Tom Thibodeau gives Knicks' starters night off in final preseason game at MSG
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau during a preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. Credit: Errol Anderson
In the last preseason game at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks opted to sit their entire starting five, content to give them the night off against the Charlotte Hornets.
That came as little surprise,. It's a regular part of the exhibition schedule planning. It also avoids the risk of injury and giving the starters a bit of rest while also getting a long look at the bench pieces. The injury risk struck in the third quarter as Landry Shamet, who seemed a shoo-in for a roster spot while playing on an Exhibit 9 contract suffered a right shoulder injury. He was defending on a fast break and collided with Charlotte’s Moussa Diabate.
Shamet appeared to have had the shoulder pop out of the joint. He went to the floor in pain and when helped to his feet was taken straight to the locker room by the training staff.
"Initially I didn’t think it was that serious," Cam Payne said. "But man, I’m sending a prayer to him. … That’s been my guy for a few years so it was kind of hard to see him go out there and what they told us happened. It’s just sad to see it happen like that, especially in a preseason game."
If the injury proves serious the Knicks could waive Shamet and he would be owed just $15,000. If he makes the team the Exhibit 9 deal would convert to a veteran minimum contract worth approximately $2 million. The conventional wisdom was that the Knicks would sign Shamet to a veteran minimum deal and convert one of their two-way contracts to remain under the second apron of the salary camp. If Shamet’s injury is serious this could open up an opportunity for TJ Warren or the team could sign a player who is waived in camp from another squad.
Shamet has played well, earning the praise of coach Tom Thibodeau through training camp. That overshadowed the play of the makeshift roster Tuesday as rookie Pacome Dadiet, making his first preseason appearance, put up 16 points with 4 rebounds in the second quarter to help the Knicks to a 111-105 win.
Resting the starters also might have served as an indication that Thibodeau believes the new-look starting lineup is adjusting well enough that they don’t need to be shoved back onto the court.
The Knicks have worked two new starters, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, into the lineup and even OG Anunoby only played 27 regular-season games for the team. But the Knicks managed to win each of the first three games and looked a little smoother in each outing.
“Some good,” Thibodeau said of the offensive growth of the group. “I think the shot creation’s been good. We haven’t knocked shots down. You’re striving to be a 48-minute team so I think they’re still building rhythm and just keep getting better every day.”
The most important piece to fit is Towns. While Bridges played college ball with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart and has proved to be an adaptable player throughout his career, Towns gives the Knicks a player unlike any that they have had before. He's a 7-foot center who is able to shoot three-point field goals at better than 40%, to score at three levels and to serve as a playmaking hub.
There has been some room given for Towns and Bridges to get their chances as evidenced by Hart not scoring a point in the preseason so far and taking just five field-goal attempts.
“Yeah, I mean, these guys make it much easier for me,” Towns said. “We've got an amazing group of guys in this locker room, super intelligent high IQ guys. Obviously, the talent speaks for itself so to be able to adjust to this new offense, It is something that's really been beneficial to have guys like JB. Josh Hart's been amazing, Mikal. OG has been fantastic. I mean, everybody from the top to the bottom of the roster has been a huge help to me.”
“Yeah, [he’s] just figuring it out,” Bridges said. “I know it’s tough, especially when you come to a city like here and they’ve got some home games and the crowd wants you to shoot every time. Him being aggressive is always a good thing, so still figuring it out but I feel like each game got better.”
Notes & quotes: Precious Achiuwa had 20 points and 16 rebounds while Deuce McBride had 18 points and Cam Payne added 16 points and 8 assists. Tyler Kolek added 9 assists, 7 points and 8 rebounds.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
