The story was the same all year long. Stay healthy for the playoffs.
Around mid-February, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, and OG Anunoby were the three players the Knicks had waiting to get back on the floor for their late-season buildup. Isaiah Hartenstein and Jalen Brunson were also playing below 100%. All the Knicks had to do was tread water for the rest of the season, and help would be on the way. Precious Achiuwa has stepped up. Deuce McBride stepped up. Bojan Bogdanovic stepped up. And the Knicks are steadily moving toward a two-seed with each game.
So when the Knicks entered the postseason without Julius Randle, they were used to playing with a “next man up” mentality. That didn't change when Bojan Bogdanovic tangled with Nic Batum and was injured during the postseason. That didn't change when Mitchell Robinson suffered further problems with his ankle and was out for six to eight weeks. The Knicks were telling themselves the same thing last night when Jalen Brunson returned to the locker room after the first quarter. Next man. Brunson may have returned, but OG Anunoby was sidelined shortly thereafter with a hamstring issue. A message from the locker room last night after the Knicks won 130-121 in the conference semifinals to move up 2-0?Next. Man. Up.
“I don't think we would have won the Philadelphia series without him. It's sad, but at this point I have to be there to support him. Basketball-wise, what's next? I went through this situation all year long.
– Isaiah Hartenstein on Mitchell Robinson injury pic.twitter.com/G48QdlmrIa
— Knicks Video (@sny_knicks) May 8, 2024
The team can't do this forever. Josh Hart hasn't sat since midway through the second quarter of Game 6 against the Sixers. Jalen Brunson's lower body is gradually deteriorating with each game. You would think a team built like this would run out of gas.
Instead, the Knicks have routinely won the rebound battle. They outplayed their opponents, outplayed their opponents, and let nothing get in their way. He is now 10 wins away from the championship.
That being said, they are facing their biggest challenge yet and are on a collision course.
Until OG is available, the Knicks are missing three of the eight rotation players for Game 1 vs. Philly (OG, Bogdanovic, and Mitch).
Thisbs has shortened his rotation and has only played in seven games as of late. Deuce McBride stepped up in the last series, but has been quiet so far against Indy. But we know he has it in his heart. The precious Achiuwa, also known as “The Big Sneeze,” came off the bench last night and contributed a solid 28 minutes. We're going to need that (and more) from him.
Of note, Alec Burks played about 40 seconds last night. He's the next guy. I wouldn't be surprised if he plays 12-15 minutes in the next game. Burks hasn't had any meaningful action for the Knicks since late March, and while this stint in New York was disappointing, Burks is a killer who has shown up in New York in the past.
More than that? A few ankle sprains later, we can see Jericho Sims and Shake Milton running. Seriously. But if we learned anything from this Knicks team, it's that they were ready for this. It's not five guys running off with New York in their arms. It's one team. And regardless of who his five players are, the grit they display as a unit has captured the hearts of his basketball fans around the world.