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00:00I feel like, you know, I mean, Brunson made a lot of tough shots towards the end of the game.
00:05Brunson doing a good job of getting the big.
00:07It's the stop, the start, the little left-handed middie.
00:11So difficult to guard.
00:13Go New York, go New York, go New York, go New York, go New York, go New York, go New
00:18York, go New York, go New York, go New York.
00:21Knicks with a gutty and gritty win.
00:23We'll get to how the Knicks got it done in game number two coming up in a few minutes.
00:26But we have some major breaking news on the injury front when it comes to O.G. Ananobi.
00:32Let's welcome in our Knicks beat reporter, the great Steph Bondi with the latest.
00:36Steph, what can you tell us?
00:38Yeah, well, it is encouraging news considering what it could have been, I think.
00:44He was diagnosed with a bright hamstring strain, which sounds pretty bad.
00:49But my understanding is there's optimism about him returning fairly soon.
00:55He's going to be listed as questionable.
00:58That injury report hasn't come out yet, but when it does, he will be listed as questionable per league sources.
01:06And he's considered day-to-day.
01:08So, listen, the definition of questionable is 50-50 chance he'll play.
01:15That's what it's supposed to be.
01:18NBA teams don't always abide by that.
01:20And there is, I will admit, there is a contradiction in being diagnosed with a hamstring strain and being considered
01:28questionable for the Knicks game.
01:31Because typically, hamstring strains take, even the lowest grade, take a week to heal.
01:37But, listen, that's what I'm being told.
01:40And I think all things considered, it's good news for the Knicks.
01:44Well, I think you summed up a couple of very important things here, Steph.
01:48And, you know, let's hit this.
01:50Number one, you hear hamstring strain.
01:52And you hear injury when it comes to OG Ananobi, who's a terrific player.
01:56Injuries, Toronto, New York.
01:58It's just part of the deal when it comes to Ananobi.
02:01Look, I think under the circumstance, this is, quote-unquote, a best-case scenario if you're a Knicks fan.
02:07Now, you're right, there is kind of a bit of a, you know, juxtaposition here that's interesting when it's a
02:14hamstring strain and questionable based upon the letter of the law and what that means.
02:19Does it make sense in your opinion?
02:22And I love for the fans how every other day there's a game.
02:26But I just am having trouble wrapping my brain around knowing the injury history with Ananobi and in prior years
02:33in the postseason, even in the regular season this year.
02:36Tomorrow night, there's a game.
02:38Sunday, there's a game.
02:40I would have to think that the Knicks being smart on a big picture here with OG, that would be
02:47the prudent way to handle this, right?
02:52I would think so.
02:54And listen, I think they can – I think they're so much better than the Philadelphia 76ers.
02:59Yep.
03:00That even as important as OG Ananobi is, and he is very important, he was the best player for them
03:05in the first round.
03:06Even without him, I still think they can beat the Philadelphia 76ers.
03:10So, you know, I would presume, and I'm not reporting this because I don't know, but I would presume he'd
03:15miss the next game.
03:17And if the team goes up 3-0 on the Sixers, then you say, why would I even play OG
03:22and Ananobi when we're up 3-0 in a series?
03:25So, yeah, what you're saying makes a lot of sense.
03:28But if they – let's say he doesn't play the next game and they lose, then all of a sudden
03:33you're like, you know what?
03:34That game four is pretty important.
03:36So, you know, it's kind of a wait and see, and, you know, I wish I was a doctor who
03:41could tell you exactly what's going on with OG's hamstring
03:44and how long it's going to take it to heal to the point where he's not risking re-injury or
03:50re-aggravation or making it a lot worse.
03:52I don't know the answer to those questions, but what you're saying is making a lot of sense.
03:56Yeah, and I also think, look, I think Cleveland and Detroit could go long.
04:00I think this series with the Knicks and Philly, if and when OG doesn't play tomorrow night, can still be
04:06a short series.
04:07I originally thought six.
04:08It could be four or five, the way things are headed and the way, obviously, the Philadelphia 76ers are banged
04:14up without Joel Embiid.
04:16So, I think it all factors in here.
04:18Now, Steph, with this all said, the Knicks and their bigger goals beyond Philadelphia,
04:24I think it's fair to say that they need someone like OG and Ananobi.
04:28You referenced the point total from the Atlanta series, obviously, his terrific defense.
04:33I believe the Knicks absolutely would need him to beat the Detroit-Cleveland winner
04:39and or to have a chance to win a championship this year, which is still worthy of conversation.
04:44You agree with that big picture on OG?
04:47I do agree with that, but there is a caveat here.
04:50He was playing his best ball of the season, maybe even as a Knick, recently.
04:56You know, that playoff series against Atlanta, he was great.
04:59The first two games against Philly until he got hurt, he was playing great.
05:04He does not, historically, when he comes back from injury, and he did this recently when he had a toenail
05:10problem,
05:12when he comes back, he doesn't play as well.
05:14It takes him a little bit while to get back into rhythm.
05:17He's a rhythm shooter.
05:18A lot of his, you know, his offense is dictated on whether that three-point shot is going in.
05:23So, I am worried if he does take off time, what will he look like when he does come back,
05:29and he may not be playing on the same level that he was when he left.
05:32So, that's just something to keep in mind, but no question.
05:36I mean, the guy, you know, he's a glue guy.
05:39You need him on both sides of the ball, and without him, the Knicks are a totally different team.
05:44He's a terrific player, a winning ball player, offense, defense,
05:47and he has been piping hot, as you eloquently said, in terms of shooting during the playoffs.
05:52In the immediate concern, in terms of the lineup,
05:56how do you think Mike Brown will structure the starting lineup?
05:59Let's just assume, for the sake of conversation, OG, again,
06:02if and when he's listed as questionable, doesn't play tomorrow night.
06:06How do you think they'll structure the starting lineup?
06:09How do you think they'll structure the minutes off the bench?
06:12Well, I think some of it depends on whether Joel Embiid's going to play,
06:16and we don't know the answer to that yet.
06:19But I think there's – I'll give you three options.
06:23One is the way they finished game two, which is Myles McBride in the lineup.
06:27That's the way I would personally go.
06:29The other option is to go double big, start with Mitchell Robinson
06:33and Carl Anthony Towns together, and that would be a way to combat Embiid
06:38if you're looking to do that.
06:39And then the third option, which I'm sure nobody's going to talk about,
06:43is Landry Schammett.
06:45I know he has not played well, and he has not been part of the playoff rotation yet,
06:49but Mike Brown loves that guy.
06:52And in the past, when there have been injuries,
06:55Landry has been a kind of plug-and-play guy.
06:57I'm not saying that's going to happen.
06:59I'm just saying Mike Brown has an affinity for Landry Schammett,
07:03and I would not be shocked.
07:04That's all.
07:04Wow.
07:05That's a good thing to throw into the conversation.
07:07All right, last one for us on the injury front, and you referenced Robinson.
07:11What's the latest on Mitch?
07:13Are you going to be ready to rock and roll tomorrow night?
07:16As far as I know, yeah.
07:18It was a very mysterious situation because I did watch him warm up before that game,
07:25and he didn't look like he was on deathbed or anything in terms of the illness
07:28that he was later listed with.
07:31But he was ruled out.
07:33He was kind of just a very late scratch there.
07:36I have not heard anything one way or another on what exactly the illness was.
07:41But just based on the way he was moving around before the game,
07:44this was not a guy that was suddenly dying,
07:48and he needed to take a week off or something like that.
07:51So I would assume he plays.
07:52Steph, great stuff.
07:54We appreciate the time with this monster major breaking news.
07:57All Knicks fans waiting to hear the severity of the injury.
08:00Excellent stuff.
08:01We appreciate the time, and we'll do it again real soon.
08:04Yeah, thanks for having me.
08:05You got it.
08:06Stephon Bondi, who is just unbelievable,
08:08covering the Knicks, of course, for the New York Post.
08:11And listen, that is excellent news, all things considered, right?
08:17If we're talking about a hamstring,
08:19and he's going to be listed as questionable,
08:21which really doesn't make, as Steph eloquently said,
08:24much sense on the nature of a hamstring,
08:26but that means, and Steph has been all over this,
08:30and he's getting that clearly from great sources, right?
08:33That means it's not a Luka Doncic grade two situation.
08:37Now, whenever I hear injury in OG Ananobi,
08:41you color me concerned, right?
08:43And that's a big deal,
08:44because OG is a terrific player, playing his best ball.
08:47You could see the severity when you saw what transpired with OG,
08:51and then he had to leave late in that game.
08:53OG Ananobi has been, in my opinion,
08:55the best player on the Knicks during this postseason run,
08:57which has been off the charts and inspiring and unbelievable.
09:00And the Knicks are expected to win the Eastern Conference,
09:03and they have a real shot to win a championship this year.
09:06And you need a healthy OG Ananobi doing just this in order to do that.
09:12So, look, whenever you hear injury with OG,
09:16there's monster cause for concern.
09:18But the fact that he's listed as questionable,
09:21and I want to get ahead of this,
09:23and Steph and I were sharing a brain here,
09:26I would not even consider playing OG tomorrow.
09:30I know he'll be listed as questionable.
09:32To me, mentally, if I'm Mike Brown, he's out.
09:36I can't play him.
09:37Because I need to, I would also try, especially,
09:41and every once in a while,
09:43you do have to look at where you are in a series,
09:45in terms of, you know, if you're up 3-0,
09:48if you believe you could win,
09:49the health of Joel Embiid, as Steph eloquently pointed out,
09:52that's part of it, too.
09:54I think that if the Knicks jump out to a 3-0 lead,
09:57there's no shot, nor should there be, that OG plays.
10:01Now, Steph is also onto something.
10:03When OG, historically, who gets off injured,
10:06let's be clear about that,
10:08might take him a minute to come back in rhythm,
10:11especially with that outside shot, three-point shot.
10:13Every time he shoots from three,
10:15we're at a stage right now,
10:17you assume it's going in,
10:18which is the greatest thing you could feel you could have
10:21if you're a Knicks fan.
10:22I mean, when OG Ananobi's playing like that on offense,
10:26Knicks are an offensive machine and a juggernaut
10:29when you get Cat and Brunson and then OG playing like that.
10:31But health is supremely important.
10:34I want to call tomorrow night, in a fun way, a must-win,
10:38because I wouldn't play Ananobi.
10:40I would personally start Miles McBride.
10:42I think Deuce is the right way to handle that.
10:44It was interesting what Steph said about Landry Shamitz,
10:47and I do think that's a fun flyer for Mike Brown,
10:49but I would play this smart and conservative.
10:52I would not mess around with Mitch and Cat together.
10:55I would absolutely start Deuce McBride if and when OG can't play.
11:00And if you win that game,
11:02and even as majestic as OG is in every phase,
11:05starting with defense,
11:06especially going up against Maxie and George,
11:09Nick should be able to win an MSG South,
11:11known as Philadelphia, tomorrow night.
11:13I don't think there's any question about that.
11:15And once that transpires and they piggyback off of what they did last night,
11:21I wouldn't play OG Ananobi until at earliest, game five.
11:27Because there is a bigger picture here.
11:30Beating Philadelphia, and it's inevitable.
11:32I'm just, and Mike Brown needs to think about everything.
11:35This team was not built.
11:37He was not hired.
11:38Tibbs was not fired to beat Philadelphia in round two.
11:42The goal still remains.
11:44We could debate, and it's not dead, obviously,
11:46and this counts as great injury news,
11:48all things considered with OG Ananobi.
11:50You still have to find a way to get to the NBA finals.
11:53Bare bones minimum.
11:54If not, have the ability to compete for a championship and beat OKC.
11:57So, taking care of OG, and Steph nailed it,
12:01there's always concern about getting that stroke back
12:03after he misses some time with an injury.
12:05We've seen that.
12:06Takes him a minute now.
12:07But you have to roll the dice in terms of health.
12:10You have to roll the dice and just make sure that,
12:13even if you drop a game to Philly in Philly,
12:17you have to, and I still think they can beat Philadelphia
12:20and sweep them without OG Ananobi on the court.
12:23Because the vibes are low for Philly, and Bede is not healthy.
12:29Even if he plays, he's clearly not 100%,
12:31and why would I even believe he's going to play at this stage?
12:34So, honestly, at the end of the day,
12:37I would not play OG Ananobi on Friday.
12:40And I would, even if the Knicks lost,
12:42I wouldn't even play him on Sunday.
12:44I think that this is great news.
12:46Just shut him down.
12:47Let him make sure that he rehabs to get ready
12:50for next week, whenever it is.
12:52I think this is, as a Knicks fan,
12:56I have been nervous, a nervous Nelly all day.
12:59This is the best possible news you can get on OG Ananobi.
13:03I would not mess around and find out.
13:05Now, in terms of the game,
13:07I thought that was really inspiring last night.
13:09That the Knicks won, how the Knicks won,
13:1225 lead changes last night.
13:14That was the most in a playoff game in 11 years.
13:17The New York Knicks were able to survive that game.
13:20You think of the five straight wins, right?
13:23The prior four, those were Picassos.
13:27This was like, you know, your kindergartner
13:29putting together an art project.
13:31And you say, attaboy, great job.
13:34But it doesn't matter.
13:35It's still a Picasso in the eye of the beholder.
13:38How the Knicks were able to go out and win that game,
13:42that was inspiring to me.
13:44And dealing with the adversity of, obviously,
13:47the injury with OG Leight.
13:49And, you know, the Philadelphia 76ers,
13:52we said it on Shantime yesterday,
13:54you knew they were going to come out of the gate piping hot.
13:56You knew that Maxie, without Embiid,
13:59he's done it all year,
14:00would be dynamite and energetic and Paul George hit shots.
14:03And I'm not being critical at all of the Knicks' effort early,
14:06in any way, shape, or form.
14:08I just think Philly had it going on.
14:11Philly was motivated.
14:12Philly was down in the series.
14:13I don't think the Knicks' effort was bad.
14:15I think Philly just brought it.
14:17But then you saw Carl Anthony Towns absolutely dominate.
14:21Remember, he had that foul trouble
14:23in the beginning of the ballgame last night.
14:25And then that third quarter, you see the highlights here?
14:28I mean, Cat was a man.
14:31He was so damn tough.
14:32He was so aggressive.
14:33He was so smart.
14:34How about Cat?
14:35We predicted that he would have a triple-double.
14:37He had 20 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists last night.
14:40That was unbelievable in terms of the effort
14:43and the execution from Carl Anthony Towns.
14:46And then, of course, Jalen Brunson.
14:48This is why the New York Knicks, assuming health for OG,
14:53have a great opportunity here to win a championship.
14:57Because when you have Carl Anthony Towns
14:59and you have Jalen Brunson,
15:01and I'm not worried about the shooting percentage
15:04for Brunson last night, those jumpers, I mean, look at that.
15:08The elbow J creating space, the spin.
15:12We're talking about five minutes to go and then four minutes to go.
15:15And look at the way it was JB creating that opportunity,
15:20just a little bit of space right there,
15:22and then, bam, making that shot to make it 103-99.
15:26That's who Jalen Brunson is.
15:28That's what he does.
15:29And honestly, I love Picasso's.
15:31I love, you know, those kind of games where you say,
15:33that's what Dr. Naismith wanted from the New York Knicks
15:37in terms of offense and energy.
15:40The way they were able to handle last night,
15:43I thought was as or more impressive.
15:45The way Hart played late.
15:47The way Bridges played throughout.
15:49By the way, you almost don't want to say this too loud, right?
15:52Because you don't want to tempt fate and tempt the sports gods.
15:55It's the third straight great game for Mikel Bridges.
15:58Yeah, the third straight game for Mikel Bridges.
16:01He deserves a lot of credit for that.
16:03Mike Brown deserves a lot of credit.
16:06And yes, Philly missed a bunch of shots.
16:09And the Knicks got a little lucky.
16:11And you know what?
16:12That's okay, too.
16:14They've earned some of that luck.
16:15I mean, is this great defense or a missed open shot?
16:18How about Philadelphia down the stretch last night?
16:20One field goal in the final 6-52.
16:2312 points in the fourth quarter.
16:25You want to credit the Knicks?
16:26Yes.
16:27You want to kill Philadelphia?
16:29Yes.
16:30You want to say the Knicks are absolutely going to win this series
16:32even if O.G. Ananobi can't play Game 3, Game 4?
16:35Yes.
16:36And yes.
16:37And that's the beauty of it.
16:39And the fact that the Knicks, after four straight games,
16:43where it was lopsided,
16:45they were able to be tough and clutch and get a little luck, too,
16:49it's pretty awesome.
16:50And take a look at this board, right?
16:53Jalen Brunson is the best.
16:56He's the absolute best when it comes to being Captain Clutch
17:00and pumping in the points
17:02and taking care of business when it matters the most.
17:05So I think at the end of the day,
17:07it's just really incredible and remarkable
17:10when you look at it from the standpoint of everything
17:13that the Knicks were able to do last night.
17:15And then, of course, the ability to get that news,
17:19as Steph Bondi reported, with regards to O.G.
17:22It's a hamstring strain.
17:23He's going to be questionable for tomorrow,
17:26which is a huge positive.
17:27I would never play him.
17:29I wouldn't play him on Sunday.
17:31And now the Knicks need to be able to go to MSG South,
17:34known as Philadelphia,
17:35handle business,
17:36and I bet they do.
17:38And now the Knicks need to be able to get that news.
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