Mr. Intangible: Josh Hart Is A Game Changer in New York
Basketball journalist and content creator Nick Andre analyzes Josh Hart’s impact on winning for the Knicks.
It’s always great for basketball when the New York Knicks are succeeding. The atmosphere in Madison Square Garden is always electric and with the rooting behind their team. While the Knicks are currently in the middle of a seven-game series against the Miami Heat, one of the more impressive players for the team has been Josh Hart, who was rightfully placed in the starting lineup.
The trade to get Hart from the Portland Trail Blazers was the most underrated during the deadline. While everyone was fixated on the Lakers making roster adjustments, the Knicks acquired a hard-nosed talent who can produce in multiple ways. Alongside the connection that he has with Jalen Brunson, as the two played college basketball together at Villanova, the Knicks front office saw something special in Hart that would allow them to flourish once the playoffs came around.
It’s great to have a player on a team that understands his role. Hart has never been a star by any means during his career. However, he still has the ability to impact the game in a big way. On offense, Hart can play at any position. If you ask him to put the ball on the floor and make a play, he is capable of doing that. Another special part of his game is his ability to find open players on the perimeter.
The biggest part of Josh Hart’s play is his rebounding. Most players at 6 ‘5 wouldn’t dare to crash the glass. Most guards will leave it to the centers for cleanup duty. However, Hart is a tough-nosed guard who doesn’t mind competing for rebounds under the basket. The beauty of his rebounding is most times it comes at a very unexpected time. On an offensive possession, Hart takes off from the perimeter as he expects a missed shot. While the centers are down low fighting for position, Hart comes out of nowhere and beats everyone to the ball. Throughout his career, Hart has averaged 6.2 rebounds per game. His ability to crash the boards has benefited New York positively.
So far in the playoffs, Hart has been magnificent since being inserted into the starting lineup for the injured Quentin Grimes. He was able to contribute at a high level offensively as the Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games. In the Conference semifinals, the team has their hands full against the Miami Heat. A team primarily carried by Jimmy Butler, head coach Erik Spoelstra has been able to get great production out of his role players, which was a reason behind their big win in game one.
If the series comes down to which supporting cast steps up the most, it means head coach Tom Thibodeau is going to look at Josh Hart to set the tone. And he did just that. In game two, Hart scored 14 points to go with 11 rebounds and nine assists in a big win. It was certainly an impressive performance as he was able to post a near-triple-double. However, it was the big shots that Hart made down the stretch that sealed the deal.
As the series continues, Josh Hart will continue to play a big role in the Knicks’ success. His versatility takes the pressure off New York’s two stars, Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle. While he may not always impact the game by putting the ball in the basket, he still draws attention from the opposing team due to his impact from other aspects. Will the Knicks make it to the Eastern Conference Finals? We’ll figure out how they continue the momentum as the series shifts to South Beach.
