Logically speaking, they will eventually catch up to the Knicks. The same goes for simple arithmetic. And if you needed a hint as to how fragile and ephemeral this is, all they had to do on Tuesday night was change the lineup their opponents had on the floor at Madison Square Garden. It was just a quick observation.
Memphis won 51 games last year. We all knew the Grizzlies would struggle early this year with Ja Morant serving a disciplinary suspension, but we thought things would get better once he returned. Except the return lasted all nine games. Four other members of the Griz’ projected starting lineup were also absent Tuesday.
It was painful to watch at times as the Knicks built a 28-point lead without breaking a sweat. And although it was a brief moment, it was really hard to watch as the Grizzlies went on an 18-1 run and cut the lead against the Knicks to four points.
And by that time, it was becoming hard to watch at all.
By that time, Jalen Brunson’s ankle was bending in a way no human ankle should bend, and by that time Josh Hart’s knee was starting to bark at him. And by then, Memphis no longer needed to serve as a useful lesson in worst-case scenarios. The Knicks had built themselves very well on their own.
The Knicks won the game 123-113, but as with most of this user-friendly garden-heavy schedule, as the wins piled up, so did the items littering the Knicks’ anxiety closet. They were already without three-fifths of their starting lineup (Mitchell Robinson, Julius Randle, OG Anunoby). They were already without Quentin Grimes and even Jericho Sims was hurt.
Then, within 90 seconds of each other, Brunson’s ankle separated and Hart’s knee separated as they fended off an improbable rally by the suddenly red-hot Grizzlies. Hart remained in the game. Brunson didn’t and actually came off the bench for the final five and a half minutes of the game.
The impact of the fall to 19,013 at the Garden was tense, not dissimilar to when Julius Randle’s shoulder buckled 10 days earlier against Miami, and as the game wore on, things started to heat up as Anunoby was spotted on the bench. The topic was similar. In the private sector. And it’s not unlike the events that will undoubtedly cast a shadow over Brunson and Hart, primarily Brunson, in the coming days.
Brunson reportedly emerged from the arena Tuesday night without the aid of crutches or a walking boot, which is a sign of hope. According to one observer, he did appear to be walking “carefully”, which is not surprising given the frightening manner in which his feet landed.
“It’s the same as always” was Tom Thibodeau’s expected take on the possibility of losing yet another key member of the lineup. “Next man. Get the job done.”
Of course they did it. They lost Robinson and continued to win, going 16-3 in the new year. They lost Randle and Anunoby and went 4-1 without them. Branson will be different. Brunson is a fixture, one element in the lineup that makes the Knicks’ fervent next-man-up mantra unlikely.
The Knicks are in an interesting situation right now. The trade deadline is Thursday, but what Leon Rose will do will always be a mystery. It’s possible his operation could be minor, or even a slow play, until the deadline passes and potential buyers start to emerge. Some may be unhappy about that, but what’s clear so far is that Rose has earned the benefit of the doubt.
And in some ways, Rose’s mission now mirrors the Knicks in general. More impatient executives might factor in the Knicks’ short-term injury woes instead of believing in the power of time when considering a buyout.
Similarly, the Knicks are in position to make a serious push toward the top of the East — second place is no longer a pipe dream — but that means pushing forward where it might be wise to be cautious. right. The Knicks have four difficult games ahead of them before the All-Star break, and a mass injury could jeopardize all of those games and potentially jeopardize their ambitious seeding.
But just as Rose has to think long-term, even if it means waiting until the summer to make the biggest swing, the Knicks’ mission is to make the most of the playoff race. They have to have a healthy roster by April, even if it means sacrificing some spots. It’s not a perfect place, but then again, who said a perfect place is an option?
At this point, one thing is certain.
An 8-day All-Star break can’t get you there early enough.
