Veteran sharpshooter Matt Ryan played non-garbage-time minutes on Tuesday for the first time since joining the Knicks, as head coach Tom Thibodeau expanded his rotation to nine players in a win over Philadelphia, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Ryan went 0-of-3 from the field and was a minus-six in nine minutes of action, but Thibodeau sounds prepared to give the 27-year-old more opportunities to prove he deserves regular playing time.
“I almost (played him) last game,” Thibodeau said. “But he just got here and because we had six of seven on the road, there hasn’t been a lot of practice time. It’s going to take him a little bit of time for him to get up to speed. But he’s smart and he’ll pick it up quickly. It’s good to have that.”
As Bondy notes, in addition to inserting Ryan into the rotation, Thibodeau got guard Cameron Payne back on Tuesday after he missed four straight games due to a hamstring strain. The duo joined Miles McBride and Jericho Sims as rotation reserves vs. Philadelphia.
While the starters still saw plenty of action, OG Anunoby was the only one to log more than 38 minutes after four starters surpassed that threshold in Sunday’s loss to Indiana.
Here’s more on the NBA’s two New York-based teams, the Knicks and Nets:
- After struggling to find his fit in the Knicks‘ new-look lineup during the preseason, Josh Hart is off to a career-best start, notes James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. Hart’s 9.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game would be career highs, while his average of 13.8 points per game is well above his career rate. The do-it-all guard/forward also leads the NBA with a 76.8% shooting percentage on two-point attempts.
- Ben Simmons appears to be getting comfortable after returning to his natural point guard position in the Nets‘ second unit, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Simmons had a season-high 12 assists in 22 minutes off the bench in Monday’s win over New Orleans, as head coach Jordi Fernandez has staggered Simmons’ and center Nic Claxton‘s minutes in order to avoid spacing issues. “I believe that if we have Ben in the Cleveland game we win the game. That’s obvious,” Fernandez said of Saturday’s five-point loss to the Cavaliers, which Simmons missed due to lower back injury management. “We have a ball-handler, a player that’s been there, a player that plays fast. We stopped running in the second half and Ben is the best at throwing the ball ahead and making us run. So it’s good to have him back, for sure. He’s going to help with those things.”
- After playing well during the final few weeks of his rookie season, Nets big man Noah Clowney had gotten off to a slow start this fall, averaging 5.6 points per game on 31.9% shooting through his first eight outings. As Lewis details, Clowney enjoyed a breakout game on Monday when he scored a season-high 15 points and knocked down 5-of-10 three-pointers. “Noah, one thing he’s done consistently is just continue to let it fly and it’s how it works, like you do not control if it’s gonna go in,” Fernandez said. “You can control if you take a good shot. He kept taking a good shot after good shot after good shot. Like 5-for-10, it’s what we want to see. And I want him to keep shooting every time.”
PG — Brunson
SG — Bridges
C — Towns
PF — Achiuwa
SF — OG
Knicks have to help Towns on D and the blocks.
Bridges has to get more looks, shots.
These two players. Are Knicks biggest investments in a long time. And probably ever. You have to support them. I said HAVE to support them.
Hart can still avg more mins. He can also win sixth man of the yr. And we can also go small with Hart if we need to. I 100% believe this makes us a better team. Let’s do this …..
Still rooting for Hukporti to make an impact. Love McBride he’s one of my favorite players. But I’m telling you Kolek is for real. He’s going to push a decision on the rotation, eventually. Believe it
Knicks have a good stretch coming starting tonight. Where they can start to get some consistency. Can’t let the haters and negative press get in our way.
Time is on our side, stay the course. NYK
Agree. Defense however needs to tighten up. This is a team that I believe would be a force on the defensive end with Hart, Bridges and OG. It’s non existent on the perimeter.
Watching Bulls game ……
Never been a fan of Bulls coach.
Williams should be a 3. Considering Bulls have never looked out for him. Says a lot about them as an organization. He’s the 4th pick in the draft.
You see OG, at his best. IMO that’s what Williams can be. At least close to it. Unfortunately Bulls can’t see it.
Giddey vision …..
Halftime …. Knicks have taken six more shots than Bulls. Are down by double digits. Bulls hitting their threes …. Better play D. Bench is going to have to help.
Should just put the bench in. Starters got no energy.
Hukporti and Kolek should play. Sit Brunson and Hart
Kolek should be getting 12 minutes a game at a min. The kid is for real and can be that game changer needed off the bench right now, the same way McBride was last year.
Bulls just run n gun.
Have to rebound no second shots. And go to basket get FTs. Knicks have no FTs only KAT.
Push the defense up. Not looking good.
Amazing what energy can do.
No foul BS….. bad play by Hart
Don’t deserve it …. Can’t beat the Bulls at home. You better get your Shhh together. I would have left the bench in. They earned the right to close it.
All the LaVine haters. You got no clue who he is.
All the Williams haters, especially the team. Got no clue who he is. There will be plenty takers for LaVine, who’s been telling you.
Heat should be after Zach. And Lakers should be after Vucevic. Bulls should look to the draft. Great 1st rd.
Back-to-backs are tough, but you can’t let the defense and consistency slip either. Bulls outworked the Knicks on that end, and kept throwing different looks at every non-Center on the roster to keep them from getting comfortable; they decided that if KAT beats them, he beats them, they just have to stop everyone else from scoring consistently. Ayo is that guy, gave the Bulls what they needed when they needed it. He and Williams took good advantage of the weak-side corner that the Knicks tend to leave open this year.
Great offense by KAT, though. That’s why the Knicks got him; absolutely empowers them on that end to new levels entirely. All of his FGs but one either from three or the restricted area, exactly how you want him to play. Minimal bad pullup shots as well, so he’s comfortable and not trying to force things. The roster is just too shallow right now to hold up. Cam Payne’s a boost, he just doesn’t help them defensively, where they need it the most. Extra spacing is very nice.
Yeah they ran out of gas. KAT was great. But he needs help on D. It’s why I just would have let bench close it out. Bulls hit their threes. Bulls outplayed Knicks. But we still had a chance at end. Growing pains I guess. Sucks to lose at home.