The New York Knicks have so many injuries it\u2019s as if they came across Bruce Wayne on a bad night.<\/p>\n
However, while their injury report has rarely been empty this season, the Knicks have leaned into the resilience that\u2019s customary of a team led by head coach Tom Thibodeau. This has called for the Knicks to adopt the familiar \u2018next man up<\/a>\u2019 mentality. With that, has also come a call for sacrifice.<\/p>\n As Thibodeau says, \u201cWhoever\u2019s got it going, that\u2019s where we\u2019re going<\/a>,\u201d per the New York Post\u2019s Stefan Bondy.<\/p>\n \u201cSome nights it\u2019s not your night, it\u2019s someone else\u2019s night and then you put the team first. Everyone sacrifices. And that\u2019s really what we\u2019ve done all year.\u201d<\/p>\n This season, such sacrifices have led to players like Precious Achiuwa<\/a> being removed from the starting lineup. Starting in place of the injured OG Anunoby<\/a>, Achiuwa\u2019s physical profile and skillset make him more akin to Julius Randle<\/a> than their star 3-and-D wing. That said, Achiuwa started in place of<\/a> their All-Star forward after he went out with a dislocated shoulder in late January.<\/p>\n Supplanted in the starting lineup by Anunoby, Achiuwa never got his spot back when his longtime teammate went out with elbow soreness. Third-year guard Miles McBride<\/a> got the call instead. The change appeared to be strategic.<\/p>\n Addressing his decision to move Achiuwa back to the second unit, Thibodeau says \u201cI have a lot of confidence in Precious.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s done a great job for us. I love the fact that he can play two positions. I think he can guard multiple positions. It allows you to do a lot of switching.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cSo it was more the matchup\u2026,\u201d Thibodeau explains.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026OK, who are we looking at in the Golden State game? We\u2019re looking at [Stephen Curry<\/a>] (necessitating McBride to be in the lineup to chase him around). And then with [the Brooklyn Nets], you\u2019re looking at Cam Thomas<\/a> who has been rolling.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n McBride has put forth unexpectedly impressive performances in his last few starts. Playing all 48 minutes<\/a> against the Nets, he scored 26 points on 6-12 shooting from 3 and had no turnovers. It was McBride\u2019s third straight start. It was his second game in three outings scoring at least 25 points and his third consecutive game playing at least 40 minutes.<\/p>\nKnicks Newfound Formula Bodes Well for Postseason Run<\/h2>\n
Tom Thibodeau Explains Lineup Change<\/h3>\n
Confidence-Builder<\/h3>\n