The start of Game 1 marked a new playoff experience for Josh Hart. But in the end, he was everything the Knicks were getting used to.
It’s certainly no secret that Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau gives the starter a heavy workload and Hart is in the middle of that plan.
That was especially true in the playoffs. Last year, Hart averaged 42.2 minutes in 13 postseason games. He played three 48 minutes of three times during that stretch, and one for 53 minutes. All regulations and 5 minutes of overtime.
However, Hart found himself on the bench for a long stretch when he won the Pistons 123-112 Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
He got into early foul trouble and picked up his third foul in the second quarter with 10:45 left. As a result, he played just seven minutes in the first half and had little effect on the game.
“That was the challenge. Both him and Mikal were the ones. [Bridges] Thibodeau said after Sunday’s practice. “And that kind of thing broke the rhythm of the game a little, but ultimately you get the determination to find a way to get it done. That’s what you have to do.”
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Hart’s foul trouble increased the playing time for Landry Shamet and Cam Payne.
Thibodeau said Sunday that he wasn’t expecting to give him early playing time to begin with, but he was forced to change his plans.
Hart avoided getting another foul in the second half and was key to the Knicks’ 21-0 run, overcoming an eight-point deficit. He finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Eight of these points and three of the assists came in the fourth quarter.
After being non-factorial for most of the game, Heart’s fingerprints were all over the comeback.
“I think we’re just trying to get ready,” Hart said Sunday. “I think I’m growing up, I was always taught to play the game until the last whistle. Villanova, coach, [Jay] The light really planted us that we can’t control everything. For me, that’s exactly how I wired it. You can box out for 46 minutes, but if that’s not a habit, the last two minutes of the game will make an impact, get an offensive rebound, get loose balls, etc.
“Obviously, foul trouble was frustrating. I was screaming at Tib to keep me up, but I was clearly making a ridiculous foul. Tibs is always making sure you’re ready and trapped in the game.”
