The Surging Knicks have won six of eight games since center Mitchell Robinson broke his hand, finishing above .500 in any season for the first time since 2012-13 and finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference.
He has done so for the first time under All-Star forward Julius Randle, with a “next-man-up” philosophy under coach Tom Thibodo and regular contributions to his roster.
Former lottery lottery Nerlens Noel is also more and more full for Robinson, especially with the heavy logging backup center for the Knicks (18-17) in the last two games, with Taj Gibson also sidelined with a sprained ankle.
“Well, one, I’m never happy. Two, I always think we can do better, ”said Thibodo on Sunday night when asked if he was pleased with Noel’s contribution. “I am proud of Nerlens for getting ready, which we knew he would be. And then we have a lot of other people stepping up. I don’t think you change a person like Michelle personally.
“We have to do it collectively. If we work hard, we play smart, we play together, we can find a way to win. This is what I want us to do. And whenever someone else is called, someone goes into rotation, just be ready, get there and get the job done. This is what being a team is all about. “
Prior to this season, Noel logged 40 or more minutes in a game three times in his seven-year NBA career, and none since April 2016. Three of those games went overtime, with one reaching double-OT.
The 6-foot-11 Noel played a season-high for 41 minutes in Indiana’s win on Saturday, and scored 40 (goals from 39:34) the following night against the Pistons. Through Sunday, he finished fourth in the NBA with 2.0 blocked shots per game.
Without Robinson and Gibson, Thibodo also put up a small-ball lineup in each game, with Randall slipping in the middle to power forward Kevin Knox or rookie Obi Toppin.
Asked if he was worried that Nux would abandon rim protection with smaller configurations, Thibodo replied: “I worry about everything. You see where you are in the game. Are you playing with the lead?” Are you looking at what the matchup looks like. That’s what I love about our bench. We have people who can bring the game we need. … I like the versatility where We have people who can play multiple positions. I think we’re seeing the value of rim protection when we had Mitch and of course the Nerlens. And then, of course, we ask Julius to do everything Huh. “
Noel and Randall are part of Knox’s contingent of Kentucky products, with Knox and rogue point guard Emmanuel Quickley as well as assistant coach Kenny Payne, a former John Calipari assistant.
Both big men were in the lottery draft after beginning a season with the Wildcats. Noel was the sixth-overall pick in 2013 and Randley’s seventh pick in 2014.
After Sunday’s win, Randall said, “Obviously this is happening to me for the first time … but looking at his development, I remember playing against him last year, years ago.” “Self-confident, all-star, just good, he shoots the ball with extreme confidence.”
“I think he’s really taking a real step forward to being the leader of this team. By presenting precedent. Julius is just a fantastic person, a fantastic player. I really enjoy playing with him. “
Randall also continued to enter heavy minutes, entering the league second in a tie with 36.7 per game on Monday, just behind Brooklyn’s James Harden (37.5). He averaged 39 minutes in two weekend wins and joked that he would “get some sleep” before Tuesday’s game in San Antonio.
“I feel fine. Honestly, I feel great,” Randley said Sunday night. “My body feels great. So you do all the summer training to prepare yourself for these moments . “
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