SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Knicks have proven resilience after dreadful losses earlier than, they usually’ve been among the many greatest street groups within the NBA all season.
These traits can be examined and drawn upon over the subsequent week, as a four-game western swing begins Thursday evening in opposition to the vastly improved Kings, who’re tied with the Grizzlies for the second-best document within the Western Convention.
With subsequent video games on the Clippers and the Lakers and one other in Portland, the Knicks vowed to regroup shortly after their nine-game successful streak ended with Tuesday evening’s giveaway loss at residence to the Hornets.
“It’s extraordinarily necessary,” mentioned Josh Hart, who was acquired from the Blazers on Feb. 8. “Clearly we’ve got Sac, who I feel is third or fourth or no matter they’re within the West. A tricky Clipper crew. A Laker crew that’s been taking part in properly and determined to try to get within the play-in and the playoffs, and Portland the identical factor. They’re taking part in properly they usually’re actually fighters.”
“It’s necessary. I feel if we go on the market and we proceed to develop and to play good basketball, I feel we’ll be blissful on the finish of the street journey. However we’ve got to take it a recreation at a time and be taught and proceed to play collectively and unselfish.”
Hart was amongst a number of Knicks who refused to make use of fatigue as an excuse for Tuesday’s loss, two days after a spirited double-overtime win in Boston.
With start line guard Jalen Brunson lacking his second straight recreation with a sore left foot, the Knicks (39-28) flushed a 16-point halftime lead and missed 21 of 26 pictures within the fourth quarter.
“It’s a actuality, however the actuality is also our job is to play basketball,” Hart mentioned. “You bought folks getting up at 6 a.m. doing 12-hour shifts. These guys are drained. For us, we’re taking part in a recreation and clearly are lucky sufficient to play a recreation.”
“We gotta hold that in perspective. … We gotta be certain we’re stuffed with power and energetic each time we step on the court docket. I feel that was the most important factor. I don’t suppose we are able to blame this on fatigue.”
Coach Tom Thibodeau acknowledged there’s “so much” he desires to find out about his crew throughout the week out west, starting with Thursday’s recreation.
The Kings (38-27) boast two All-Stars — level guard De’Aaron Fox and massive man Domantas Sabonis — for the primary time since 2004 (Peja Stojakovic and Brad Miller).
“As we undergo the season, I don’t need us to alter our method, and that’s what I actually like about this crew is simply focus on precisely what’s in entrance of you,” Thibodeau mentioned. “So, be taught from [the loss to the Hornets], then it’s all about preparing for Sacramento.”
“Don’t look forward. Simply take into consideration the enhancements we’ve got to make. Prepare for that recreation after which when that recreation is gone, prepare for the subsequent one. Simply hold going step-by-step. Don’t bounce forward.”
The Knicks’ first loss since Feb. 10 dropped them two video games behind Cleveland for the No. 4 playoff place within the East by Tuesday’s motion.
They had been only one recreation forward of the sixth-place Nets and three ¹/₂ away from the 7-10 play-in situation coming into the No. 7 Warmth’s residence recreation Wednesday evening in opposition to the Cavaliers.
Nonetheless, the Knicks’ 20-12 document away from Madison Sq. Backyard this season is tied with the Celtics and the Bucks for the most effective street mark within the league.
“We all know we’re taking part in actually good groups [on this trip],” Thibodeau mentioned. “I feel this time of the season, you additionally understand the depth goes to be there, whether or not it’s a play-in or playoffs or seeding or no matter it is perhaps.”
“Even [Tuesday], you’re taking part in a crew that there’s guys which can be taking part in which can be combating for roster spots, for taking part in time. There’s all the time motivation on this league. So, you may by no means shortcut the preparation that goes into taking part in every evening and what goes into successful every evening.”
