Welcome to part VI of the Knicks Pulse Check! Where we update the fans with the continuing trends of the New York Knicks.
Since our last Knicks Pulse Check check-in, the trade deadline came and went, both Jalen Brunson and Jacob Toppin performed during All-Star Weekend, and the Knicks as a team appear to be hanging on by a thread in the Eastern Conference standings as Julius Randle, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson try to return from their respective injuries.
Speaking of the trade deadline, Leon Rose pulled the trigger on a trade that sent Evan Fournier, Quentin Grimes, Malachi Flynn, Ryan Arcidiacono, and two second-round picks to the Detroit Pistons for Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks. Almost a month has passed since the trade, and while the on-court results haven’t been a resounding success, it’s easy to see how deep this team will be once the Knicks get healthy. Over their last ten games, the Knicks are 3-7, which ranks as their worst record over any 10-game interval during this season, and they’ve struggled on both ends of the court.
A look at the advanced metrics shows that the Knicks currently rank ninth in the league in net rating (down four spots from last check-in), 11th in offensive rating (down two spots from last check-in), and 10th in defensive rating (down four spots from last check-in). I do believe the majority of the blame for the Knicks’s dip in performance can be explained through injury—however, in the same breath, this 3-7 stretch has highlighted how overly reliant the team is on Jalen Brunson and also some of head coach Tom Thibodeau’s shortcomings. *GASP*
I’m as much of a Thibs defender as you’ll find on the interwebs. That being said, I really can’t defend bringing in Jericho Sims as the first sub off the bench against the Warriors while down 14-0 in the first quarter, EVEN with Isaiah Hartenstein on a minutes restriction. Additionally, I can’t defend playing Deuce McBride only 22 minutes in the same game where a struggling Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart played over 35 minutes, only to tell reporters in the post-game interview that he should’ve played Alec Burks more after going two-for-six from the field.
Thibs…do better.
February 6th – February 29th: 3-7, Overall record: 35-25, 4th in Eastern Conference
Injury Updates
I don’t think I can imagine anything Knicks fans are looking forward to more than the return of Randle, Anunoby, and Robinson this season. Everyone knows it will take some time for this team to gel once fully healthy, as there have been several new rotation pieces added since the Anunoby trade. It will probably come as no surprise that Knicks fans collectively rejoiced after SNY’s Ian Begley reported that Anunoby has been cleared for “on-court activity” and will begin shooting a basketball again soon.
Julius Randle is also inching closer to a return to the Knicks, but the lack of a timeline and talk of surgery continues to make things murky in regards to the conversation surrounding his short/long-term health. Begley recently reported that Randle is working out twice a day, and videos have surfaced of the two-time All-NBA selection shooting at a gym in NYC. However, surgery has not been ruled out as an option for this season, and there is a worry that Randle could re-injure his shoulder should he return to the hardwood. As of now, Randle has not been cleared to practice, but during interviews, Thibs has said that Randle continues to “hit” all of his marks in his recovery process.
Talking Big Mitch, Begley tweeted on February 20th that Robinson was no longer wearing a walking boot, and that he was doing some light shooting on the court. It feels like fans are more eager to see either Randle and/or OG return, but people should remember how much of a difference-maker Robinson was during the Cavaliers series last postseason. He essentially neutralized both Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, completely dominating the paint. And although Hartenstein has filled in admirably as the anchor of the Knicks’ defense, a return to 48 minutes of both IHart and Mitch will likely improve this team’s defensive rating and take some of the pressure off the perimeter defenders.
The New Guys
Once again, Leon Rose decided to shake things up with the roster when he traded for Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks on deadline day. I think I speak for most Knicks fans when I say that the reaction post-trade was largely positive. Bringing two versatile wings who can shoot off-the-dribble and from a standstill position (with efficiency) onto your roster for Fournier, Grimes, and essentially two second-round picks is a really solid upgrade in talent. Of course, Burks is a free agent at the end of this season, but Bogdanovic’s salary for the 2024-2025 season is partially guaranteed, giving the Knicks a ton of flexibility in terms of how to operate during the summer and beyond.
Of the two incoming players, I do believe the more lukewarm reception was probably reserved for Burks. For some reason, fans still hold the whole “point-guard Burks” experiment against him and not the coach who put him in that position. However, since returning to New York, Burks’ on-court play hasn’t done much to ingratiate himself back with the fanbase. Since being traded to the Knicks, Burks has averaged 8.5 points per game, while shooting a ghastly 30.2 percent from the field, and 30.1 percent from the three-point line. As a Burks fan, what has been particularly disappointing has been his shot selection, defense, and turnovers. At times, Burks looks like he forgot that he isn’t in Detroit anymore. We know that a Burks hot streak is probably around the corner, but it has been tough to watch him and justify his minutes thus far.
Moving onto Bogdanovic, in seven games, the nine-year veteran has averaged 13.2 points while shooting 37.4 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from the three-point line. Bogie is off his season’s averages, but it’s been exciting to see what he adds to this team. The Knicks’ most recent win against the Philadelphia 76ers highlighted Bogie’s best attributes – lights-out shooting from three combined with some creation off the dribble. That night, Bogdanovic poured in 22 points and hit all six of his shots from the three-point line. If either OG or Randle returns to the lineup soon, it’s easy to predict that Bogie’s shooting percentages will go up with teammates who can drive the ball and make the defense collapse.
Before the next Knicks Pulse Check, the Knicks will have interesting matchups against the Cleveland Cavaliers, two games versus the 76ers, and the Denver Nuggets at the end of a West Coast trip. You get the feeling that the Knicks need to hang around the fourth or fifth seed until the rest of their roster gets healthy. This upcoming schedule isn’t brutal, but the Knicks will need to play way better on both ends of the court.
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below! Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the NBA season. Subscribe to the newsletter for KFTV content and events, shop discounts, and more at bit.ly/kftvmail. And in case you missed it, check out CP The Fanchise’s interview with ESPN’s Monica McNutt.
