The Knicks made a lineup change by choice on Friday. They may need to make another out of necessity.
Jalen Brunson turned his ankle in the final minute of the Knicks’ 10-point loss to Boston when he stepped back with his left foot and landed on Celtics guard Payton Pritchard, according to The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy.
The game was already decided but coach Tom Thibodeau said he didn’t regret having starters on the court at the time. No details emerged after the game about the severity of Brunson’s injury.
We have more from the New York teams:
- Quentin Grimes had 13 points in 19 minutes after being replaced in the lineup by Donte DiVincenzo, who was limited to six points in 22 minutes. Grimes believes, after meeting with Thibodeau, that coming off the bench could be the best thing for him, Bondy writes. “He kind of let me know to try to get me a better rhythm, get me in a better flow, try to get me how I was playing last year,” Grimes said. “He felt like it was the best thing to do and I agree with him. It’s a good thing. I’ll definitely have the ball more, knowing I’m going to get more opportunities. It could be a better situation for me.”
- RJ Barrett, responding to comment by TNT analyst Kenny Smith that the Knicks never have the best player of the court when facing the East’s elite, said the team doesn’t need to make a blockbuster trade. “First, we were never going to be good. Now, we’re good, and now, we’re not good enough,” Barrett said, per Bondy. “I think we do, for not having the best player, we do very well for ourselves.”
- Nets big man Day’Ron Sharpe had his most productive outing this season in a blowout win over Washington on Friday with 15 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in 20 minutes. Sharpe, a third-year player on a rookie deal, isn’t lacking for confidence. “Nobody can really stop me on the glass, for real. Just realizing I’m a dog on the glass. I’m going to go at you every play and you’re gonna have to stop me every play,” Sharpe told Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “I just know that if the big guy is gonna block it, more as likely it’s a little guy trying to box me out, and he’s ain’t gonna box me out. So you’re gonna need about three dudes to hit me, and I’m still gonna get the board then.”
- Ben Simmons is feeling better after getting an epidural injection for his lower back and the Nets guard has moved to the next stage of his rehab, agent Bernie Lee told Lewis. “It definitely has helped. And just like time and progression has helped him as well,” Lee said. “He’s been doing well, slowly taking steps. He’s starting to move around a little bit now. He’s starting to be able to run on some underwater treadmill stuff. So he’s starting to get around and move.”
“First, we were never going to be good. Now, we’re good, and now, we’re not good enough,” Barrett said, per Bondy. “I think we do, for not having the best player, we do very well for ourselves.”
This is how it’s always been in NYK land. The media always sells the negative. You’d think they could get into the Rebuilding. Thibs is starting his 4th yr. Hang in there !!!!
This is how most here think. Cause they follow the leader ………. the agenda.
Truth is, this team does need another player. Either a SF or a SG. Start in place of Grimes. Let’s just say Grimes is better off the bench (for now). Grant SF, DeM DeR SG either gets us closer to top of East. Both will probably be available by TD or sooner.
I know I’d like to see this team compete —••
PG- Brunson, SG- DeM DeR
SF- RJ, PF- Randle, C- Robinson
OR
PG- Brunson, SG- RJ, C- Robinson
SF- Grant, PF- Randle
And of course a backup to Randle.
I doubt Portland moves Grant after bringing him back. At this point he is the vet on the team. Would love to see it, but doubt it would happen.
I wouldn’t mind seeing them unload the coffers for Vassell and unload all those picks along with Fournier and Grimes/IQ. Kid not only Ds up on the perimeter (and damn good at it), but now he’s hitting shots like he belongs. I do t see Pops moving him, though, unless all those picks are in the pot.
Oh…and, no.
There’s a rumor That Spurs and Magic went after Quickley. Although Magic seems weird…. SA is a good place for him.
link to yardbarker.com
It seemed like a foregone conclusion that they would try to trade Grant almost immediately after that deal was inked. He’s gone at the TD or offseason. Lot of cap space open this offseason.
Hopefully, Brunson will be good to go.
But, if not, we’ll likely still be OK. Which, BTW, we’d owe to the poor roster construction that Bondy advised us of. Specifically, IQ’s history suggests he’s more than up to the task of leading this team. Unfortunately, another good showing by IQ as a starter won’t increase his trade value around the league (because that’s already quite high). But it might increase it in the NY media and on this board (where it’s pretty low). Not sure the latter means anything, but it can’t hurt.