Celtics star Jaylen Brown suffered a bone bruise in his left quad during Tuesday’s victory over Toronto. After the game, he told Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe (subscriber link) that he wasn’t sure whether or not he’d play in Wednesday’s back-to-back in Detroit.
After initially being listed as questionable, Brown was later ruled out against the red-hot Pistons, who have won seven straight games, one more than Boston’s current streak. Center Luke Kornet will also miss his second straight game due to personal reasons, per the Celtics (Twitter link).
Here’s more from the Atlantic:
- The Knicks are optimistic that Mitchell Robinson will be able to make his season debut this weekend, reports Ian Begley of SNY.tv. New York plays two games this weekend, on Friday vs. Memphis and on Sunday against Miami. Assuming he keeps progressing without issue, either date is a possibility for Robinson to make his first appearance of 2024/25 following offseason ankle surgery, according to Begley.
- Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau stated after Tuesday’s practice that Robinson was “projected to be the starting center on the team.” On Wednesday, Thibodeau clarified that Robinson will not immediately enter the starting lineup — he was referring to before the season began, and presumably before New York’s blockbuster trade for Karl-Anthony Towns, as James L. Edwards III of The Athletic relays (via Twitter).
- Speaking of Towns, the Knicks big man was ruled out of Wednesday’s game after having his left knee flare up near the end of Sunday’s loss to Boston. He was initially listed as questionable. Rookie center Ariel Hukporti will get his first career start in Towns’ stead, per Edwards of The Athletic (Twitter link).
- Eric Koreen of The Athletic lists several Raptors trends to monitor for the remainder of the season, as well as some to ignore. Koreen is keeping close tabs on Immanuel Quickley‘s three-point volume and accuracy, Gradey Dick‘s defense, and the overall play of Ochai Agbaji. On the other hand, he says the team’s defensive rating and RJ Barrett‘s dip in offensive efficiency aren’t particularly important as the season winds down.
Mitch was the starter. Before Towns got here. He is the backup now. I can see a twin towers 10-12 mins when needed. What Knicks need most. Is 20-24 mins consistently from Mitch …..
Knicks team 2024-25
PG— Brunson
SG— 2WayBridges
C—- KAT
PF— Hart
SF— OG
McBride, Shamet, Payne, Achiuwa, Mitch, Hukporti. Kolek, Dadiet, Sims
Knicks Team 2023-24
PG— Brunson
SG— Grimes-Donte
C—- Mitch-IHart
PF— Randle
SF— RJ Barrett
Quickley, Sims, McBride, Burkes, Toppin, Bogdanovic
Thibs does play his starters too much. It’s the only way to build chemistry. It’s basically a new team. Team building takes time, commitment, consistency. Team building is not for one year. Or to please the premature jacks. Its about the next 5 yrs or more. This is basically a first yr team. OK
Hate all you want. We will just build this our way.
“In Thibs we Trust “ NYK
You omitted Josh Hart in 2023-24. Starter minutes.
He is not a good coach.
You like who you want. He’s a COY here. He is in his 5th yr here. And has done things Knicks haven’t done since the 70s. I go to war with Thibs . NYK
Al, I guess that means you’ll stop telling us how unbiased your takes are.
I’m shocked that Knicks fans standards would be so low as to be happy with Thibs winning only 2 first round playoff series in 5 years. That record would get a coach fired on any other large market team.
You say “he’s done things Knicks haven’t done since the 70s”. We’re you around in the 90’s when Pat Riley had the Knicks going to the Finals and Conference Finals several times?
He couldn’t win in Minnesota, either. If he can’t do better than win 1 playoff series this year, he’s fired.
When you learn who the Knicks are. We can have a real conversation. understand what team building is. Knicks overachieved his first playoff. Its a whole new team now. Thats is why he is here. Learn what that means. No one cares about last yr. Let alone 10-15 yrs ago. Its all about now. We are gere today for a reason. Its not luck. There is a plan. Come vack for the playoffs. Since thats all you think matters.
> There is a plan
You keep alluding to this “plan”. Like it’s a secret. Like we shouldn’t believe the past pronouncements that the trades for Towns, OG, and Bridges made them a contender.
If “the plan” is that these really are the guys, but they just need anither season or two, nobody’s buying..
“e shouldn’t believe the past pronouncements that the trades for Towns, OG, and Bridges made them a contender” What pronouncements? By whom?
Who said it? The Knicks themselves, after the Bridges trade and the massively expensive OG signing. And, until recently, when he said the Knicks are actually in a “rebuild”, KnickerbockerAl.
1) Knicks paid 5 first round picks + plus more for Bridges, and have said publicly that both sides are committed to signing Bridges to a long-term deal.
2) Knicks signed Anunoby to a 5 year, $220M deal.
That’s called going “all-in”. There’s nothing left for depth or new signings. All draft capital gone. Of course they’d say that makes them a contender.
What does the past have to do with this team. If it’s significant to you. Thats fine you live in the past. Im not going to waste my time explaining that to you. Like I said, I look at today and forward. I was the biggest Thibs guy here. Before his signing. You need me to explain that, I will. Or you can just look it up. Don’t you understand this is basically a new team.
Look at Suns. Sixers. They are basically a new team. Anybody who talks chips with basically a new team, is Davey J. I understand this is a process. Yes the end game is chips. But you have have gm and build team gm. Before you Davey J. You get me now …….. lol
First I can tell you ——— no one here believed in Precious. He’s from the BX. So I knew he understood what’s at stake here. I wasn’t a big Towns guy. But he’s from this area. So I knew MSG could push him to play right. Plus for Randle it was a done deal. Non believers always hate on Thibs for any BS. Well he’s gone from D guy to one of best offenses in the game. That FACT gets lost.
The Fact you don’t believe in him. Or in this new group of guys. Seems like a personal issue. Real Knick fans know a new group needs time to jell. A new team needs to redo their bench. Considering we are still in this race with all this pending. Plus the injuries on team. I’d say the team is a success so far. We are not on your time table. Or on haters and critics time table. Do I need to show you how many games this group has playing together. Do I.
No cause haters just want to spout. Instead of debating real facts.
Once again. If you want to know real facts. And hear from the actual players in this rebuild. You should stop swallowing everything they feed you. Knicks are being built to contend. They haven’t proved anything yet. You need a full squad to really do that. Knicks not going away. We will show the growth in the playoffs. Win or lose.
Knicks knocked out Cavs two yrs ago with a different team. Today we are a better team. Yet can’t beat the Cavs. Gee I wonder how the Cavs did it. So again Do You understand Team Building. Do you know how long the Celtics were together. Before they won. If you don’t understand team building. Why do you watch this sport. 29 teams lose every year. Do you know that ????
This team is being built to contend. The injures have gotten in the way. Soon we will see how far we’ve come ……..
Agreed, Towns and Brunson are the real deal. The problem is that banking on OG and Bridges as your 3-4 guys means Knicks will never contend. That’s the entire issue here. Read the article first.
> What does the past have to do with this team. Thats fine you live in the past.
> Im not going to waste my time explaining that to you.
Congratulation, it sounds like you’ve rehabilitated yourself! Does this mean you’ll stop telling us all you’re always right, and sending us links to your past posts?
I never expected Mitch to start right away. Eventually, though, I think they need to move in that direction in advance of the playoffs. Regardless of how that plays out, NYK’s #1 off season priority should be finding a starting caliber defensive C to either replace Mitch or (if possible) tag team with Mitch.
In the games the NYK have lost, their issues have started on the interior, on both ends, and have surfaced early and often. Hard thing to address from the bench. I think we need to take KAT out of the defensive anchor role early in games, so he can focus on what he does well, on offense, and the defensive boards; and avoiding capitulations and foolish fouls. I also think we need an offensive rebound presence early in games, when shooting percentages tend to be more uneven.
The two teams Knicks have trouble with. Are unfortunately ahead of them in the East. Knicks would be better off getting 2nd seed. And getting home court in playoffs. Knicks can matchup with Cavs. Must get thru Celtics first. And two bigs is not a good matchup for them. They will have to do it as a team with depth. Mitch is not s good matchup with
Both Horford and KP on the floor. He can Handle Kornet. Mitch is not a perimeter guy. Knicks have been blown out. Mostly by two reasons. Good shooting high FG% and 3s. And other team has played good team D on them. And it’s usually cause they get into three point contest. And lose. They had Thunder in first gm. By attacking rim. Were up by 20. Then OKC played D and shot well. They won by 8 I believe. Frankly a full Knicks team can compete with OKC and Cleveland imo. Its the Celtics they will have trouble with. And imo Cavs can beat Celtics.
Matchups man, all about matchups in playoffs. You play same team 7 times. Matchups ….
Its why I rather get that 2nd seed.
24 gms left. 3 1/2 gms back of Celtics
@Al – I believe a team has to first and foremost play to its own strength, establish its identity, and only then adjust to problematic matchups with minutes. Teams overcome tough matchups, but almost never win anything departing from their identity. If the NYK don’t re-establish their prior identity as a physical defensive team, they’ll lose in short order to BOS, as they would lose to either of the other 2 top 3 teams. The NYK team that beat CLE two seasons ago did so because we were too physical for them at the 4-5 spots. Very different matchup this year, where they’re the more physical team. Change that, and, I agree, we’d have a good chance.
BOS is a very tough matchup us. But BOS is that for any team with a conventional C, whether that guy is the only big or one of two. All 3 of BOS’s bigs can hit the 3, which means all of the opponent’s bigs have to be able to compete to close out on them. The smaller lineup with KAT as the sole big looks like it would match up better than last year’s group, but, in the 2 BOS games so far, it hasn’t, it’s been worse.
I agree Knicks are missing their Physicality. Hopefully Mitch helps with that. Its why I wanted Precious starting. Yes imposing your will is part of winning only ones doing that are Celtics and Cavs. All yr we have said rim protection. And another bench scorer. Is what is missing and need most. A healthy Knicks team fixes that. But is it enough. Soon we will see. Even if Knicks do well in playoffs. Those two issues have to be addressed in off season. Boston has good depth and size. Size that can play outside. That is tough for Knicks. I really believe Knicks match up better with Cavs. Means nothing since it looks like Celtics first. Not expecting anything. TJ and Mitch working well. Helps and makes us better. Just not sure it’s enough. Bridges to me is a big key. Can he step up to star offense?? Im still hoping lol.
Agreed, Towns and Brunson are the real deal. The problem is that banking on OG and Bridges as your 3-4 guys means Knicks will never contend. That’s the entire issue here. Read the article first.
> What does the past have to do with this team. Thats fine you live in the past.
> Im not going to waste my time explaining that to you.
Congratulation, it sounds like you’ve rehabilitated yourself! Does this mean you’ll stop telling us all you’re always right, and sending us links to your past posts?