Lost two to the West, the Knicks conclude their four-game trip Tuesday night in Utah.
If the Knicks looked exhausted during periods of their games in Sacramento and Portland, it is not a mirage. So says owner Austin Rivers, who has become the team’s most outspoken player since he was hired as a free agent in November.
The Utah game will mark the end of the Knicks’ pandemic schedule, which saw them play 12 of the first 19 games on the road. They are not only fighting their opponents, but also the plethora of COVID-19 road travel protocols found in an 82-page NBA document.
“Oh, we’re definitely tired,” said Rivers after Tuesday morning dress rehearsal. “Our schedule, I would challenge anyone to put their schedule instead of ours. I don’t know how a schedule can be more difficult than what we did. Physically and mentally. At the same time, it is what it is. Here we are.”
The Knicks have a record of 8-10 in their first 18 games – which is much better than pre-season expectations. But coach Tom Thibodeau maintains a short rotation and, with injuries, important players played monstrous minutes.
Julius Randle and RJ Barrett have not lost a game and have recently been 1-2 in minutes played in the NBA.
Randle currently occupies second place in average minutes (36.7), while Barrett fell in a virtual tie to sixth (36.2) after being suspended in Sunday’s fourth period in Portland.
Barrett looked like he had nothing left in the tank against the Blazers and ended up with eight points, after a wave of six games when he averaged 21 points.
“We are tired, but ready to go,” said Rivers. “Do you know what I mean? I just have to go out and compete and figure out how to win games every night. I think the most important thing, when you have a long season, the best way to approach these games is to try to put a positive bias We lost two in a row, but at the same time we won our first game on this trip. ”
Indeed, the Knicks began their journey with an emotional 119-104 rout over the Golden State, bottling Stephen Curry in the second half in San Francisco. But they faltered in Sacramento and Portland.
In the latter, the Knicks faced a very well-rested team that had a week off due to COVID-19 cancellations. The Knicks were left behind by 70-50 in the interval before attacking rookie Immanuel Quickley and losing by 3.
After Utah, 11 of the Knicks’ next 16 games will be at the fan-less Garden, starting with Cleveland on Friday
“We can leave this trip by 2 to 2, 0.500, that’s solid,” said Rivers before leaving Utah. “We can leave this trip for 2 to 2 and go home, so that’s how we have to look at things now. It would be a great feeling for us to get in here – this is the hottest NBA team we’re playing. Utah is playing basketball better than anyone in the NBA. So, for us to beat a team like this, that would be great for us, so we have to look at things like that. ”
Jazz won eight in a row. Your last loss? Against the Knicks on January 5.
Thursday also marks the anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s death. Rivers met Bryant and the Lakers were something of a mentor. Rivers said Bryant would always come to him after the games to offer a review.
“I don’t mean to say that he didn’t look human – but it’s the same thing that someone like LeBron (James) has, ” said Rivers. “These guys move differently. They are not basketball players. They are basketball. When you see someone like that go, life seems so fragile and makes you feel so human. “