The Knicks‘ backcourt is about to get much healthier for the final week of the regular season, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Star guard Jalen Brunson is expected to be in the lineup tonight against Phoenix after missing 15 games with a sprained right ankle. Miles McBride is also due back soon from a groin injury that has sidelined him since March 20.
“I know any team would be very much improved with Deuce McBride and Jalen Brunson,” Karl-Anthony Towns said after Saturday’s win over Atlanta. “We’re going to do everything we can because the goal was that we’re farther along when we’re back to integrating them back — that we give him a better team than where they left it.”
Cameron Payne returned to action Saturday after missing four games with an ankle sprain, as rookie guard Tyler Kolek slipped out of the rotation. Delon Wright, who made his fifth consecutive start at point guard, also figures to have a reduced role with Brunson and McBride back, but coach Tom Thibodeau didn’t want to answer questions about the rotation.
“The notion of all that stuff, it’s white noise,” Thibodeau said. “The game tells you what to do. Whose shot is it in transition? The open man. And if there’s two on somebody, whose shot is it? You have the responsibility as a primary scorer to make the right play.
“The notion that it has to be this way, that way, there has to be a willingness to sacrifice by everybody. The team has to come first. What’s best for our team? What gives the team the best chance to win? And that’s all anyone should be thinking about. They shouldn’t be thinking about who’s doing this, who’s doing that. That’s not the way this game works. If you care about winning, that stuff shouldn’t matter.”
There’s more on the Knicks:
- Josh Hart, who finished one rebound short of a triple-double on Saturday, admitted that he didn’t react well when he stormed off the court after being pulled from the game with 90 seconds remaining, Bondy states in a separate story. “I wanted to stay in to get the last one, but I wasn’t playing the game the right way,” Hart said. “I was trying to play for that. I didn’t really deserve it, and that’s probably why I didn’t get it. I was playing the game the wrong way at that point, so it is what it is.”
- Saturday’s win was Thibodeau’s 224th with the Knicks, moving him past Pat Riley on the franchise victories list, Bondy adds. Thibodeau trails only Red Holtzman, Joe Lapchick and Jeff Van Gundy.
- Carmelo Anthony, who was announced Saturday as part of the Naismith Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025, would like to see the Knicks retire his number, per Zach Braziller of The New York Post. Anthony spent six and a half years with the organization and is one of just seven Knicks players to reach 10,000 points. “A lot of surprises are happening right now around me, so I’m trying to stay in the moment,” Anthony said, “and if that’s one of the surprises, then I would be ecstatic about that. I would love to see that jersey hung up.”
This is for all the fans who love to see failure. Even in 22 yr olds …….. a true athlete is always getting better. Till he retires. Just look at Bron this generations Goat. At 27 yrs old OG is becoming a top 2way star. Something the haters can’t understand. Keep up the good work player …..
“ During the win, Anunoby became the first-ever player in Knicks history to collect 20-plus points on a true shooting percentage of 60 percent or over in eight-straight games.
It’s an impressive mark by Anunoby that is a testament to his offensive efficiency, and his elite consistency in doing so in New York’s recent contests.
During Anunoby’s last eight games, he’s averaged 27.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists on 54.2% shooting from the field and 41.6% from deep, while also providing a strong impact on the defensive end as well.”
link to si.com
OG tonight against Suns —— 36 mins. 32 pts
Welcome back Captain JB.
Retire Melo’s jersey? As he would say when grabbing his daily rebound: FOH!
Good to get Jalen and Miles back. The good things that came out of this injury run. 5-3 record thankU. Wright playing the PG. And Landry scoring consistently. Hopefully our bench got better. Still want TJ ….. I’m kind of surprised no playoff team has given him a look. JB is back …. He he Eeeyyy
Dolan blew up his team by trading for Melo. A team D’Antoni was building nicely. Then it just went to nowhere ….. Melo doesn’t deserve his number retired. He’s the anti of everything those retired numbers stand for. He needs NYC for his brand. Take your miniMelo game to Syracuse ….. bye
Melo forced the trade that gutted Knicks. Could have waited and signed w team in off season keeping team intact. Great scorer who played no d. A beast @ cuse. Let Denver retire his number. No way his jersey belongs in rafters @ msg
Melo’s HOF induction was well earned (based mostly on his amatuer experience at Syracuse and in the Olympics, and the first part of his NBA career with DEN).
However, the NYK should certainly NOT retire his number. The current FO chief (Rose) was Melo’s agent and orchastrated the trade that brought him to NY. But hopefully Rose can look past his own perspective, and consider that, from the perspective of most NYK fans, neither the trade (which was a decade killer) or the player it brought here were, or are, anything to be celebrated. Maybe there would be more of a mixed sentiment if Melo had made even a little effort at being a team player, or being anything beyond the selfish, inefficient and uncoachable volume shooter he was when he showed up. He didn’t.
In addition, retiring Melo’s number would be an insult to the great Bernard King, a true Knick legend. While each player had only 3 excellent seasons in NY, BK’s seasons were superior statistically and in terms of impact. BK was 1st team All NBA twice, and finished 2nd in the MVP voting. Any additional healthy years that Melo compiled weren’t positive ones for the team or the fans.
Bernard took a nobody team and won in playoffs. He was a true superstar. Melo just played the part in NY.
Well said, Al.
Absolutely! Hope Knicks are watching UConn’s team defense before game vs suns. Defense is pretty simple. You gotta want it and be relentless for 48. They’re definitely playing in second round and thibs is going nowhere.
watching Staley lose and cry is a beautiful thang!
Melo was great at Syracuse. As a freshman he dominated. At Denver he was an all star. Had very good years there. As a Knick he was all about himself. The team wasn’t good enough to contend. Or even a good playoff team. Cause Dolan gave up everything to get him. Melo never cared as long as he was the man in NY. He played when he wanted. Hardly played D. It was all about his brand for
him abd his wife. Doesn’t have a clue what a team means. If Melo had the Mamba in him. He could of been a top 20 guy. As it is. He is a great scorer. Who came to work and got paid. Not my definition of a great athlete. Considering his whole career. He deserves HOF. Not in my HOF. Definitely not a Knick great. He milked the Knicks dry. Till Jackson ran him out and exposed him.