It was time for February to end for the Knicks. Very good in January, New York is currently struggling and ends the month with an eighth loss in twelve games, Thursday against Golden State. Still deprived of many executives, the formation of the Big Apple is suffering and seeing its pursuers return at high speed. However, it is not for lack of trying and fighting on the Knicks side. But too many absences are starting to cost you dearly.
OG Anunoby, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson in the infirmary, Jalen Brunson and Isaiah Hartenstein hampered by physical problems… Bad luck forces the players still in uniform to tear themselves away, even to exhaust themselves in an attempt to keep the ship afloat . “ I don't know exactly what you expected or what you had in mind… We play as best we can with the organizations available » lamented Josh Hart after the loss against the Warriors. A match during which the winger only spent 50 seconds on the bench. “We get high. It's not like we sit there and mourn our wounded and bow our heads. No, we're pulling away. We give everything we have. And when the guys come back, we'll be good. »
If Hartenstein mentioned “ an emergency situation“, with New York now in a group of five teams sitting within a win and a half between 3rd and 8th place, Hart is trying to take a step back. “ Take four starters, six major players out of the rotation of any team in the league and they are going to suffer. I don't care if Boston has the better record, or Detroit or Washington has the worse. When we have so many players absent at the same time, we suffer. »
In the aisles of Madison Square Garden, we refuse to sink into lamentation. It's not the style of the house with Tom Thibodeau anyway, although the latter admits that perhaps he should have make Alec Burks more responsible. “ We are more than capable of coping » proclaimed the former Bulls and Timberwolves technician. “ Obviously we are undermanned at the moment, so playing 47 minutes like Josh is necessary. »
OG Anunoby has returned to non-contact training
Same story for Jalen Brunson, back after a match absence due to neck pain. “ We clearly need to do better » says the All-Star point guard. “ We can learn from what we have been able to do in the past. We can be annoyed, frustrated for the rest of the evening, then we go to bed. But tomorrow morning, we must be focused on the next match. »
A little moment of respite, the Knicks now have 48 hours of rest before going to Cleveland for an important match in the standings. Before possibly finding a more complete group in the coming days or weeks, while OG Anunoby has resumed non-contact training. “ When the guys get back, we can enjoy a fresh OG, a fresh Julius, hopefully a fresh Mitch, and we can start a series » insisted Josh Hart.
