Jalen BrunsonPlayed in an NBA basketball match for the first time in four weeks on Sunday – as you can imagine, its pace was a bit offbeat, its packaging was less than 100%.
These things will come back over time.
The best sign for the Knicks Sunday? Brunson did not hesitate to any of his movements on the ground.
“Everyone always talks about the physical part of what you feel. But mentally, it’s just confidence (the ankle). Confidence in your movement. Confidence in the way you play and do not get out,” said Brunson. “It was an adjustment, but I feel much better.”
Brunson recorded 34 minutes on Sunday – it was his first game since March 6, when he suffered a significant sprain from the ankle.
He did not have a difficult minute limit against Phoenix.
“With Jalen and (associated sports coach Anthony Goenaga), if there is fatigue, he will tell us. And they look at him closely, “said Thibodeau.
Brunson said his packaging was better than expected. It is probably because it was diligent in its packaging during rehabilitation.
“Right now, it’s no more timing,” said Thibodeau. “He must play. There is no way to get around this. He practiced the other day well, but the intensity of the practice can never be reproduced for what the game is.”
Brunson will have four other games before the playoffs. If he plays in three of these games, he will be eligible for the end of season prices.
Play until the end
The Knicks need a victory – or a loss of Pacers – to get the seeder n ° 3 at the Eastern Conference.
If and when they pick up the third seeded, do not expect them to rest in the last games of the season.
“While you head down, you want to check the boxes,” said Tom Thibodeau after Sunday’s victory over the Suns. “You want a winning record at home, a winning record on the road. Fifty victories is good. You want the highest season as possible. And then you want to play. So you are going step by step. We don’t jump anything.
Is this the right approach? Or is it best to rest the players after the Knicks won the third seeded?
The answer to these questions will be revealed in the playoffs.
The minutes have been – and will be – a subject of public debate around Thibodeau until his retirement. Mikal Bridges And Josh Hart First and second ranking of the NBA in the overall minutes played. OG Anunoby Entering the game on Sunday ranked 11th in total.
For some, it is a sign that the players should sit once the knicks have won the seed n ° 3. But Thibodeau does not see it in this way.
He wants his teams to play their best at the end of the regular season. It is one of its principles of foundation. This means playing regular minutes until the end – even if the games have no impact on the ranking.
(It should be noted here that the Knicks will have at least five days between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs. They therefore have an integrated rest period.)
Pistons in the first round?
If the season ended today, the Knicks would face the pistons in the first round of the playoffs.
Detroit, led by Cade Cunninghamwon two games at Madison Square Garden this year. They play at a high level. Veteran Tobias Harris was part of the turnaround that saw Detroit Triple It’s Win Total last season.
Harris, originally from Long Island, took a lot of warmth in Philadelphia for the shortcomings of the Sixers. Last year, the Sixers won 57% of their matches with Harris. This season, Philadelphia wins with an abyssal clip of 29%.
