Knicks: Typical Tom Thibodeau special could have a season-ending cost
The New York Knicks did what they needed to do in an elimination game on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, but it could come at a cost. Jalen Brunson and Quentin Grimes both played in all 48 minutes, becoming the first Knicks duo to play in every minute of a playoff game since 1972.
Did anyone really expect anything different out of Tom Thibodeau? Brunson could’ve been out there on one leg and Thibodeau still would’ve kept him in. Well, Brunson was sort of on one leg. The star point guard has been dealing with ankle soreness throughout the second-round series.
According to SNY’s Ian Begley, there were Heat players that didn’t think Brunson would be ready to go for Game 2 last week. Begley added that Brunson has “basically gotten treatment around the clock to be able to take the floor.” With the Knicks facing elimination in Game 5, Brunson rose to the occasion and scored a game-high 38 points (12-of-22), nine rebounds, and seven assists.
Then there was Grimes, who had the play of the game late in the fourth quarter. After hurting his knee thanks to an uncalled Bam Adebayo moving screen, the shooting guard was able to steal the ball from Jimmy Butler, all while operating on one leg.
While it does makes some sense that Thibodeau chose to keep Brunson and Grimes on the floor for all 48 minutes, it’s a decision that could come back to haunt the Knicks less than 48 hours after the final buzzer sounded in Game 5.
Knicks’ Jalen Brunson and Quentin Grimes played all 48 minutes in Game 5 win
After a Game 2 win last Tuesday in New York, the Knicks and Heat had three full days off before Game 3 in Miami on Saturday. Now, traveling back to Miami, there’s only one full day of rest between Games 4 and 5. That’s preferable over three days off, but maybe not in this case.
Brunson’s body is already worn down a bit, although he’d never admit it. Grimes hadn’t dealt with an injury in this series up until he had a run-in with Adebayo. He was clearly in pain after the fact.
The Knicks are already down Immanuel Quickley, who missed Games 4 and 5 after spraining his ankle in Game 3. He was in a walking boot on Wednesday and because of the quick turnaround, it wouldn’t be surprising if he were out again for Game 6. His status is part of the reason why Thibodeau has had to rely on Brunson so heavily, but 48 minutes might’ve been too much of a stretch.
Brunson’s a warrior, though. He’s going to give it all that he’s got whether he’s 100 percent or not. After all, 10 of his 30 Game 2 points happened in the fourth quarter, and that’s when Heat players thought he was going to be sitting on the bench in street clothes.
The Knicks are taking things one step at a time and after checking off a Game 5 win, Game 6 is next. At this point, all that’s left to do is hope that Jalen Brunson and Quentin Grimes will be in decent shape after logging 48 minutes in the playoffs.
