The road to the Finals, no matter how far away it may seem for the Knicks today, will likely take them through the Celtics, the gold standard in the East.
But even after All-Star Knicks teammate Jalen Brunson agreed that Saturday’s game against Boston was a measuring stick, Josh Hart didn’t feel that label.
Due to injury reasons.
Stick game as they are missing three starters. Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports
“We’re not going to deny this game in any way. I think we still have the ability to win,” Hart said. “But I wouldn’t say that’s the measuring stick. I don’t think you can really play against the best teams when you don’t have three starting pitchers.”
The Celtics (44-12) are on a seven-game winning streak and are nearly at full strength, with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White playing in Thursday’s final game.
As Hart hinted, the Knicks are still waiting on the return of Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson.
But Brunson was more urgent about the matchup Friday, saying, “This is definitely a game we have to win.”
“Their play right now is the gold standard,” Brunson said. “So we have to be ready and well-prepared for the challenge. They pose a big challenge for us. We have a lot of respect for them over there. Where we are. Let’s see what happens.”
“I think this is an indicator of where we are, no matter what happens in the playoffs,” Brunson added.
The Celtics have already defeated the Knicks three times this season. Due to scheduling peculiarities associated with the in-season tournament, the Knicks were forced to play additional games against Boston and Milwaukee, so they ended up playing two more times.
Porzingis averaged 24 points and shot 56 percent against his old team this season. The Celtics outscored the Knicks by 45 points in Porzingis’ 101 minutes.
“They’re strong on both sides of the ball,” Knicks manager Tom Thibodeau said. “They’ve got a bunch of guys that can make off the dribble, and they can shoot threes. They’re shooting 50 threes a game. We’ve got to do our best. ”
A day after Isaiah Hartenstein expressed “a little bit of frustration” for not getting closer to his expected minutes in his first game back from an Achilles strain, Thibodeau said Thursday’s win over the Sixers was just the flow of things. .
“That’s why I told everyone, the minutes are like guidelines and you have to read the game as well,” Thibodeau said. “It’s going to come to him. Some timing, he’s still missing time. That’s just how it was.”
Hartenstein was limited after missing two weeks to rest his Achilles tendon, but thought he would get 21 minutes as part of his strengthening process. Instead, the Knicks put Precious Achiuwa at center and Hart at power forward, and Philadelphia played 11 scoreless minutes as the Knicks were on the back foot for long stretches.
“That’s how the game went. [The Sixers] It became smaller. [Hartenstein’s] The timing isn’t quite right. It’s bound to come,” Thibodeau said. s “Be patient. He’s a good player. He knows it.”
New York’s small lineup pulled away the win in the fourth quarter. “I want to accomplish my goals,” Hartenstein said against the Celtics.
