SNY's Ian Begley will be responding to Knicks questions from readers. Here's the latest...
Towns has begun to make 3-point shots. Is the thumb still an issue? - @BROOKLYNSAINTS
The short answer is yes. The bone chip in Towns’ thumb is still an issue and it will be an issue for the rest of the season. But give Towns credit; he seems to have adjusted well to the injury.
In his first 10 days back following the thumb injury, Towns shot 2-for-18 from beyond the arc. In his next six games, Towns shot 53 percent beyond the arc on 30 attempts. He hit seven of his 10 attempts against Atlanta in the Knicks’ final game before the break.
Again, Towns deserves credit here for playing through discomfort and figuring out how to shoot with an injured thumb.
The big man doesn’t like to talk about the injury. If you ask him a question about the thumb, he usually says some variation of the phrase ‘It is what it is.’ (He jokingly called me out last week for ‘always’ asking about his thumb.) Towns doesn’t want to say that he’ll be dealing with discomfort for the rest of the season. But he will be.
You already know this, but Towns’ 3-point shooting is pivotal for this Knicks team.
With Towns at center, the Knicks can force opposing big men out of the paint on offense/create seams to attack.
Obviously, that changes a bit if Towns is shooting poorly from three. But if the last six games are an indication, he should be just fine.
Towns’ shooting will also be key if/when he shares the floor with Mitchell Robinson. He hit 41.6 percent of his threes last season in Minnesota while sharing the floor with Rudy Gobert. Minnesota probably doesn’t make it all the way to the Western Conference Finals without stellar perimeter shooting from Towns.
QUICK HITTERS:
Why is Mikal off ball so often on offense? Is that by design? Seems like he had more shot creation ability in Brooklyn. Brunson could use some perimeter relief at times -- James St. Patrick, YT
I assume it is by design. I think the Knicks have established a hierarchy where things generally go through Jalen Brunson and Towns and Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart play off of those two. Bridges definitely had more opportunity as a primary ball-handler in Brooklyn. His usage this season is down 20 percent from last season (Usage is an advanced stat that measures the percentage of plays that ends with a specific player taking a shot, shooting free throws, or turning the ball over).
Tom Thibodeau has talked often about Hart as New York’s secondary ball-handler. It seems like the Knicks value Hart in that role. As noted here, Hart has been incredibly effective as a distributor, rebounder, and in transition this season. So it’s hard to argue with the Knicks’ logic on Hart as a secondary ball-handler. But that’s probably why you haven’t seen Bridges create as often off the dribble this season compared to past seasons in Brooklyn.
Ian what’s the starting lineup expected to look like when Mitch gets back? In the playoffs do you think Thibs will ever switch it depending on the team? - Bart Jordan @flugamesick11
My assumption here is that Towns will continue to start at center when Robinson is back. I think it will take some time for Robinson to regain his rhythm and conditioning. The Knicks definitely want to see a Robinson-Towns lineup. I’m sure both big men will share the floor regularly when Robinson returns. But I don’t think Thibodeau will change the starting lineup until it’s clear that Robinson has shaken off (understandable) rust from his long layoff.
What’s the likelihood of Kevin McCullar Jr. getting called up and playing meaningful minutes next season ? - Nascent Smith @NascentSmith
Hey Nascent, I apologize to you for misreading this question in an earlier version of the Mailbag. I thought you asked about McCullar playing meaningful minutes this season. I think it’s unlikely that McCullar plays meaningful minutes next season. But there is a pathway for him to do so. Three Knicks playing meaningful minutes this season (Precious Achiuwa, Cam Payne and Landry Shamet) will be free agents this summer. The Knicks have Achiuwa’s Bird Rights. But they don’t have Bird Rights on Payne or Shamet. So they would have to use an exception to sign either player. Also, the Knicks’ team salary is on the precipice of the second apron. If they want to save money, playing a young guy like McCullar, Ariel Hukporti and/or Tyler Kolek instead of re-signing a veteran is the way to go. Obviously, this Knicks team wants to win a championship. So the club would have to be very confident that McCullar (or Hukporti or Kolek) could thrive in a rotation role.
I understand that the starters can't play 48 minutes, but why rest Brunson and Hart for the first 5 minutes of the 4th? Shouldn't they rest in the 2nd and 3rd and play the entire 4th with the game on the line? A lot of big leads have been blown unnecessarily. - Nick S @thesonx
I don’t know the answer to your question Nick but if you asked Thibodeau – or any coach – this question, they would probably say that possessions in the second and third quarters are equally as important as possessions in the fourth quarter. I can see your logic here and understand why you would disagree with that answer. But I’ve been asking these kinds of questions long enough to know that Thibodeau – or any coach – would probably give you a variation of that answer if you asked them the question.
Who sits when Robinson & OG return. I don’t see us playing more than 9 players - @BROOKLYNSAINTS
If I had to guess, Shamet would be out of the rotation. Like you, I’d be surprised if Thibodeau goes with a 10-man rotation.
Hey Ian, who do you think is the likeliest player the Knicks will get from the buyout market on March 1st? TJ? - @KNYT_Hoops
You and @MikeRee60259113 had similar questions on this. I believe that the Knicks can now sign a player as early as February 28 since they shed some salary in the Jericho Sims trade. This is just a guess but I’d say TJ Warren is the most likely player to be added here. He impressed the Knicks during training camp and has garnered respect from Thibodeau and others for his play with the Westchester Knicks this season.