Most teams that have experienced the Knicks’ misfortunes of late would be just out of water. Yet, surprisingly, adversity almost made New York an even better team. Sustainability remains in question, but for now, the well-known “next man up” approach has made the New York Knicks successful.
The absence of four rotation players warrants a slight regression, but other players, like Josh Hart and Precious Achiuwa, fit the Knicks’ mold so well that they’ve been able to hang in there and hold their own.
Over the last five games, Achiuwa has averaged 9.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Between Robinsons’ long absence and Hartenstein’s resurgence, Achiuwa has kept the fort on the front line, much to the pleasure of coach Thibodeau.
Josh Hart has been a constant destroyer with his importance in rebounding and well-played defense. In the last three games without Randle’s rebounding, it’s been Josh Hart who has bailed him out averaging 11.3 rebounds per game since Randle’s departure.