Despite injuries to the entire starting front line and setbacks toward the Eastern Conference play-in cutoff, the Knicks are trying to remain cautious with coach Isaiah Hartenstein .
The starting center, who has filled in for the team since missing the final three games before the All-Star break due to a recurrence of his left Achilles tendon, has averaged just 20.5 minutes in the past four games before Sunday’s road game against the Cavaliers. There were none left.
Hartenstein also missed Tuesday’s game against the Pelicans, the second night of a back-to-back, due to injury maintenance.
“I’m still just getting my rhythm. I think that’s the biggest thing,” Hartenstein said. “I was able to get more comfortable and find my rhythm, and I think that’s the biggest thing. [Thursday night] I felt like some of the processes were a little slow, but that will resolve itself over time, so I’m not worried about it right now.
“Right now, I’m feeling it little by little. But it’s going to get better and better, so we’re going to increase it. …At this point, I don’t want to increase the number of episodes too much. We have a good program. Good. That’s the good thing about this work.”
Hartenstein, 25, hasn’t been as productive since returning to action as he was during the 17 games he played between early January and Feb. 8 against the Mavericks, when the injury aggravated.
Hartenstein averaged 8.9 points, 12.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots in over 32 minutes per game, during which time the Knicks posted a 15-2 record.
However, those numbers have dropped to 4.5 points, 5.8 boards and 0.5 blocks over the past four games.
Hartenstein, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, added that the Knicks’ recent slump (4-8 in their last 12 games) makes him available after the break, even if in a more limited role. Ta. than when he was playing before his recent injury flare-up.
“I probably could have taken a few more weeks off. But for me, I think I found the perfect medium to step it up at the right time,” he said. “I just want to be here for the team.”
The 7-foot Hartenstein hasn’t logged more than 27 minutes in any of his last four games, and in Thursday’s home loss to the Warriors, he played 20 minutes and had six rebounds while playing minus-18.
The prized Achiuwa started at power forward in place of injured All-Star Julius Randle (dislocated shoulder), but was also converted to center while Hartenstein was on the bench.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said Mitchell Robinson is out of a supportive boot after undergoing ankle surgery in December, but is still waiting for clearance to run and jump.
Randle and OG Anunoby (elbow) could be nearing a return.
Both have resumed basketball activities, but are still waiting for permission for contact.
The struggling Knicks enter Saturday’s league game 4.5 games out of second place in the playoff East and just 1.5 games behind the eighth-place Pacers.
“There’s an urgency. There’s an urgency every day. I think that was the No. 1 reason I wanted to come back,” Hartenstein said. “Just to make sure I’m here for the team. I think that was the main reason I felt like I needed to come here and help the team.”
