The New York Knicks remain in the hunt for a top-two seed in the Eastern Conference despite two of their best players missing most of the last two months. However, the Knicks may be getting a couple of the players back soon, but before that they have decisions to have roster decisions to make.
New York Knicks Rotation Adjustments, Open Roster Spots, and Injury Updates Of Their 3 Starters
New York enters the last week of March with a 42-28 record. The Knicks have won seven of their last 10, as a result they are just one game behind Cleveland and three games behind Milwaukee.
The Knicks have three games this week. New York hosts Detroit on Monday and then finishes the week with consecutive road games at Toronto (Wednesday) and San Antonio (Friday). The Knicks are 6-0 against the trio of games and have only lost two games all season against teams with sub-.500 records.
New York has the 14th easiest remaining schedule, per Tankathon, with their opponents combining for a .482 winning percentage. However, seven of the Knicks’ next 10 games are on the road, where they are 19-15.
Knicks New Frontcourt Rotation
With OG Anunoby, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson sidelined (along with others), Tom Thibodeau had to use several different players in the frontcourt. Thibodeau again adjusted his frontcourt in the Knicks 109-95 Saturday victory over Brooklyn.
Thibodeau went with Jericho Sims as the first big off the bench against the Nets. Sims didn’t score but grabbed seven rebounds and recorded a steal in 18 minutes. The Knicks outscored the Nets by five while Sims was on the floor. It was his most minutes in the past three games for the 25-year-old.
Meanwhile, Precious Achiuwa saw just seven minutes of action despite being Isaiah Hartenstein‘s primary backup since coming over from Toronto. Achiuwa also started at power forward the last time Anunoby missed action, but Josh Hart has taken over that duty this time.
Thibodeau told Stefon Bondy of the New York Post that he decided to give Sims more minutes due to his physicality. However, Thibs added he still had confidence in Achiuwa and who gets minutes in the front court may depend on the matchup.
“Whoever’s got it going, that’s where we’re going.Some nights it’s not your night, it’s someone else’s night and then you put the team first. Everyone sacrifices. And that’s really what we’ve done all year.”
Knicks Injuries
Speaking of Anunoby, he has already been ruled out for Monday’s game. His absence now extends to four straight contests due to injury maintenance on his surgically repaired right elbow, per New York Post’s Ian Begley.
Knicks are listing OG Anunoby as out for Monday's game against Detroit. Counting Monday, Anunoby will have missed four games due to what the Knicks say is injury maintenance on his surgically-repaired right elbow. Anunoby had surgery to address the elbow ailment in early…
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) March 24, 2024
It marks the 22nd time the 6-7 forward will sit out in the past 25 outings. The Knicks are 15-2 in games that Anunoby has played and 10-11 without him.
While Anunoby doesn’t have a set return timeline, ESPN projects that he could play when New York heads out for its two-game road trip this week.
But Thibodeau told Bondy that he wasn’t as sure Anunoby was close to returning.
“It’s hard to say. “I haven’t seen him. He’s doing better, so just let it calm down and go from there.”
Meanwhile, Robinson and Randle are also expected to return on March 27. Robinson has been out since December 8, while Randle last played on January 27. However, unlike Anunoby, Robinson and Randle worked out before the game against Brooklyn.
Open Roster Spots
New York has two open roster spots, with Mamadi Diakite and DaQuan Jeffries 10-day contracts expiring Saturday night. The Knicks will likely fill the two spots as they currently have just 13 healthy bodies, including three players on two-way deals.
Diakite will almost certainly remain, as New York can offer him another 10-day contract. Diakite has not appeared in a game for the Knicks this year.
Conversely, Jeffries is eligible for a 10-dayer as he has already inked two such deals with the franchise this season. Therefore, New York would have to sign the 26-year-old to a deal for the rest of the season.
Jeffries has played in 13 games for the Knicks this year, but none since last month.
