Before and after Tuesday’s game in Utah, point guard Austin Rivers pointed out that the Knicks are “fatigued”. And he indicated that it was not just physically, but mentally as well.
Rivers, the most sincere Knick, initially blamed the road’s strenuous schedule. The Knicks were on the road during a pandemic in 13 of their first 19 games – a period that ended with Tuesday’s collapse 108-94 against Jazz.
After the Knicks were defeated in the fourth quarter by an embarrassing 28-13 count, Rivers said he didn’t know what the reason was, but blowing up a 15-point lead and showing no fight in the final quarter was proof.
“I mean, the guys were dead,” said Rivers. “So I don’t know what was the reason for that. But looking around with six minutes left for the room, it didn’t seem like we were ourselves as a unit. Only our energy changed in the second half. They became more physical. They took the fight to us. It looked like everything fell apart there. “
It was a blunt accusation for a team built on courage – not offensive talent. Rivers, who scored 25 points in the first half and none in the second half, did not blame the minutes. He also did not specify the demanding road safety protocols.
But Tom Thibodeau’s minutes could become a problem if the 8-11 Knicks, who have lost three consecutive matches, do not turn around when they return to Garden Friday against Cleveland after eight days and four western swing games.
Thibodeau is revered in the league for his coaching acumen, but his approach to winning at any cost has yielded detractors. A short rotation and an inability to give up on explosions and use your depth are evident in the first 19 games.
Julius Randle (36.7) and RJ Barrett (36.4), his two main gears, are now in second and fourth place, respectively, in minutes per game in the NBA. During the fourth quarter break on Tuesday, Thibodeau kept Barrett on the court until 1:19 remained, down 17. Barrett ended up registering 40:22.
It may have been a time to give the 2017 lottery pick Frank Ntilikina a little action. Ntilikina, now healthy, did not play for the second straight game after being out for 3 ½ weeks with a sprained knee.
Thibodeau doesn’t throw in the towel easily. Against the Nets on January 13, Brooklyn was winning in a rout. It seemed an obvious chance to rest Randle and give rookie Obi Toppin, in his first game back from a calf injury, a chance to recover.
Thibodeau kept Randle in the game and the Knicks returned feverishly. But the Knicks would need a miracle to win. They ended up losing, by 116 to 109, and won some praise on national TV for the attempted comeback. Indeed, there was short-term success, but it raised doubts as to whether it was better for the long term.
Before Tuesday’s game, Rivers said of the first 19 games: “I don’t know how a schedule can be more difficult than what we play. Physically and mentally.”
Thibodeau, 63, one of the old New England schools that Bill Belichick loves, doesn’t want to hear about a difficult schedule or fatigue. And now things should get easier with 11 of the next 16 in the Garden.
“The schedule is the schedule,” said Thibodeau of Rivers’ comments. “It is balanced. Sometimes it’s in your favor. What makes this a little bit more unusual with COVID things is that you can join teams that have been off for a long time [like in Portland]. But that is all part of it. You could probably find an excuse for each game. This is what you must protect yourself from. You have to have mental toughness to overcome anything you are experiencing. ”