The New York Knicks are closer to getting healthier as each day goes by.
OG Anunoby Slated To Return For New York And Other Injury News, Plus, Projecting The Knicks Rotation Down The Stretch
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, OG Anunoby is nearing a return and could play against the Philadelphia 76ers tonight. Anunoby is listed as questionable for tonight’s game.
Knicks forward OG Anunoby – out since Jan. 27 with elbow injury – is expected to return as soon as Tuesday vs. 76ers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. He's expected to be upgraded on injury report. pic.twitter.com/AcsECtLgkN
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 11, 2024
New York has struggled since Anunoby injured his elbow on Jan. 27.
New York is 8-10, while Anunoby has been out. The Knicks haven’t been very good on either end of the floor during this stretch, but they have struggled more offensively, averaging 104.1 points a game—28th in the league.
The Knicks were held to an NBA season-low 73 points on Sunday by the 76ers as they shot 32.6% from the floor, 22.5% from the 3-point line, and committed 19 turnovers.
Granted, the Knicks have had other players miss time during this stretch. Of course, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson have been out the entire time. Jalen Brunson missed three games, and Isaiah Hartenstein has sat out four games during this stretch, while Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic entered the picture at the trade deadline.
Despite these struggles, New York sits fourth in the Eastern Conference at 37-27. However, the Knicks are only one and one-half games clear of the seventh-place Indiana Pacers.
Since coming over from Toronto, Anunoby has been fantastic, particularly on the defensive end. The Knicks have won 12 of 14 games that Anunoby has played and were +18.0 when he was on the floor.
During this 14-game stretch, Anunoby averaged 15.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.1 steals a game. The Knicks also averaged 115.4 points and held their opponents to 100.4 points a game.
While Anunoby is expected to return soon, Charania said it will still be a little longer before Randle returns.
Shams: “OG Anunoby is close…This is right around the time he's been expected to be back on the floor. So look over the next week or so, OG will be back on the court. Julius Randle continues to go through workouts & his shoulder injury is one where he has to make sure he goes… pic.twitter.com/Q2nSMNmE6G
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 11, 2024
“These shoulder injuries are ones where you want to make sure when you’re back on the court, you don’t just pop it again, you don’t have another issue that then leads to that season ending surgery.”
Randle projects to return to the lineup on March 21. Meanwhile, Robinson could return a couple of days later on March 23.
What Will the Knicks Rotation Look Like When Everyone is Healthy?
New York has made significant changes to its roster this season. And the Knicks have yet to have their current roster healthy at the same time. Overall, the Knicks have used 25 players and 16 starting lineups.
The Knicks’ most-used starting lineup is 9-5 on the season. Meanwhile, their first unit, Precious Achiuwa, Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Jason Hart, and Hartenstein, is 8-4.
However, their best starting five (9-1) consists of Anunoby, Brunson, Divincenzo, Hartenstein, and Randle.
So, what could the Knicks rotation look like when everyone returns?
New York Daily News Steve Popper believes that Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau will go with Brunson, DiVincenzo, Anunoby, Randle, and Robinson as his starters even though those five have yet to play together. If that is true, Popper believes Hart, Hartenstein, and Miles McBride will be the first three off the bench.
Popper’s starting five is likely the way Thibodeau will go, though he could decide to swap Hartenstein for Robinson. Hart and Hartenstein/Robinson will be one of the first three reserves. But not sure about McBride.
McBride has shown the ability to be a backend of the rotation player this season and is having a career year. He has also been terrific offensively as a starter and has shot the ball well from deep overall. However, when the Knicks are fully healthy, not sure he really provides the Knicks what they need as well as others.
With everyone healthy, the Knicks have others to run the offense for 10-to-15 minutes that Brunson is on the bench. DiVincenzo, Hart and Anunoby are three of them. Plus, Burks and Bogdanovic are also capable.
Burks and Bogdanovic have yet to acclimate themselves very well in New York. But both players are experienced and can provide instant offense, an addition to consistent 3-point shooting.
Achiuwa also has played well enough to get a few minutes. However, if Thibodeau cuts his rotation to eight or nine players, the 24-year-old will only see the floor if an injury occurs.
