CLEVELAND — Jalen Brunson acknowledged the “terrible timing” of Julius Randle’s damage, however the level guard — together with teammate RJ Barrett — are assured the roster can deal with the absence of the All-Star.
For Barrett, it’s a perception rooted within the roster’s enchancment from final season, particularly the addition of Brunson and the uptick in scoring from Immanuel Quickley.
“One hundred percent,” Barrett stated. “I think it could be anybody’s night. The way I come in looking at it, I want to make the right plays, whether I’m scoring, facilitating, playing defense. Whenever one guy goes down, we always step up to focus. I think it takes more focus especially being down an All-Star. But I’m very confident in our team and how we can handle things.”
Still, a life with out Randle for no less than the ultimate 5 video games of the common season — and probably into the playoffs — brings questions and challenges. Evidence factors to Obi Toppin getting his first begin of the season Friday in Cleveland, and stylistically he’s a a lot totally different participant than Randle.
As a cutter and spot-up shooter, Toppin gained’t play as many minutes or command the ball as a lot as Randle. The halfcourt sport suffers however there could be higher potentialities to run in transition. Then there’s the query of who performs energy ahead when Toppin is off the court docket.
Against Miami on Wednesday, the Knicks went small with Barrett and Josh Hart because the forwards. There’s potent speedball potential with that group but in addition being undersized isn’t the Tom Thibodeau manner.
“I think with [Randle] being out we’ve got to kind of figure that out collectively, especially with who plays the four when Obi subs out,” Barrett stated. “We’ll figure it out.”
Randle, who turned his ankle within the first half of Wednesday’s sport, didn’t journey with the Knicks to Cleveland. Heading into Friday, the Knicks had been 6-7 with out Randle since he joined the group in 2019.
“I texted him. His spirits are high, I think,” Brunson stated. “Like I’ve stated earlier than, he’s a fighter and he’s gonna attempt to get again as wholesome as he can, as quick as he can. He’s a warrior. You know the way he’s along with his expressions. He’s very straight-faced and monotone, however he’s an important teammate, nice man to be round. So he’ll be again.
“We feel for our guy,” Brunson added. “He’s been in pretty much every game all year. It’s terrible timing, but life always throws us curveballs.”
BRUNSON BANGED UP TOO
The level guard remains to be managing current accidents to his foot and hand.
Brunson, who missed seven video games in March, had his hand wrapped in ice after Friday morning’s shootaround and, for the primary time, defined how the damage occurred on March 22 in Miami.
“I jammed it,” he stated. “It just swelled up and I had to do everything I can to get it down and less painful.”
Brunson added that every one checks had been unfavorable. He’s additionally doing upkeep on the sore foot that saved the 26-year-old out of 5 video games close to the start of March.
“It feels better,” he stated. “I do still have to just kinda keep it going.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com