36 • February 3, 2022 - February 9, 2022
THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS
Sports The Knicks head West with a roster that is not yet playoff caliber At 24-27 before hosting the Memphis Grizzlies and their spectacular 22-yearold franchise altering point guard Ja Morant last night (Wednesday) at Madison Square Garden, ahead of a fivegame, 10-day Western Conference road trip beginning this Saturday against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Knicks sat 11th in the East, one-half game behind the 24-26 Atlanta Hawks. Their record and other metrics are indicators the Knicks are not a bona fide playoff contender as they were last season, when Tom Thibodeau won Coach of the Year honors in his first season as the franchise’s head coach. Thibodeau squeezed every ounce of talent and effort out of a group that went 41-31 in the abridged 72-game season and finished as the No. 4 seed in the East. But their athletic weaknesses were subsequently exposed in the first round of the playoffs by the Hawks, as the Knicks were thoroughly beaten by their electrifying point guard Trae Young and a mix of young, versatile players and solid veterans, losing the series 4-1. The Knicks’ best player over those five games was unquestionably Derrick Rose. Rarely does a day pass that Knick fans don’t dwell on the 2019 NBA draft lottery, when their team entered with the NBA’s worst record at 17-65 and the
highest probability to land the their schedule resumes Feb. No.1 overall pick but dropped to 25 at the Garden versus the No. 3. They selected RJ Barrett, Miami Heat. who has shown himself to be a “Taking it one day at a time, solid piece to build with. been grinding, just trying to Yet at No. 2, the Grizzlies get back,” said the Knicks’ gained a transformative talent leading scorer in last seain Morant, who has become son’s playoff series against not only one of the league’s the Hawks at 19.4 points per best players, but has elevated game, in addition to four rethe Grizzlies, who were 33-49 bounds and five assists in avin the 2018-’19 season, into a eraging 35 minutes. Before force. They were 35-18 entersurgery this season, Rose’s ing the Garden, third in the West per game averages were 24.5 with the third best record in the minutes, 12 points, three reNBA. Morant is to the Grizzlies bounds and four assists. what a young Rose was to the “…Just being appreciative Chicago Bulls when he came to of the moment,” Rose reflectthem as the No. 1 overall pick ed. “Just trying to take evin 2008. Fifteen years into his erything in. I look at it as a career, the Knicks have clearreset where I get a chance to ly not been the same team in clean up my routine, I get a the 33-year-old Rose’s absence, chance to alternate a couple unable to adequately replace his of things within my workout. production and ability to adept“…Right after surgery I felt ly close out games. the relief,” he expounded. Rose has been shut down with Knicks guard Derrick Rose, a significant part of the “Like I said these moments has NEWS been out since an ankle injury since last playing team’s resurgence last season, AM right here slow01024 you down, December after undergoing ankle surgery but is NE Dec. 15. He has been sidelined for so[I’m] being very, veryAM ap01/06/22 0 half (26) of the Knicks’ 52 games. targeting a return later this month preciative of7 just where01/06/ I’m 74470 22784 The Chicago native is working his at.” Following the Lakers, way back from Dec. 22 surgery to remove is targeting a return to the lineup soon the Knicks will face the Utah Jazz (next a bone spur from his right ankle. Speak- after the All-Star break. The Knicks’ last Monday), Denver Nuggets (Tuesday), ing with the media from the MSG Train- game before the NBA’s annual show- Golden State Warriors (Thursday) and ing Center in Tarrytown (Westchester case event is Feb. 16 against the Brook- Portland Trailblazers next Saturday on County, N.Y.) on Monday, Rose said he lyn Nets at Madison Square Garden and the Western swing. (Bill Moore photo)
By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor
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Kyrie’s production is crucial as the Nets endure injuries By VINCENT DAVIS Special to the AmNews
four rebounds in a 129-121 Brooklyn win. But Irving is now in a sitThe Brooklyn Nets’ uation that calls for carrycurrent road trip facing ing an even heavier load AM NEWS Western Conference opdue to so many key Nets 01/20/22 ponents, which began sidelined. Durant is recovwith a 110-106 loss to the ering from a sprained MCL Golden State Warriors in his left knee, suffered on on Saturday, was initialJan. 15 versus the New Orly viewed as an opporleans Pelicans, and there is tunity for Kyrie Irving to no timetable for his return. consistently be in their James Harden missed the lineup with the team matchup at Golden State AM NEWS dealing with injuries to with a strained right hand 01/27/22 Kevin Durant, James and it could be an ongoing Harden, LaMarcus Alissue for him on the road ridge and Joe Harris. trip, which had the Nets Unable to play games taking on the Phoenix Suns Kyrie Irving has played at an All-Star level since his season at home at the Barclays on Tuesday. The Suns had debut Jan. 5 and must continue to excel as the Nets face a Center due to New York the NBA’s best record at 40-9 rash of injuries to key players City COVID-19 vaccinagoing into the game. tion mandates, the unAlridge injured his ankle AMleft NEWS vaccinated Irving doesn’t have those typical seven-time All-Star level since in the fourth quarter against the War02/03/22 restrictions on the road. He was sen- making his season debut against the riors and the Nets have not indicatsational in scoring 32 points versus the Indiana Pacers Jan. 5, when he had a ed when he’ll be ready to return. Along Warriors and has been playing at his stat line of 22 points, four assists and with Durant, Harden and Alridge, guard (Bill Moore photo)
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Joe Harris is still trying to make his way back into the lineup after recently experiencing a setback in his rehab from ankle surgery in November. Harris hasn’t played a game since Nov. 14. The 01044 injuries make Irving even more vital AM NE to his team not dropping too far in01/20/ the 0 7 74470 22784 Eastern Conference playoff race. The Nets were 29-20, sixth in the East, before playing the Suns. They had lost four in a row and were 4-6 in their previous 10 games. After Phoenix, the Nets met up with the Sacramento Kings last night (Wednesday) and will have games 01054 versus the Utah Jazz tomorrow AM and NE Denver Nuggets on Sunday to end01/27/ the 0 7 74470 22784 trip. The Nets will be home for the first time since Jan. 26 when they host the Boston Celtics next Tuesday.
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