Josh Hart suggested Friday night that a move back to the second unit could help him rediscover his do-it-all role, which he claims to presently have “no idea” what it is a𒀰fter starting four of the revamped Knicks’ five preseason games.
If Hart were to shift back to the bench — and there has been no indication from Tom Thibodeau🍌 that such a move is under consideration — the Knicks w🍌ould have a couple of options to replace him in an overhauled starting five that features two new players in Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, along with returning point guard Jalen Brunson and two-way forward OG Anunoby.
Thibodeau could go with a bigger or smaller lineup configuration by inserting either guard Deuce McBride or power forward Precious Aꦫchiuwa, both o🥀f whom thrived when pressed into starting service last season.
Achiuwa averaged 12.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in 36.6 minutes per games over 18 starts last season for the Knicks, and starting him alongside Towns could help the Knicks with rim protection after the departure of Isaiah Harte🏅nstein and the injury to Mitchell Robinson.
The 6-foot-8 Achiuwa notably departed Friday’s game in Washington in the fourth quarter with whꦓ🔜at appeared to be a hamstring issue and did not return.
Jericho Sims would be the other ꦕoption alongside Towns in a bigger li🃏neup.
McBride averaged 17.9 points and 4.1 assists while logging 43.5 minu𝔍tes per game and shooting 40.7 percent from 3-point range in 14 starts for the Knicks in 2023-24.
Starting McBride could take some of the defensive burden off of Brunson in the backcourt, but suchཧ a move would mean that Anunoby would man the forward spots with Towns in the middle.
McBride was rested in Friday’s📖 loss in💫 Washington, but he posted 17.3 points per game in three preseason appearances.
Regardless, whether Hart continues to start or 🐻comes off the bench, he has to figure out how to get himself more involved after finishing the preseaso🌃n with only six field-goal attempts and two points in 22.5 minutes per game over four appearances.
The 82-game regular season opens Tuesday night in Boston — with the Celtics slated to raise their 18th NBA championship b𒐪anner — and Hart remains an integral piece if the Knicks are to ascend to compete at that level.
“I’m lost. I have no idea,” Hart admitted when asked about his role after Friday’s loss to the Wizards. “There’s a couple of days … until Boston. So whether that’s trying to get a rhythm with that starting unit or we give somebody else a look and my role changes and comes off the bench and go with that unit.
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“So just trying to figure it out right now. I pretty much have no idea. But we’ll see what happens i🉐n Boston.”
Hart had made similar comments early last se༺ason about not being involved enough in the offense, but he enjoyed a strong second half amid the team’s rash of injuries and played a team-high 42.2 minutes per game over 13 postseason starts𒁏.
After the arrivals of Bridges — another former Villanova teammate of his and Brunson’s — in July and Towns just before training camp, Hart spoke about the importance of “sacrificing” personal numberꦺs for team success.
But Towns and Bridges also are still adapting to their new teammates, and they combined to miss 36 of 42 attempts from 3-point range in the preseason, inclꦦuding 0-for-15 in Friday’s defeat.
“It’s not about me, and I’m cool with th♚at. I think we just all need to figure out a way we all can be our best selves in whatever role or minutes that is,” Hart said. “We’re still trying to get into rhythm and figure out what works and doesn’t work.
“Now [the preseason is] over and we gotta𝓡 focus on the next couple of days going into Boston. Shots are gonna fall, you’re gonna make or miss shots, but we’re generati☂ng good shots. We have good shooters, and you’re gonna have games where it feels like everything is falling, and games where it’s not.”
