While Josh Hart says the pressure of the NBA Cup is “not even close” to competing in the playoffs, he and the rest of the Knicks are focused on winning their first in-season tournament title after being eliminated in the quarterfinals each of the past two years, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscriber link).
“Every year, we fell short at this stage,” Hart said. “So we got to get over that hump.”
The Knicks open the knockout stage at Toronto on Tuesday. If they win, they’ll advance the semifinal and face the winner of Miami vs. Orlando in Las Vegas on Saturday.
“Life is short. And this is how I look at it — you want excitement in your life. So you try to put yourselves in position when you have pressure at times,” head coach Mike Brown said. “That’s something that, if you’re a competitor and you want some excitement in your life, you embrace it. And one of our standards is having a competitive spirit. So all of our guys. Especially as you go along and advance, you should embrace any type of pressure that comes along with it.
“And it also helps you prepare for times down the road when you’re put in the same situation. So in the regular season, this is about as close as you can get to simulating a playoff run. So we try to talk about it and add more pressure to it and handle it the right way and see if we can go get it.”
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Miles McBride, who sustained a left ankle injury in Sunday’s win over Orlando and underwent an MRI on Monday, has been diagnosed with a sprain and will miss Tuesday’s game, according to Bondy (Twitter links). The 25-year-old guard was spotted in a walking boot earlier in the day, Bondy adds. Karl-Anthony Towns, who was ruled out of Sunday’s contest due to left calf tightness, is questionable for the matchup against the Raptors.
- Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby are both worthy of legitimate consideration for their first All-Star appearances, contends James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. As Edwards explains, the Knicks are currently the No. 2 seed in the East, and if that continues, they’ll be deserving of having multiple All-Stars. Anunoby was arguably New York’s second-best player to open the season, but he missed nine games with a hamstring strain, leaving Bridges as the stronger candidate as of now. While neither player puts up gaudy offensive stats, they’ve both been highly efficient on that end on top of being top-notch defenders, Edwards writes. “He’s impacting winning,” Hart said of Bridges. “He plays both sides of the ball. Defensively, he’s been amazing. He’s been an All-Defense player for us.”
- The Knicks improved to 13-1 at home with Sunday’s victory, notes Mike Vaccaro of The New York Post (subscription required), and that edge at Madison Square Garden could be an important factor in the playoffs for a team with championship aspirations. “We’ve done a great job of protecting our home court,” Hart said after contributing 17 points, 12 rebounds and two steals Sunday. “This should be the hardest place to play in the NBA, and we want teams to know that.”
Do people care about the NBA Cup? I know I don’t. Maybe the players do for that bit of extra money but I know I’ll be happy when it’s over and I don’t have to see any more ugly courts until next season.
They’re keeping score… you wanna win
I’m with you
I have zero desire to have my team advance to An 83rd game
Gimme the rest
I guess if you’re not playoff bound it could be cool . Doesn’t sound great said out loud but those are my thoughts if I’m being honest
I don’t think most fans care, but obviously the players do, if only for the cash.
NBA Cup winner gets $500,000 per player. All 15 man roster get a chk. You know what that means to minimum salary player. The loser gets $200,000 per player. This money is for ONE extra season game. The Final game is the only extra game. Two teams will play for season (83 gms). All other NBA teams still play a total of 82 gms. Plus the two winners get a free trip to Vegas and national tv game. What’s not to like ……. Even my man Landry Shamet will get a chk lol …..
I don’t see any of this money so I don’t care. All I see is an exhibition game where someone could get hurt for no reason. Seems like a waste of time. No one cares about being “NBA Cup Champion”.
All games are part of NBA 82 gm season. So there is nothing new here no change whatsoever. The only difference is the extra game for the Ginal game. Which they are compensated for. There is nothing different lol. Except the different courts.
They can get hurt walking to the gym too. Imo it’s great for young and new teams that are trying to level up. More meaningful gms help them grow.
Still waiting on Bridges and McBride to level up.
For Knicks to be a top team. It has to happen this year. Bridges as a scorer. McBride as a real PG.
Bridges peaked in 2023
Yeah thats why last year was his best all around statistical year ever. And he had a good year. Not a great year. Fix you NBA service.
Here’s another FACT for you …. Bridges says Read It and Catch Up ……. History all alone lmao.
“Bridges is on pace to become the first and only player in NBA history to average 4+ boards, 4+ assists, 2+ steals, 2+ made three-pointers and 1+ blocks per game over a full season.”
link to yardbarker.com
Don’t think Bridges or OG make the all star team. I don’t remember how the format has changed again but if you’re solely going off last years team. All the guys return except Jayson Tatum, Garland, Lillard and Trae Young. (Plus maybe Herro)
Tyrese Maxey gets a spot, Jalen Duren gets a spot, Jalen Johnson gets a spot.
That leaves 1 or 2 spots open and the likes of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Scottie Barnes, Bam Adebayo, LaMelo Ball and Micheal Porter Jr.
Not saying these guys are better than them or whatever I just see these guys potentially getting selected above OG or Bridges.
Both are good starters but both aren’t all stars
Hard to argue with your assessment 👍
McBride is out for Raptors game. Probably be out a few games with ankle sprain. We need a PG Miles ….
Get well player
link to nypost.com
The biggest impediment is neither has been an All Star, and participation generally comes down to a popularity contest. It’s also a process that tends to be hostile to all around players.
Bridges is certainly a better all around player (and, even more so, a better asset) than a lot of guys who have played in recent the All Star games. IDK for sure, but perhaps the bona fides of some of those guys were mostly in the fan voting. In any event, he’ll need the NYK to have the best record in the East or close, but, in that event, I do think he has a good chance to get in. OG is an almost uniquely gifted defender, and it has really stood out in the current “no defense permitted” league. But he’s missed time (again), and it will likely be a few games before he can return to the same offensive level. Certainly, they both can’t make it.