The New York Knicks welcomed Josh Hart back to the lineup…
…and Josh Hart helped them win a game for the first time since forever (well, kinda).
Here’s a bunch of quotes from and about Hart, and a few other things coming off a dub in Portland.
Mike Brown
On his decision to sit Karl-Anthony Towns for most of the fourth quarter:
“We normally do [close with Towns]. On the minutes sheet, he’s there [to play down the stretch]. But we strung a lot of stops together. And we were getting out and going. And I will do this — if I think a group is rolling, I’ll keep a group out there. As long as it doesn’t impact a guy’s minutes drastically. And that group was rolling and I kept them out there because of it.”
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ benching:
“I’ve said this before: It’s not all on KAT to adjust to and adapt to what we have to do. He’s had the hardest adjustment period because he’s had to learn the most. In the same breath, I have to make sure that I help him by simplifying what we do and making sure I’m putting him in the right spots and then he’s got to do the things necessary to help out, as well.”
On Josh Hart’s return to the lineup:
“It’s huge. Josh, like I said before, a lot of our guys are irreplaceable and especially a guy like Josh who does so many little things for you.”
On deciding to return from his ankle injury as soon as possible:
“If we were on a good little run, I’d have taken a couple more days, couple more games. I felt I could come in and help where I’m at right now. I’m good. I always feel if I’m banged up a little bit and I go out there and play and get the movement and all that it helps me heal faster.”
On his help when defenses blitz Jalen Brunson:
“I think there was certain situations when I was out, like the San Antonio game, for example, where they’re blitzing JB, and I’d be able to help, being in that pocket and playmaking and kind of helping guys, being in those kind of positions, stuff like that. Or you’re watching and saying like, ‘Damn, if I was out there I could help in this way, help in that way.’”
On not feeling pressure upon his return to the lineup:
“I don’t think there’s pressure when I’m coming back. It’d probably be more pressure if we were on a five-game winning streak. I can’t come in and mess things up. If we were on a five-game winning streak, I probably wouldn’t be playing.”
On his offensive mindset:
“I just try to do what I do and bring toughness and physicality. I wasn’t as physical as I wanted to be tonight, but we’ve gotta do a good job of making it difficult.”
On shooting the rock when left open by the Blazers:
“Definitely thought I was gonna get a little bit of rest off but I saw Clingan was sagging off me. I said ‘I gotta let this one fly.’ When I get disrespected out there, I’ve gotta go out there and play my game.”
On his role on the team:
“Offense is complementary. What I bring to this team is toughness, physicality, those extra effort plays, plays that get guys going. That’s what I try to do. Offense, it’ll be there some games. Some not. But I build my game off of toughness.”
On starting games and bringning much-needed physicality:
“So no matter what I’m doing, I’ve gotta make sure I bring the physicality and toughness to start the game and have that be a contagious thing and if guys aren’t doing that, hold them accountable.”
On his ankle injury:
“At first, the way it felt, the way it popped, it’s definitely better than I thought. I thought it would be dislocated, the way it sounded and felt.”
On pushing to return sooner:
“My plan originally I wanted to try to come back that Clipper game. I learned a day or two before that Clipper game that was not going to happen, just how it was feeling. If we were on a good little run I’d have taken a couple more days, couple more games. I felt I could come in and help where I’m at right now. I’m good.
“I kind of had a disagreement with medical yesterday I wanted to do a little more game speed stuff but they didn’t want me to do too much game speed stuff yesterday because they didn’t want me to be too sore today. So we were going back and forth with that. But the first two or three up-and-backs is the worst and then after that it’s good.”
On the injury actually helping long-term:
“For me, I’m looking at it both ways because I want to play, but this could be beneficial down the stretch, not playing all those game. At the end of last year, I felt like I didn’t have ‘IT’ and that was more me personally.”
On his perspective on the season and the recent Knicks’ losing skid:
“So now it’s like OK, I don’t wanna say I have a break, but I’m not having these games, and down the line I have more to tap into. And by the way there’s highs and lows. It’s an 82-game season. If we go on a 10-game winning streak, no one remembers the four-game losing streak.”
Jalen Brunson
On Josh Hart’s return:
“His energy is contagious.”
On Hart’s early impact vs. Portland:
“Big time. We needed it. We need him at his best and especially, those first two shots, the layup, too, were big time for us to see him just knock those down and make a tough layup. His energy is contagious. I’m just happy he is back.”
On Hart’s impact despite outside noise around the team:
“They say what they want to say. We control what we can control. His energy is contagious. I’m just really happy to have him back. He’s worked his butt off obviously trying to get back. He’s a big part of what we do, regardless of what people say and all that stuff. So I’m just happy he’s back.”
On what Hart gives the team:
“We needed it. We need him at his best. Those first two shots he made, those two 3s, and the layup, too, were big time for us. His energy is contagious, and I’m happy to have him back.”