Short-handed Knicks deserve credit but OG's absence is the elephant in the room

Knicks need all hands on deck for a deep playoff run

Photo: Yahoo Sports

Knicks Deserve Credit Despite Injuries

Despite the New York Knicks three-game losing streak, Tom Thibodeau’s men deserve immense credit.

Jalen Brunson is top-4 in NBA scoring, playing at an MVP level whilst getting beaten up by opponents on a nightly basis. Much to the chagrin of Thibodeau. Hence his “he’s getting fouled,” rant after last night’s loss to the Miami Heat.

Josh Hart and Miles McBride have, at times, needed to play all 48 minutes, both playing at career-high levels. McBride has been an assassin from the perimeter, shooting 45% from 3 in his last ten games. Hart has notched an amazing 4 triple-doubles since March.

So, too, has Precious Achiuwa beeen playing at career-high levels in some games. Who would have predicted, of all the players Rose acquired since December, that he’d be their most reliable acquisition?

Donte DiVincenzo has been Brunson’s only consistent scoring sidekick after Julius Randle’s shoulder got separated in an unfortunate challenge by Jaime Jaquez Jr. pre-All-Star break. Donte’s inferno has had a career year.

Isaiah Hartenstein is on a minutes restriction from injury after a career-best season covering for Mitchell Robinson, who has missed much of the season due to injury.

Combine all of the above, with both sets of major trades in season paying little dividends. OG has missed 60% of the games with elbow bone spurs, then inflammation. Meanwhile, Alec Burks has been a non-factor and Bojan Bogdanovic has struggled in his role off the bench.

Considering all these factors, the Knicks should be praised for being in the position they’re in. Still very much favorites to finish in the top 6 automatic playoff spots, likely in the top 4 seeds.

This speaks to the belief within the squad, and the credit goes to Tom Thibodeau for expertly guiding them through this challenging season.

OG Sized Elephant In the Room

Undoubtedly Julius Randle worked his tail off to be cleared by the medical staff. Unfortunately, the original diagnosis of ‘weeks not months,’ for his separated shoulder before the All-Star break has proven to be overly optimistic. He's now out for the year, in a crushing blow. We do know, from experience, that Randle would have done anything to be there for his teammates.

However, the elephant in the room is OG Anunoby. Knicks insider Stefon Bondy cited multiple sources in Toronto who said he was uncomfortable playing through pain and is seemingly reluctant to play if he isn’t 100% healthy.

His injury history reads like a doctor’s patient file. It’s long and isn’t getting better despite his fairly young age and his status is up in the air. Judging by his time in Toronto, he was known as much for his injuries as for any on-court achievements.

It started with a torn ACL out of college then, he missed the Raptors Championship run in 2019 with an appendectomy and subsequent infection. Following the Championship, which he wasn’t part of, he missed 51+ games on various muscle injuries such as calf, ankle, and wrist sprains. Anunoby has also suffered from an eye contusion, missed several games after cutting his finger doing household duties, plus a month on another finger issue. Then-coach Nick Nurse unsubtly complained about his lack of availability for the Raptors 2022 playoff run. Fast forward to his elbow, which has now cost him the vast majority of his time in New York. This is a staggering list for a player only 26 years old.

This must be a concern for the team. First off, who indeed is 100% healthy at the business end of the season? Hartenstein has been banged up for a while; but has no issue giving his best effort for the betterment of the Knicks.

The elephant in the room is not just his availability now, but in the future. He can opt out of his contract at the end of this season where he can then demand a lucrative max extension.

Can the Knicks justify giving him a 4- year extension worth $30+ million per year when he’s missed the vast majority of games since arriving and 35% of his time in Toronto?

Historically Good Addition

Yet, it’s not a cut-and-dried issue. His impact on the court is historically positive. According to StatMuse his +297 plus/minus on the court is the biggest impact on a new team in history. The reason being, that he’s essentially the perfect addition. He spaces the floor for Brunson and the 3-point shooters; freeing the paint for Randle to play out of his mind before his injury. He’s a sharpshooter from the corner behind the arc, and one of the best defenders in the league with his ludicrously huge wing span.

Hence, the Knicks are 15-2 with him on the court. Unfortunately, despite how great a player he is, getting him on the court and having him stay on the court is proving as elusive as his return date.

Further complicating the issue is what the Knicks gave up to land him. Particularly trading Immanuel Quickley feels questionable, but adding RJ Barrett to the equation, both draftees, this was a big swing from Leon Rose. Optically, can the Knicks allow OG to walk?

All in all, this is an issue that will require deeper exploration after the season ends. Perhaps OG does the Knicks a favor and chooses his player option, delaying an extension until he can prove his health.

In the meantime, the Knicks are fighting for a playoff spot shorthanded and they need all hands on deck.

Knicks Need All Hands On Deck For Playoffs

It’s imperative that OG does everything in his power to come back. No one is at their peak health in this stage of the season, it’s a long, hard, 82-game marathon. As a respect to his teammates who go to battle every day, he owes it to them to come back as soon as possible.

That’s why, despite the frustration of the recent losing streak, I have to grade this team on a curve. They’ve done extremely well to this point. The extra minutes were always going to catch up to guys who weren’t used to it.

Responsibility also lies at the door of Alec Burks. He’s playing like he’s still in Detroit waiting to go to Cabo at season’s end.

Bogdanovic looks largely lost in his role, which I can’t necessarily blame him for. He’s never been a physical rim-protecting forward off the bench. He’s a sharpshooter that needs touches and a defined scoring role. There seems to be no plan for him on this defense-first Thibodeau team. Thus, this trade looks ill-conceived. Had both played to their stat sheet, then the loss of OG wouldn’t have been nearly as pronounced as it has been.

I also believe there’s a slight hangover from the Knicks losing to the Spurs in OT despite Brunson’s 61-point night. They put so much into it, coming back from multiple double-digit deficits with Brunson having one of the best nights in Knick history, just to blow multiple chances at the end has carried over into the following recent tough losses. Not least for Brunson himself, who played wearily against the Heat.

If the Knicks are to go far in the playoffs, they need reinforcements. Josh Hart didn’t sound overly optimistic any are forthcoming, which could be an indicator of understandable frustration.

This team, when healthy, has as good a chance of making the Eastern Conference Finals as any, but it’s all hands on deck. It’s also time for OG to prove he’s ready for the fight or there needs to be serious questions asked about his future.

Check out another LTK post by

Donald Stewart

: