Will Thibs use an 8th man to replace Bojan? If so, who?

[JayTWill]

I would love to see Precious get some minutes at the backup 4 to give Hart a break. Precious can also matchup against Siakam at times which would free up OG to guard Hali to give him a different look and slow him down if he gets going against our other defenders.

But what's more important to me than just adding another guy to the rotation is finding a lineup that can look semi functional without Brunson so he can get a rest. Overall the team played relatively well without Brunson on the court but part of that was Thibs brought him back in immediately if things got bad for a minute. I would love to see iHart with the second unit with Brunson out just to help as a facilitator next to McBride and the other Nova guys.

The second unit could try to go all defense in the limited non-Brunson minutes but the idea of McBride, Hart, Precious, Mitch and whoever on the court at the same time scares me. I just want to find a way to get the starters longer rests. Or maybe they can just find a way to blow the Pacers out by 30-40 in 3 quarters to get the starters but with how the 4th quarters played out against the Sixers there is no way Thibs is going to be less Thibsy with the minutes distribution.

[mpharris36]

even if you play precious, he's not gonna play at the same time as a center so it really doesn't help the minutes problem. there's only 1 guy he can play and that's burks. and they said a game or 2 ago that burks has a bad shoulder. i don't know the severity of that injury.

you probably just give Burks 5-10 minutes in game 1 and see if he can contribute anything. You can always pull the plug.

But at this point you can't play a 7-man rotation right out of the gate in a playoffs.

Donte and Brunson can play huge minutes but you want that in select games.

If Obi or Siakam is playing the 4 you could see some precious minutes.

i know they got away with it in the regular season but in the playoffs that's 2 guys you can ignore on defense. it's no good.

I agree it can't be more than a few minute stretches' just trying to avoid OG and Hart playing the entire game

[Kidknick!]

Thibs preparing to OPEN THE BURKIN BAG.

Actually, they kinda should kick the tires on Burks, if only to have six fouls and give guys a rest.

Precious should get time too.

[Grinditout]

Precious will have his spots in this. I actually expect Deuce to get more minutes and Thibs going small ball.

[Besart19]

even if you play precious, he's not gonna play at the same time as a center so it really doesn't help the minutes problem. there's only 1 guy he can play and that's burks. and they said a game or 2 ago that burks has a bad shoulder. i don't know the severity of that injury.

bad shoulder in any case means awful shooting mechanics... and we need shooting awfully

[KNICKS007]

Thibs is like MDA. they don't expand their rotation during the playoffs (due to injury) , the reduce it, so I can easily see him playing a 7 man rotation.

I would prefer Precious, but unless something happens to Mitch or I hart, he's not going to play him. I recalled against philly, for a quick 2 minutes, Nick nurse used Reed 6 7" at C to give embiid some rest, and Thibs countered that by Moving OG to play center as opposed to playing Precious..That pretty much tells me all i need to know

[Luv those Knicks]

Precious will get more time this next series. Indy requires more switching and doesn't need size at the 5 at all times.

With Mitch & I-Hart, the Knicks will always play size at the 5. I think that's a given unless someone gets hurt, and if that happens, Precious steps into the rotation.

But everyone healthy, I think Precious minutes will come at the 4 or not at all.

McBride can sub in for Donte, depending on who's hitting their 3s and when Brunson needs a rest.

But when people say 7 man rotation, it's really 5 players sharing 4 positions. That's maybe even worse, but Josh Hart (6 games 278 minutes against Philly), over 46 minutes a game, and OK, one was overtime. That's nuts.

Brunson 263 minutes (44 per game), OG 250 (42). That's a little nuts.

If they want Brunson to play less, McBride plays PG more. Precious won't help there either.

Yes, I think Thibs should work Precious into the rotation to give Josh/OG more rest. Do I think he will? I have no idea. I wouldn't be shocked if he didn't.