Knicks' Josh Hart aims at shooting long ball vs. Pistons
Knicks guard Josh Hart shoots during practice on Wednesday ahead of their first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons. Credit: Howard Simmons
GREENBURGH — You don’t expect Josh Hart to adopt the Zero Dark Thirty approach that LeBron James takes at playoff time. He usually busies himself with social media, but since the final day of the season when he was posting fire emojis about Rory McIlroy and the Masters he was silent until showing up at Yankee Stadium Wednesday night.
That’s fine, because Hart has plenty on his plate as the Knicks ready to take on the Detroit Pistons in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Hart can essentially serve as a point guard on offense, orchestrating opportunities for his more prolific-scoring teammates. But he also could be matched up against Jalen Duren, pitting his 6-4 frame against the Piston’s 6-10 athletic center. Hart might be required to drain three-point field goals with the Pistons daring him to make them pay for focusing on Jalen Brunson or Karl-Anthony Towns. And he might take a turn defensively on Pistons star Cade Cunningham.
While the Knicks built a team crowded with star power, it is Hart, the Knicks’ Swiss Army knife, who could provide a key to the franchise’s hope of moving deep into the postseason.
“I think he’s unique because he rebounds the ball at a really elite level,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He’ll go get them when it matters the most, in traffic.[It's] his ability to push the ball and play with pace. And he can out-quick most guys that are guarding him.
“He’s very good in dribble handoffs, making plays off the dribble. Pick and roll, playing out of the pocket, moving without the ball. Those are all things that he brings. Then the hustle plays are huge. He plays much bigger than his size.”
But of all of the things that we can list for Hart to tend to, there may be nothing more vital than a willingness to shoot and an ability to convert. The Pistons likely will do what others have done. That is using a weak link or a big man on Hart defensively, daring him to shoot and rolling the dice that he won’t make them pay.
With more than a week between the last game he played Friday and the series opener Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, he is shooting, refining his long-range shot, to answer the challenge. In addition, Hart is studying the video and books created by Thibodeau and staff and working through practice sessions.
“This week is a good week to really put the work in on it,” Hart said. “I’m working in practice, getting some shots up. After practice, my friend has a court at his house so getting shots up before practice at the house. And I'm shooting at the facility at night or back at his house at night. So I'm getting probably two or three workouts and shooting just to make sure I'm comfortable and confident with it.”
Last season Hart put up 3.2 three-point attempts per game in the regular season, but in the playoffs that number jumped to 4.5 attempts. Against Philadelphia in the opening round he shot 6.2 threes per game and connected on 43.2%. While the Knicks have weapons, Hart’s willingness to fire away could open up chances for the others. And whether it’s shooting those shots or creating with the ball, Hart’s focus is on opening up offense for his teammates.
“Last playoffs I was extremely comfortable with added shots,” Hart said. “I kind of take it upon myself to make sure the guys get put in good position for good shots and try to get them a touch. Sometimes on the outside looking in, people might see that, and I might be open. But I try to get something else and they might not like that or might hate that, but I'm going to play my game.
“So I know the shots are going to be there, but I also want to make sure we get those guys involved offensively because the ball has energy. And when guys are making shots, everything is better in terms of communications, in terms of defensive effort, those kind of things. So I'm obviously going to shoot the shots that I have to take and I'm comfortable taking. But [I'm] also going to make sure I help get other guys touches.”
The message was clear. No emojis necessary.
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.
