Josh Hart, the player born to be a figure in Tom Thibodeau’s New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are growing and growing within the Eastern Conference. those of Tom Thibodeau They beat the Chiefs on Monday Boston Celtics 109-94 and they stayed together score 36-27fifth in the Eastern Conference, predictably beating the Brooklyn Nets to confirm their position as the city’s new owners.

the blows they have won eight of their last nine games and six in a rowwith one detail: they have 6-0 since Josh Hart’s arrivaloriginally from Portland during his deadline. And not just a coincidence, the former Blazers forward is playing a fundamental document to enhance the performance of New Yorkers.

Hart was born to play for the Knicks. And specifically in this version of Thibodeau’s team, which prioritizes the team play and defense above anything else. Where energy and effort are non-negotiable on both sides of the pitch and where every loss comes at a very high price, even against opponents with greater talent and resources.

His acquaintance with the team’s point guard two years ago, Jaylen Brunsonwith whom they played Villanova (national champions in 2016) don’t hurt and.

The Maryland native is a representative symbol of these Knicks and it has already become one of the most loved by the audience, even with a handful of games on top. His numbers are outstanding: 13.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.2 assistswith a phenomenon 61% from the field (30 of 41). Its impact, even greater.

Every time Hart takes the court, the Knicks dominate: they have a +/- an amazing +66 in his 158 minutes with the team. That +66 is the sixth-best mark among all players in the league during this six-game stretch.

Unfortunately for the Knicks, Hart’s arrival also coincided with (or birthed) a drop in production from a key man like RJ Barrett, who is barely averaging 15 points in those six games (20.1 last season). The Canadian is undoubtedly more talented, but he delivers less emotional and defensive responseswhich leads him to lose minutes and attention.

For now, nothing that hurts some Knicks picks in which the Eastern Top 4 is no longer inaccessible.

The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA or its organizations.