Josh Hart’s proficiency from 3-point range has significantly slipped this season, and the Knicks’ spark plug admitted Monday that he believes part of it is not feeling as “involved” in the team’s offense.
Hart’s shooting percentage from long range has dipped from 51.9 percent over 25 games following a trade-deadline arrival to 28.6 percent through 16 appearances this season.
“Just trying to get in a rhythm. I think that’s the biggest thing,” Hart said after practice in Tarrytown. “I’m a rhythm player. I’m not someone that’s just a catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter that really just only does that. That’s not really what I do.
“I’m more someone who can get in the lane and find guys and stuff like that, and I’m capable of making shots. When you don’t have a rhythm like that or you don’t feel included, it’s just sometimes that’s tough not touching it and having to catch and shoot. So, it’s definitely something I’m working on and hopefully [I will] get in a better rhythm.”
Asked in a follow-up question what he meant by not “feeling included,” Hart — who signed a four-year, $81 million contract extension in the offseason — began to elaborate before smiling and cutting himself off.
“I think it’s just in the rhythm of the game,” he said. “Like I said, from myself, I’m an energy guy and a rhythm player. So, for me sometimes it’s tough just to get in that rhythm. So, I won’t — yeah. Sometimes [it’s] tough.”
The 28-year-old Hart has been playing some of his minutes as the team’s backup power forward after Obi Toppin was traded in the offseason.
Free-agent signing Donte DiVincenzo has replaced Toppin in Thibodeau’s nine-man rotation, but the 6-foot-5 Hart mostly has been employed at the 4 spot when starter Julius Randle is not on the floor.
Hart actually is averaging one more attempt per game from 3-point distance this season — from 2.1 to 3.1 — than he did last year following the trade.
But he has connected less than once per game (0.9) from beyond the arc in the Knicks’ 9-7 start entering Tuesday’s In-Season Tournament game against the Hornets at the Garden.
His .286 shooting percentage represents the lowest mark of his seven-year NBA career, as is his scoring average of 7.1 points per game.
“You don’t get those shots without people working together to create those shots. He’s done a good job of creating them. We don’t want him hesitating,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said last week when asked about Hart. “He’s put work in. A lot of them have gone in and out, and I believe in the end he’ll be there.
“You guys hear me say it all the time, the game tells you what to do. If you’re open, you’ve got to shoot. He’s not going to hesitate. He’s been around a long time. There’s ebbs and flows to this. Just shoot the right shots, and the whole key is to understand the value of shots and not only taking them, but how you create them.”
RJ Barrett’s effectiveness from 3-point distance also has dipped recently since returning from a three-game absence due to migraines.
He was hitting 50 percent (20-for-40) of his attempts through his first seven games, but only 31.3 (5-for-16) in his past four appearances.
“Yeah man, I didn’t pick up where I left off,” Barrett said. “That’s OK. Honestly, this was going to happen at some point during the season, whether I got sick or not.
“So I’m just doing what I do all the time, and working my way out of it. I’m not worried.”
Neither is Thibodeau, who added Monday: “It’s just, sometimes that happens. He was in a good rhythm and then he’s trying to find his way again. He’ll get there. We have a lot of confidence in him. Usually if you can get a few easy baskets you can get going again.”