Injuries are an inherent part of professional basketball, be they freak occurrences or incidental mishaps. They can strike at any moment and are unavoidable. However, as the Knicks are tinkering with a lineup that is down to a seven-man rotation due to injury, last night’s Jalen Brunson injury scare put some things into perspective that the Knicks simply cannot afford another injury at this point. Literally. They would be down to a six-man rotation plus Alec Burks, regardless of the position at this point.
Whether it’s the Mike and Ike sugar rush or a lack of depth, Thibodeau and the Knicks have relied on Josh Hart to play without even a minute breather throughout most of the playoffs.