CLEVELAND — Changes in the Knicks’ Lineup
The Knicks are seeing a shift in their player roles with the return of Landry Shamet from his shoulder injury, which has gone pretty much as planned. Unfortunately for Mikal Bridges, this means fewer minutes on the court.
Bridges acknowledged this new reality before the game against the Cavaliers, noting the necessity of “sacrifice” after coach Mike Brown explained that giving Shamet—and other backups—more playing time would limit Bridges’ opportunities to start.
“I think that applies to everyone, myself included,” Bridges mentioned. “You have to make sacrifices, seize your moments, and play smart.”
Brown has opted to play Shamet alongside the starters even in tight situations, leading to Bridges spending most of the fourth quarter on the bench in several games this month. In the 15 games before Tuesday, Bridges’ overall playtime, shot attempts, and minutes in critical moments decreased.
Shamet has stepped up impressively, showcasing strong defense and hitting 42 percent of his three-point shots.
“The ball just went in,” said Shamet. “I’m focused on enjoying the game. The system is fantastic.”
Brown pointed out that the overall drop in the starters’ minutes is due to a more reliable bench compared to last season, aided by Mitchell Robinson’s better availability and the addition of Jose Alvarado at the trade deadline, along with Shamet’s improved consistency.
“When you see players doing well, you want to find ways to get them involved,” Brown explained. “That means someone else’s time is going to get reduced.” He added, “It’s a tricky balance—like I said about Shamet, he logged 23 minutes in the win over the Bulls.”
This shift was anticipated for Josh Hart, but Bridges’ situation is more surprising. After being traded for five first-round picks and signing a $150 million contract extension during the summer, he led the NBA in total minutes played shortly after. Yet, it would be a bit contradictory for Bridges to voice frustration. Last season, he openly requested more minutes and criticized coach Tom Thibodeau for not trusting the bench players.
While Shamet was part of that bench last year, he didn’t fully capitalize on his chances. Now, he ranks tenth in the NBA for three-point shooting efficiency among players with at least 174 attempts, particularly remarkable considering he dislocated his shoulder again in November and took nearly two months to recover.
He’s been averaging over 27 minutes in his last ten games.
“I just want to be on the court,” Shamet expressed. “Being injured takes you out of the competitive circle. Now that I’m back, it feels great to play.” He added, “It’s an amazing group to be a part of—always striving to improve and grow together.” He had to earn his spot in training camp after signing a non-guaranteed contract.
Bridges, despite his reduced role, applauded Shamet’s contributions. “Landry plays the game well,” he commented. “He’s been through some shoulder troubles, but I’m genuinely glad he’s healthy and performing at this level. This is what happens when he’s fit.”
