JUST IN:The Knicks and Rockets are both contending with a…
Putting aside everything the New York Knicks have accomplished this season, there still is no denying – in the aftermath of their home loss to the Indiana Pacers on Saturday that their margin for error is small.
New York embarks on a three-game road trip starting Monday against the Houston Rockets that wraps around the All-Star break.In their 125-111 loss to Indiana, the Knicks had to play without starting forwards Julius Randle (shoulder) and OG Anunoby (elbow), along with center duo Mitchell Robinson (ankle) and Isaiah Hartenstein (Achilles), which further depleted their already limited rotation and left them even more undersized.Blend in the integration of Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic -both of whom joined the Knicks at the trade deadline last Thursday — and the result is a team that is understandably disoriented. “There’s going to be a period of adjustment,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “There always is. We don’t have to be perfect, but if we’re playing real hard, we can cover up for those things.
The Knicks have been known for their strong defense, rebounding skills, and overall toughness this season, but relying solely on determination has its limitations. Despite their nine-game winning streak elevating them near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, they have now lost three out of their last four games.