OG Anunoby has averaged 32.7 minutes per night in three games since returning from elbow surgery. That’s down from the 35.7 MPG he logged for the Knicks prior to the surgery.
Anunoby was listed as questionable to play against Sacramento on Saturday. He wound up playing 33 minutes, though he only scored two points. He contributed in other ways with six rebounds, three blocks, two assists and a steal in the 98-91 win, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post writes. Anunoby is still experiencing some soreness in the elbow.
“OG’s a basketball player,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He does a bit of everything.”
We have more on the Knicks:
- The team’s 40th victory of the season triggered a bonus in Isaiah Hartenstein‘s contract, Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets. Hartenstein earned $350K as the Knicks improved their record to 40-27 on Saturday. Hartenstein already achieved another bonus in his contract by exceeding 1,350 minutes played and will clinch a third bonus when the team qualifies for the postseason. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent after this season.
- Hartenstein played 28 minutes against the Kings, the most he’s logged since returning from a sore left Achilles that cost him two weeks of action last month. He had seven points, 14 rebounds and four blocks. “The good thing is I feel good,” Hartenstein told Bondy, “so I feel they’re doing a great job of building it up.”
- In a subscriber-protected story, Newsday’s Steve Popper discusses the Knicks’ potential when they return to full strength.
Best to watch their mins. Thibs here can be his own worst enemy. 15 gms left in the season. Hopefully we get Randle back for last 10 gms. Then Mitch ??
Thibs has to make sure we make it thru the season healthy. Then we will have a deep team that’s played mins. Going into the playoffs. Warriors up next. We owe them one.
Thibs is a basketball coach. He makes production related minutes decisions. He does not make medical related minutes decisions. Those are made by the medical staff in concert with the player. Thibs wouldn’t be involved, except for following directions of the medical staff. When Hartenstein said “they’re doing a great job of building it up” he’s referring to the medical staff, not the coaches. Thibs is responsible for ALOT. But not the health of the players. As an NBA team, we can afford to employ actual medical professionals for that.
In case you didn’t know it, OG is a basketball player. What a shocking revelation. Thank God for the New York Post and their hard hitting, deep diving scribes.
It’s clear what Thibs was communicating: he’s not just a defender, or a 3 and D guy; he’s capable of impacting the game in every facet.
Will knicks keep IHart, Precious? We know they have to keep OG. Mitch is too injury prone for a guy making what he makes(just as Parsons was).
You can trade Mitch. They will resign them both imo. I like both their fits here. I think Thibs likes them. So that will help.
Knicks don’t need to push players. For game results. You rest your guys, that needed. And win with with what you got. You can still win with bench. You don’t have to push, Jalen, OG, Hartenstein. You manage the wins and mins. All we need is top6. But top 4 should be a priority. Just not at expense of more time missed by players who could be resting.
This point ……. I take it Game By Game.
The trade with the Pistons has been a bust. It’s too bad. Grimes and Archie are gone.