Mitchell Robinson apparently felt the necessity to spotlight his matchup in opposition to Nets middle Nic Claxton after Wednesday’s blowout victory over the Nets.
Robinson ultimately deleted the tweet, however he initially took to Twitter to boast about his fourth consecutive double-double (13 factors and 10 rebounds) since getting back from a month-long absence following proper thumb surgical procedure on Jan. 19.
“Enjoyable truth: greatest middle in New York,” Robinson tweeted round 1:30 a.m. Thursday, together with a shrug emoji, earlier than including between two hearth emojis, “and I’m Standing 10 toes on that.”
Claxton — who’s averaging 12.5 factors, 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 blocked photographs and a league-best 71.0 field-goal proportion — had 9 factors and eight boards in 22 minutes Wednesday in opposition to the Knicks.
Former Knicks coach and present TV analyst Jeff Van Gundy believes Josh Hart has been a “good” addition for Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks.
“I believe not solely the Knicks wanted Josh Hart, I believe each crew wants Josh Harts,” Van Gundy advised The Publish. “Talent is way simpler attained than talent with grit and bodily toughness.
“I believe Hart, his defensive rebounding is a big element, that’s one. I additionally suppose you noticed it twice [Wednesday] night time, the flexibility to rebound, push and end. Extremely vital to get layups in transition. After which I believe the third factor is when are you able to play effectively while you don’t shoot effectively. Not that he didn’t shoot effectively [Wednesday] night time [2-for-3], however he didn’t have plenty of photographs, and he completely was dominant in his [26] minutes. You see it in his plus-minus [plus-30], you see it in who he’s guarding. And he’s keen to do issues involved performs.”
Van Gundy even in contrast Hart to Knicks legend John Starks in that latter regard.
“Starks coined the time period way back within the ’90s, when he would scream out, ‘Make ’em really feel ya on protection,’ ” Van Gundy added. “Consistently. You couldn’t shut him up, ‘Make ‘em really feel ya!’
“That’s what Hart does, he ‘makes ’em really feel ya.’ I hope wherever Starks is watching these video games, whether or not it’s in a set or at his residence, that he’s screaming on the TV, when he sees Hart, ‘make ’em really feel ya.’ As a result of that’s what Hart does, too.”
Jalen Brunson was named Japanese Convention participant of the month for February after averaging 27.3 factors and 6.0 assists on 52.9 p.c capturing and 42.6 p.c from 3-point vary in 10 video games.
