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The Knicks looked like they were marching towards the East’s first seed a week ago, but have since dropped three games in uncharacteristic fashion. It’s only their second losing streak of the young season, but it’s putting them in danger of slipping to the third seed or beyond with a tough opponent and travel sled ahead.
There’s plenty of causes for the slide — injuries and fatigue chief among them — but perhaps none more glaring than Josh Hart’s absence due to a sprained right ankle. He turned it on Christmas Day, and despite pulling out the win, his team hasn’t looked the same without him since.
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It’s a testament to and necessary reminder of his value after fans were ready to call his number in the trade machine during a slow start to the year. He’s been a pivotal piece of this core’s success and this isn’t a championship team without him.
As a reminder, New York traded for Hart near the 2022-23 deadline, and he was an immediate impact addition on the court and to the locker room. The Knicks immediately rattled off nine straight wins after acquiring him, and his monster play in the first round was crucial in helping them advance over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In his first full season with the franchise, Hart had to step up as a starter after Julius Randle went down with a season-ending shoulder injury, and he responded with averages of 12 points, 10.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists. He was once again key in the postseason, averaging 14.5 points and 11.5 rebounds, while hitting some of the biggest shots of his team’s run.
Hart delivered more of the same last season, shouldering a ridiculous 37.6 minutes per game and adjusting to a new frontcourt mate without losing a step. He had another strong playoffs, including two 20-point games and a triple-double in the Knicks’ upset series over the Celtics.
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Coming into this year, Hart re-aggravated a finger injury, forcing him to play with a splint and through some discomfort. It took four games of struggle and some angry tweets, but since then Hart’s put up 13.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists on 60 percent shooting from…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/knicks-feeling-josh-harts-absence-145952650.html
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Publish date : 2026-01-05 14:59:00
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