The best rebounder in the Eastern Conference in the playoffs is… a winger, who doesn't even reach 2m00 under the gauge. This is Josh Hart, who became a Knicks executive this season. Tom Thibodeau is so addicted to his player, who gives him an average of 44 minutes per game. So much so that Hart became the first player since 2013 to play the entirety of two games in a row in the playoffs.
It must be said that Josh Hart really raised his level of play in his playoffs. From averaging 9.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists in the regular season, he is up to 15.8 points, 12.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists in the playoffs.
“That’s his gift, he’s a fierce competitor. That's what we already thought last season. We thought that playing him would not impact the rebound,” admits Tom Thibodeau. “He showed that he has a talent for that, he gets to the ball quickly, he fights to recover a lost ball or a rebound. These actions where you have to fight are so important for a team. And then there is his versatility and his ability to defend in several positions is immense. »
Josh Hart is 2nd in total rebounds
With 134 rebounds taken during the playoffs, Josh Hart is the 2nd rebounder in the league, only 8 units behind Nikola Jokic. To explain his mastery of rebounds, Hart assures that there is also a small part of luck.
“It’s always a bit of both since the ball can also come towards you. It's 70-30 in favor of me going towards the ball,” Hart believes. “But sometimes it's just the way the ball bounces or deflects that allows me to catch it. And sometimes I just have to analyze where the ball is going to land and it's up to me to go to that spot. I think ultimately to win, to be successful, you have to do those little things. You have to play great defense and finish the possession with a rebound. »
Jalen Brunson admits to being surprised to see his teammate grab so many rebounds. “Sometimes I don't understand how he does it, because he comes out of nowhere and it's like he's flying to the ball”.
But Hart's success can also be explained by the fact that he moved a little closer to the circle with the injuries. A real Swiss army knife in attack as in defense, Josh Hart slipped towards position 4 little by little and sometimes even to the pivot position in a “very small ball” since he is only 1m95 tall.
“I’m still not a 4,” tempers Hart. “ I played a few possessions as a 5. This season has been really interesting. There were times when I was bringing the ball up, times when I was defending on another 5, setting screens and opening up to the rim. I played every position. That's what Coach Wright told me at Villanova. My position is to be a basketball player, hoping that Thibs doesn't think I'm a 4.”
