With Jalen Brunson (right ankle injury management / neck strain) inactive on Tuesday, Knicks forward Josh Hart stepped up to carry some of the offensive load, pouring in 33 points against the Pacers while making 12-of-13 shots from the floor, including all five of his three-point attempts.
As Ian Begley of SNY.tv writes, Hart had been slumping lately and there had been some calls to remove him from the starting five, but Tuesday’s performance showed why head coach Mike Brown wants to keep him in his current role. While the 33 points were the most he has scored in any game as a Knick, he also contributed seven rebounds, five assists, and a pair of steals.
“I think the main thing…is him connecting the group. I’m not saying he is Andre Iguodala or his game is like Andre Iguodala’s, but there are a lot of similarities where you watch him…he’s really good in a lot of different areas,” Brown said on Tuesday. “But more importantly, he connects the group and having a guy like that, especially to start games, is huge.
“… He’s been fantastic giving us that energy, giving us the connectivity we needed with that starting group and then doing the little things. Offensive glass, pushing the pace, getting off in transition. He’s a switchable guy, he’s a physical guy and (he does) a lot of things that don’t necessarily show up in the stat sheet that … help with connectivity as well.”
Prior to Tuesday’s game, Hart had made just 10-of-38 three-pointers (26.3%) since the All-Star break. His 5-of-5 outing in a win over Indiana represents a positive step toward reversing that trend.
“I think I’m kind of in my head with a lot of stuff,” Hart said of his post-All-Star shooting. “So I just got to trust my work and go out there and shoot my shots.”
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Brown still hasn’t ruled out tweaking his starting lineup, notes James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. If Brown does decide to make a change, Mikal Bridges should be the one moving to the second unit, according to Edwards, who argues that the optics of benching a player after giving up five first-round picks to acquire him shouldn’t matter if the move makes the team better.
- The Knicks announced on Tuesday that Miles McBride is “progressing well” in his recovery from sports hernia surgery, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. McBride has advanced to taking contact on the court, though Brown was reluctant to set any sort of specific target date for the guard’s return. “I try not to hear (the updates on McBride’s recovery), because does that mean he’ll be back in two weeks, three weeks, a week, 10 days? I don’t know,” Brown said. “Deuce was playing well for us when this happened. It’s part of the season, so keep fingers crossed, allow our medical crew who has done a fantastic job, and when he comes back we’ll all be excited.”
- Rookie forward Mohamed Diawara played just six minutes on Tuesday, his lowest single-game total in nearly a month, with Jordan Clarkson taking his spot in the rotation. After the game, Brown told reporters that he likes what he’s seen from Clarkson on offense lately and praised the veteran guard for staying ready amid a handful of DNP-CDs in recent weeks. “We’ll continue to see what happens going forward,” Brown said, per Begley. “We’ve all had the pleasure of being able to see Mo at a young age contribute a lot. He just has to keep himself ready like Jordan did. Go out there when your number’s called, don’t do too much but do what you can do and perform at the highest level in terms of your work ethic, focus and attention to detail and just go from there.”
- In another story for The New York Post, Bondy examines what the Knicks’ playoff rotation might look like, identifying the reserves who are locks to play regular roles and those who might only be used in certain situations or matchups.
That wasn’t a career-high for Hart. He had 44 in one game when he was with Portland. It was a high for him as a Knick, however.
Good catch, thanks.
Kinda funny how Josh Hart is a consistent scapegoat for Knicks fans and front office. Yabusele was definitely signed to push him out of closing lineups with what was supposed to be superior shooting.
I guess you have to blame someone other than who you gave up the farm for, Mikal Bridges
Bridges needs to sit a game or two. Maybe he’s worn down, or maybe it’s mental, or maybe there’s something else going on behind the scenes. And normally this is exactly what one would do in these types of circumstances.
But if he’s continuing to play simply to keep his ironman streak alive, that can’t be the priority as much as I understand the desire. Records or not, we know the guy plays every game and sitting a game or two would not change how he is viewed or thought of in that regard. Gotta do what’s best for the team and himself moving forward.
IDK why but visions of Chan Ho Park serving a softball up to Cal Ripken in the All Star game raises thru my head reading this HA
He needs that ultimate flower moment to put this streak to bed
*races
He’s still playing great defense. It’s a rough streak and it can be very frustrating to watch his unaggresive offense right now, but I think he’ll be fine come playoff time. If he wants to keep the streak going, playing him 20 minutes a game for a few games here and there (he played 21 minutes a few games ago) could help. Knicks have a bunch of games against bad teams coming up.
True, but that weak upcoming schedule also means they could probably afford to rest him (at least once Brunson is back).
Of course, I don’t expect the Knicks to force him to do so if he wants to keep playing, in which case reduced minutes is probably the best option.
Brown’s prior reads on his NYK players have been within a range of bad to horrific. Plus, he won’t make a move like this without the sign-off of the FO, aka the collaborators, which means its unlikely any such decision will garner much respect in the locker room.
A productive Bridges is essential (not just important) to team success in the playoffs. They have no possible replacement. Brown needs to listen to his players on Bridges. They know him. He’s not a self starter. But he does respond well to team expectations. Here, that has to come from his teammates. Brunson being out doesn’t help him.
My guess is that the last thing Bridges needs is a demotion, benching or anything else that magnifies his slump in his mind. Particularly from a head coach who is essentially a puppet of the FO. Bridges needs the ball to find him more, and more license to shoot. With BKN and WSH coming up, this should be easy to accomplish. It’s always been difficult for both Bridges and OG to both have high volume offensive nights in the same game.
I just want the 2nd seed. Show me you care Brown.
Knicks 45–25. Celtics 45–23 …..
Show us coach …..
Second seed or not. Knicks better get to the ECF or another failed season was achieved.
Man I don’t even want to think about that man. Top 4 in East will be a battle. I feel good if we are healthy. To be honest. I am still more worried about Cavs.