Talking with the media in Chicago, where he coached for five years, Thibodeau pushed back against the long-standing criticism that he gives too many minutes to his starters, per Steve Popper of Newsday. “People tend not to look at — what are the star players playing? Because usually you’re matching their players with a primary defender,” Thibodeau said. “So when LeBron [James] is on the floor, that’s when that player is on the floor. So LeBron is playing 39, he’s 39. If DeMar is playing 40, then whoever is guarding him has to play 40. Otherwise, you’re reducing your chances of winning. And the bottom line is to win games.”
Thibs, love ya wish ya never left Chicago, but you know your defense scheme does not depend upon man to man coverage, so you don’t have to play guys equal minutes to whomever they are primarily matched up against. Just admit you trust certain guys more than others, and leave it at that. If you had eg Caruso on your bench you would give your starters more rest, but you don’t
He does. Look at Hart’s time played. Donte before he put him in the starting lineup. McBride, enough to trade Quickly. Hartenstein is another. I’ve never been the biggest Thibs fan, but will say he’s opened his doors a bit more than he has in the past.
Bogdanovic makes me miss Fournier. I’m not even sure how that’s possible.
You can have him back
He’s 6’ 9”. I’d rather him. We all know who he is. Just needs time to find his space. Without Randle we will need him. He’ll show up. 24-26 mins.
No team uses a rotation longer than 8 in the playoffs, unless they’re back filling or mixing and matching, and each of those is an indication of weakness not strength. The NYK, unfortunately, are in that spot, at least as of now. We have our best 5 (Brunson, DiV, Hart, Anunoby and IH) and two solid rotational backups (McBride and Mitch), but none of Bogdanovic, Precious or Burks are more than situational right now. It’s hard to imagine that Bogdanovic was fully scouted before the DET deal. Unlike amatuer scouting, the professional version shouldn’t swing and miss to this extent. I don’t know when he lost it, but it wasn’t on the plane to NYC.
Thibs is NOT like he used to be. He doesn’t overwork his players with mins. This year is all about injuries. Fact is with Knicks. He’s been building a roster the first three yrs. OG, Brunson, Randle, Mitch. Who were suppose to be the heart of the rotation. Haven’t even built chemistry yet. This team is still relatively NEW. Yet we want to find the negative. When this teams top10 guys get settled. And Play for a YEAR …… then we can judge Thibs and his mins management. “Get A Grip” ……. building a roster thru the DRAFT. try and keep up . Year 4
Randle, OG, Mitch, Brunson, Hart, Donte, Hartenstein, McBride, Achiuwa, Bogdanovic ………
These are our top 10 players. How long have they been a Knickerbocker. How long have they played together ??
It’s Just Begun ………. lols
link to music.youtube.com
With Sims and Milton we have our 12 suited up. Randle playing makes us deep. Too bad we didn’t see it.
And who’s responsible for the injuries? Where’s the sense “rubbing” the players 40-42 minutes each game in regular season??? Look the every champion in the last 20y. Rotation until the end of the season, where’s no more question marks who’s playing how many.. Come on. Bogdanovic ia perfect for the Knicks. But he needs time to adjust, to learn TT style of defence. He’s way to long in the league, there’s no question marks what he can offer or not..
Burks trade has been a bust. Knicks should have traded for DeMer DeR