Knicks guard Landry Shamet, who has missed the past five games due to a bone bruise in his right knee, is no longer on the injury report and will return to action on Wednesday when the team visits Memphis, tweets James L. Edwards III of The Athletic.
However, a couple other Knicks rotation players will be unavailable, as center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) and guard Miles McBride (pelvic/core muscle injury management) will sit out on the second end of a back-to-back set. Star guard Jalen Brunson is also considered questionable to play, having been added to the injury report due to right ankle soreness.
Although McBride appeared to reinjure himself on Sunday in his first game back from sports hernia surgery, he was back on the court on Tuesday and is only being held out on Wednesday because he’s not ready for back-to-backs yet. McBride explained on Tuesday that he was simply experiencing some discomfort in his first game back as a result of scar tissue breaking down, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.
“Scar tissue is built up because it tightens everything. And now it’s getting more elastic, stretching out,” McBride said. “I came down (defending a Thunder player), tried to switch gears, and the scar tissue is ripping and getting better. … Surgery is going to cause pain. I’m not sure when it’s going to fully subside. So whatever I can do to help the team win.”
We have more on the Knicks:
- In a separate story for the New York Post, Bondy considers what Robinson’s value might be in unrestricted free agency this summer. The big man, who turns 28 today, has averaged just 19.5 minutes per game this season, but describes his impact as “incredible,” in part due to his rebounding — he’s pulling down 8.7 boards per night, including 4.2 on the offensive end.
- After Mohamed Diawara saw just four total minutes of action in losses to Oklahoma City and Houston, Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News (subscription required) questions why the rookie forward isn’t playing a more prominent role in the Knicks’ rotation, arguing that the team could use his versatility, floor spacing, and energy.
- Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports evaluates where the Knicks are at with the postseason around the corner and cites a few red flags, including the team’s inconsistent play against high-end competition, its defensive holes when Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns share the court, and the fact that Towns is still talking about “working through” his fit in Mike Brown‘s offense with just a couple weeks left in the regular season.
Big few months coming up for New York. What would the market look like for Kat and Bridges? Not what was giving up for them that’s for sure.
I also agree on Diawara. Needs more burn next season. His energy is infectious. Knicks have a good enough roster to win games while Diawara learns on the job.
What is big Robbo’s next contract looking like. You’d think teams would give the full MLE or maybe $20 mil. One of the best contested rebounders in the league and good on the defensive end.
Personally, I don t see the new offense any more. they still run Brunson Iso. there is no player movement or ball movement. looks like Thibs iso offense a more controlled offense. imo Brown does nt use Bridges or Towns right. All three are disappointing to me. they better be ready for playoffs. cause it seems a lot of teams think they have figured Knicks out
KAT has to be the #1 option, otherwise Knicks will fail big time in the playoffs!
My dislike for Mike Brown is deepening.
A HC’s first job is to assess his players. Brown dropped the ball on it, early and often, particularly as to KAT and Bridges. I could have told him coming in that neither KAT nor Bridges would be a natural for his motion offense. If it was so important to him to install “his” offense, then he needed to give KAT, in particular, more attention (including criticism) from the start of the preseason.
I still can’t understand why it was so important to him. OK, he likes a motion offense, I get it, so do I. But the NYK didn’t need it. They were a veteran NBA team running back a team with a top 2-5 offense, headed by two highly skilled offensive talents as its top 2 options. Both routinely score through the front door. Even among the rank and file, as rosters go, there weren’t a lot of natural fits (Hart and Shamet maybe).
In any case, here the NYK, as a team, and we, as their fans, are. Personally, I think the team is ignoring Brown at this point. At least on the offensive end. Even with such an emerging dysfunctional situation, I still think this team has one more players’ only meeting in them, followed by something good on the court.
They have to hole up somewhere like the Citadel the way they used to under Riley and JVG while the playins are happening and the players have to figure out how to win in the playoffs. Brown doesn’t have it.
Agreed. It’s has to come from the players. They need to commit to 100% focus and effort, and be willing to be held accountable by each other when there are lapses. Basically, do for each other what Thibs used to do for them.