Key Takeaways:
-The New York Knicks’ failure against the Golden State Warriors (110-99) has led to their second consecutive defeat.
-Key players like Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson are currently injured, which Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr attributes to Knicks’ dismal performance.
-Kerr acknowledged the difficulty of Knicks’ situation, commenting on the recent struggles due to injuries.
-Knicks players Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo played high volume minutes; further injuries might arise if sustained.
-An update on player Anunoby hints at a promising return but no timeline yet for Randle and Robinson.
Knicks’ Struggle Due to Key Injuries
The New York Knicks encountered yet another loss against the Golden State Warriors on February 29th, scoring just 99 against the Warriors’ 110. This was a successive blow for the Knicks, leading to a disappointing 3-7 in their last ten games. The team’s tribulations are compounded with key players like Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson struggling with injuries. The head coach of the Warriors, Steve Kerr, sympathized with the Knicks, emphasizing the struggles brought about by injuries.
Striving to Overcome Challenges
During a post-game interview, Kerr acknowledged that the Knicks were indeed at a disadvantage, “Obviously the Knicks were shorthanded tonight. They’re going through it right now from an injury standpoint. So we caught them on a night when they had to play their guys a lot of minutes. That’s never easy.” Kerr also added, “Obviously, they’ve been crushed by injuries, they were playing better than anybody a month or so ago, but it’s all part of it.”
Despite the Knicks’ ordeal, they remain resilient against the tumultuous tide. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Tom Thibodeau were acknowledged for their efforts amidst the team’s dire straits. According to Kerr, “Tom’s teams are always gritty and defensive-minded.”
Enduring through the Injury Storm
The Knicks’ battle against injuries was glaringly evident in the face-off with the Warriors. Key players were burdened with copious playing minutes, pushing Hart, Brunson, and Donte DiVincenzo to play 47, 37, and 36 minutes respectively. Coach Thibodeau, faced with limited choices, might risk exacerbating their injury situation if the rigorous play schedule continues.
In an effort to mitigate their challenges, Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks were brought on board. However, Burks has had a rocky start in his first eight games, with a disappointing 31.6% field goal percentage and averaging just 8.5 points. Even though Bogdanovic presented commendable performance at times with an average of 13.3 points and a shooting percentage of 39.5%, the Knicks are still struggling to secure wins against stronger teams with the persisting injury issues.
A Glimmer of Hope: Player Recovery Updates
It is of utmost necessity for the Knicks to have Randle and Anunoby back as their inclusion boosts the team’s potential to compete with the top teams. Coach Thibodeau recently updated on Anunoby’s recovery before the game against the Warriors. He revealed, “He can shoot, dribble and pass. No contact [drills] yet but that’s the next step.”
As far as Randle and Robinson are concerned, Shams Charania from “Run It Back” on FanDuel TV provided stimulating news. He stated, “[Julius Randle’s] rehab is going well, his goal is still to play this season…[Mitchell Robinson] has got to keep hitting check marks, we know he’s been dealing with foot issues over the course of his career…OG Anunoby, the hope is over the next 2-3 weeks he’s going to be back on the floor.”
Health is a preeminent factor for the Knicks if they are to turn their games around. The coming weeks are crucial as their chances of leveling up the ground against robust teams hinge on the recovery of their key players.