The New York Knicks have been following a “Work Hart, not smart” blueprint since the end of January, as injuries to key players have forced Coach Tom Thibodeau to rely heavily on his blue-collar contributors. In particular, Josh Hart has been logging heavy minutes, with Thibodeau playing him for 40 minutes in eight consecutive games, a rare feat in today’s NBA.
Playing 40 minutes a night is a rarity in the modern NBA, as teams are cautious about overworking their players to prevent injuries. However, Thibodeau is no stranger to pushing his players to their limits, as evidenced by his history of playing Luol Deng excessive minutes during his time with the Chicago Bulls.
Despite the success that Hart has had in filling in for injured players, Thibodeau needs to be cautious about overworking him. While Hart has excelled in his increased role, there is a risk of burnout and potential injury if he continues to play such heavy minutes.
Thibodeau’s reluctance to rest his players is well-documented, but as the Knicks look to make a playoff push, he will need to find a balance between pushing his players to their limits and keeping them fresh for the postseason.
As the Knicks look to get healthy and make a run in the playoffs, Hart’s role is likely to shift back to a bench role, with his minutes reduced. However, his contributions during this stretch of heavy minutes have been invaluable to the team.
In conclusion, while Thibodeau’s “Work Hart, not smart” approach has yielded some success in the short term, he will need to be mindful of managing his players’ minutes as the season progresses. Finding the right balance between pushing his players and keeping them healthy will be crucial for the Knicks as they look to make a playoff run.
