Jalen Brunson made his return to the New York Knicks after lacking 16 video games with an ankle damage.
On April 6, the New York Knicks beat the Phoenix Suns, 112-98. Devin Booker scored 40 factors for Phoenix, however OG Anunoby answered with an uber-efficient 32 factors. On high of a usually well-rounded sport for the Knicks, it was an excessive amount of for the Suns to deal with.
Jalen Brunson made his return after lacking 16 video games with an ankle damage. Throughout that span, New York went 10-6, and Brunson was clearly struggling in his return.
The All-Star guard completed with simply 15 factors and 6 assists whereas making solely considered one of his 4 photographs from deep.
Regardless of getting back from a prolonged damage absence, Brunson performed 34 minutes, prompting some concern about Tom Thibodeau overworking his star participant. Nevertheless, not everybody noticed it as a foul factor.
The Knicks, as with every workforce led by Thibodeau, aren’t identified for resting their stars. Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart are the league leaders in minutes performed, and Brunson is predicted to return to his 35-minute-per-game common earlier than the postseason.
With the Knicks poised for a first-round sport in opposition to the bodily Milwaukee Bucks, they are going to want Brunson to be wholesome in a difficult matchup.
“It’s lots of minutes, however that is Tom Thibodeau and that is what he’s going to do,” stated Chandler Parsons on FanDuel’s Run It Again.
“In his protection, we’re lacking this a lot time with the playoffs coming, it’s worthwhile to get your rhythm again.
“You see final evening it’s nice to have him again within the line-up, however he was inefficient, he wants time to get his legs, precise sport form, cardio again, and possibly he wants extra minutes and fewer video games getting him again to the place he was. No minute restriction is an effective factor, I feel we’ve got obtained to have a look at this as a constructive.”
Thibodeau is legendary for leaving Derrick Rose in a sport regardless of it being a blowout, leading to a career-altering ACL tear. Nevertheless, the Knicks are title contenders and want Brunson to be wholesome, giving the coach some room to roll the cube.
The Knicks have 4 video games left: they are going to tackle the Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Brooklyn Nets.
They’re solely three video games forward of the Indiana Pacers for the third seed within the Japanese Convention, who even have 4 video games left. Whereas the Pacers need to play the Cavs twice, it’s attainable that Indiana will move New York within the standings.
In an effort to keep away from that and enter the postseason with the very best likelihood attainable to advance as deep as attainable, the Knicks have to be at full energy, which suggests leaning on Brunson.
This season, New York is an ideal 3-0 in opposition to the Bucks. Nevertheless, they’re 1-2 in opposition to the Pistons, and if the Pacers move them, the possibilities of them getting out of the primary spherical dwindle.
There will likely be no relaxation for Brunson. The Knicks can’t afford it.
