Key Takeaways:
– New York Knicks’ coach, Tom Thibodeau, offered a succinct explanation for benching player Alec Burks in the second half of their game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
– Bench player Miles McBride shined, while Burks registered poor performance statistics.
– Player OG Anunoby now questionable for future games after elbow injury.
– Jalen Brunson expresses concern for Anunoby’s health, emphasizing the importance of being fit for the postseason.
In the New York Knicks’ recent 105-93 triumph over the Portland Trail Blazers, Coach Tom Thibodeau was concise in explaining Alec Burks’ absence in the second half of the match. When asked about his decision, Coach Thibodeau’s straightforward response was, “Basketball. Just basketball.”
Burks’ Performance Wanes
Burks, once a favorite of Thibodeau during his first stint with the Knicks, seems to be facing a difficult period in his second tenure in New York. His performance against the Trail Blazers was lackluster, registering five points from 2 of 5 shooting in just over four minutes, his shortest playing time since 2018.
The veteran guard had started the second quarter with a point but was soon taken off the field by Thibodeau, after missing consecutive shots and turning the ball over within a span of 67 seconds.
Miles McBride, the Rising Star
After Burks exited the game with over eight minutes left in the second quarter, reserve guard Miles McBride shone by soaking up all the remaining guard minutes. His plus-13 rating in 22 minutes, which consisted of six points on a 3 of 6 shooting record, together with three rebounds and one steal, was notable. According to NBA.com’s hustle stats, McBride also contested five shots and had one deflection.
Burks, recently re-acquired from the Detroit Pistons at the trade deadline, has averaged a disappointing 7.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in the last 14 matches since the trade. His shooting statistics are also subpar, hitting only 31.3% overall and even less from the 3-point range, 28.1%.
Injury Concerns for OG Anunoby
A further concern for the Knicks is the downgrade in status of 3-and-D wing OG Anunoby, who re-aggravated an elbow injury during the match and is now questionable for future games. On the incident Anunoby commented, “It’s just sore…Nothing really happened. Just went for a ball. And it hurt randomly, but it’s fine.”
Despite the setback, Anunoby expressed his intention to play against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, March 16. Meanwhile, Knicks’ starting point guard Jalen Brunson has stressed the need for Anunoby’s full recovery for their postseason run, advocating for health to be a priority.
Brunson, who scored a remarkable 45 points in the triumph against the Trail Blazers, commended Anunoby for his resilience. However, Brunson added this cautionary note, “I feel like if he’s hurt, he wouldn’t play…we want everyone to be okay first and foremost. But if you go back out there, that means you’re good. So things are gonna happen. You got to get banged up. We got to be up everyone’s back and just make sure we all take care of each other first.”
The Knicks’ impressive victory was slightly marred by these internal hurdles they have encountered. As they power forward, their next goal will be managing player health for the challenging postseason ahead. Now, all eyes will be on how the team recalibrates and ensures that every player is in top form.
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