Trailing 2-0 in a series is never easy. Trailing 2-0 while heading on the road causes teams to make bold moves to try and shake things up. The New York Knicks may do just that ahead of Game 3.
ESPN recently reported that the Knicks are contemplating benching their wing, Josh Hart, for center Mitchell Robinson to attempt to get more size into their lineup.
One of the struggles that the Knicks have had to deal with is the length of the Indiana Pacers' front line with Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam. Robinson would definitely give them a bit more of a size match. Any time you make a move similar to this, there is usually a trade-off.
Should the Knicks make this move, it would be the first time all year that Tom Thibodeau would alter his starting lineup. Robinson has had some big games, specifically on the glass this series.
He has posted nine and eight rebounds in the last two games, while averaging an impressive four offensive rebounds a game. Second-chance points are something that the Knicks desperately need.
Hart has been considered to be a "Swiss army knife" in the sense that he can guard multiple positions seamlessly, facilitate the offense, rebound, and defend. However, Robinson does also give them an element of paint protection that they have struggled with so far this series. Guards like TJ McConnell, Andrew Nembhard, and Tyrese Haliburton have gotten to the rim at will.
Fans will definitely be paying close attention to whatever adjustments the Knicks coaching staff decides to make, as falling into a 3-0 hole would be catastrophic to their contending hopes.