Maybe no crew wanted the NBA All-Star break greater than the Knicks.
Whilst winners in 9 of their final 11 video games, the Knicks entered the eight-day layoff nursing a number of key accidents and with a beginning lineup whose workload stays unmatched.
The break provided a helpful alternative for the Knicks (36-18) to relaxation and reset earlier than they start a vital 28-game dwelling stretch with an opportunity to show they belong among the many NBA’s elite.
“We haven’t really accomplished anything,” level guard Jalen Brunson stated going into the break. “We have a long way to go to continue to where we want to go, but it’s all about taking it one day at a time. Right now, it’s just rest and recharge and come back ready to go.”
The break served as a pure time to evaluate the state of the Knicks, who are actually two-thirds of the best way by way of their first season since buying Karl-Anthony Cities and Mikal Bridges in franchise-altering offseason trades.
The Knicks had All-Stars in Brunson and Cities, boast one of many NBA’s greatest offenses and are the Jap Convention’s No. 3 seed. However they’re a mixed 0-5 in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and Boston Celtics — the one three groups with higher data than theirs.
There’s a disparity between the depth on these three groups and the Knicks, although the Knicks have performed short-handed all season.
Mitchell Robinson nonetheless hasn’t returned from Might’s left ankle surgical procedure, however the 7-foot heart is believed to be near his debut.
A wholesome Robinson would add top-tier rim safety to the Knicks’ inconsistent protection and be one other trusted possibility in coach Tom Thibodeau’s rotation.
Robinson would additionally enable the Knicks to keep up their dimension when Cities goes to the bench or to play each 7-footers without delay. The sharp-shooting Cities discovered success as an influence ahead with the Minnesota Timberwolves, with whom he performed subsequent to shot-blocking heart Rudy Gobert.
“There’s been a lot of fight, a lot of determination,” Cities stated. “We had to overcome a lot. We still haven’t had Mitch. Precious [Achiuwa] missed a good chunk, and Landry [Shamet] missed a good chunk.”
The break additionally gave OG Anunoby additional time to relaxation his sprained proper foot. The ahead was listed as questionable for the Knicks’ final two video games however didn’t play in both, bringing his absence to 5 video games.
Thursday’s dwelling sport in opposition to the Chicago Bulls — the primary sport after the break — would mark 19 days since Anunoby suffered the scary-looking non-contact damage in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 1.
Miles “Deuce” McBride, in the meantime, performed solely eight minutes in Wednesday’s 149-148 time beyond regulation win in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks earlier than leaving with a rib contusion.
A wholesome roster would give the Knicks their deepest and most-balanced crew of the season.
The Knicks’ beginning lineup of Brunson, Cities, Anunoby, Bridges and Josh Hart has performed a whopping 806 minutes collectively — almost 300 extra minutes than another five-man lineup within the NBA.
Lineups that includes not less than 4 of these gamers account for the NBA’s prime 5 most-used four-man mixtures; whereas seven of the highest 9 three-man combos belong to the Knicks.
Bridges leads the NBA in minutes (2061.1), whereas Hart (2002.7) ranks second and Brunson (1865.1) ranks sixth.
A few of these depth issues stem from the offseason departures of heart Isaiah Hartenstein, who signed with Thunder in free company; and Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, who have been included within the commerce that introduced again Cities.
The Knicks added Cities and Bridges — who value 5 first-round picks in a commerce with the Nets — in an effort to lift their ceiling after back-to-back second-round playoff exits.
With the new-look roster now extra accustomed to taking part in collectively and eventually getting more healthy, it’s time for the Knicks to point out what they will do.
“I want our players to get away and re-energize and refocus,” Cities stated earlier than the break, “and then come back ready to head down the stretch.”
