Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau made a change to his frontcourt rotation on Saturday, using Jericho Sims as the primary backup center ahead of Precious Achiuwa, writes Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. Thibodeau expressed a need for more “physicality” after his team was battered in Thursday’s loss to Denver.
“Whoever got it going, that’s where we’re going,” Thibodeau said. “Some nights it’s not your night, it’s someone else’s night and then you put the team first. Everyone sacrifices themselves. And that’s exactly what we’ve been doing all year.”
Sims didn’t score, but he braced the defense and grabbed seven rebounds in his 18 minutes of action. Achiuwa played just eight minutes, his fewest since Jan. 17. Bondy notes that Achiuwa was used as the starting winger the last time OG Anunoby was injured. In the last three games, Thibodeau moved Josh Hart to that position and inserted Miles McBride into the starting lineup. Thibodeau told reporters that he still has “a lot of confidence” in Achiuwa and indicated that the reduction in playing time could be temporary.