The Knicks are eagerly awaiting the return of Josh Hart

Sometimes we measure a player’s importance… when he is away. In New York, an injury Josh Hart thus he acted as a revealer: without him, the Knicks lost some of their power and their collective alchemy.

Good news: Josh Hart could return, after missing eight games, against Portland, and while Nix they go through a complicated sequence, his return feels like a twist.

An engine of energy… and an anchor point

In a team rich in intense profiles, Josh Hart occupies a special place. “He’s the heart and soul of the team in terms of energy. I also bring a lot of energy, we have a lot of guys who do that. But he’s been doing it for so long, and we’ve all been able to rely on him as a center.” summarized by Miles McBride.

At age 30, Josh Hart started the season off the bench, minus the ring finger of his strong hand. But, as usual, he showed why he is needed, quickly finding the top five.

Mike Brown describes him as “Glue Guy” in the noblest sense: “He’s a connector. A binder. There’s a lot of things we can do with him, on both ends of the floor, things he brings to the team.”

Josh Hart doesn’t just defend, rebound and run: He facilitates reads, secures possession, connects lanes and provides a ball-lifting solution that relieves Jalen Brunson.

Absence more embarrassing than expected

When Josh Hart twisted his right ankle on Christmas Day, we thought New York would handle it pretty well. After all, the team has already managed to survive other problems, such as the nine-game absence of OG Anunoby. But without the Swiss army knife, the reality was brutal: 3–5, and above all five defeats in the last six matches.

Mike Brown obviously refuses to let this be the only explanation. “One might ask: Is it the opponents? Is it the time of year? I don’t know” replies the coach, but knows that getting Josh Hart back to work means finding a key piece of the puzzle, without waiting for a complex tactical adjustment.

Karl-Anthony Towns also insisted on the difficulty of going through this period while still trying to adjust to the changes made by Mike Brown: “I mean, it’s hard when you’re missing a big part of your team in a new system, new offense, new philosophy, new scheme.”

Fewer gaps in the opposing defense?

One of the most visible symptoms is the onset of seizures. Usually, Josh Hart is often involved in picking up the ball, especially after defensive rebounds, to put the opposing defense under pressure.

“We need (Hart) back, but I think we have secondary creators (besides me). We have them on our team. And you might think otherwise, but that’s how I feel.” Jalen Brunson answers.

Mike Brown, for his part, prefers to point out the fact that the Knicks enter the racket less, and therefore mechanically carry the ball less after generating assists. “Our overall touches in the paint are down and our drive-and-kick is down. Part of that is not moving the ball like we used to, but Josh, again, he’s another ball carrier who attacks the rim very well. He makes quick decisions, he goes to the circle, and if you’re playing cat and mouse, he’s obviously going to finish. everything” concludes the coach.

How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.