Knicks Stress Finals-or-Bust Goal as Robinson Races Injury Clock
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New York’s locker room says it was already locked on an NBA Finals berth long before owner James Dolan publicly demanded it in January, when the club was mired in a four-game slide and had dropped nine of 11. “We all had that aspiration regardless,” center Karl-Anthony Towns said, noting last season’s Eastern Conference finals loss. “We understand we’ve gotta take that next step.”
Guard Josh Hart echoed that Dolan’s edict did not heighten pressure. “That’s the goal each and every one of us has,” Hart said. “When the big dog says it, it just adds fuel to the fire.”
Robinson has surgery, eyes Game 1 return
Starting center Mitchell Robinson fractured his right pinky away from a game or practice, head coach Mike Brown told reporters. A team spokesperson declined to detail how the injury occurred. Robinson underwent surgery and is aiming to play in Game 1 of the Finals on Wednesday.
According to injury analyst Jeff Stotts, no NBA player since 2005 has come back in fewer than 14 days after surgical repair of a pinky fracture, meaning Robinson would need to beat that timetable by a wide margin to meet his goal.
Hammon stands by two-year-old Brunson stance
Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon was reminded of her December 2023 ESPN comment that a team led by a small guard like Jalen Brunson could not capture a championship. “I stand by it,” Hammon said this week. “He proves me wrong, good for him. But I do think the two best teams are in the West.”
Front-office moves under spotlight
SNY’s Ian Begley pointed to president of basketball operations Leon Rose’s roster construction as a driving force in the Finals run, citing decisions he did not make—most notably passing on a trade for Donovan Mitchell—as pivotal.
Awaiting a Western foe
With Game 7 of the Western Conference finals set for Saturday, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic wrote that New York would likely prefer to meet San Antonio over Oklahoma City in the championship round.
Source: Hoops Rumors
