{"id":1184,"date":"2026-05-22T16:38:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T16:38:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=1184"},"modified":"2026-05-22T16:38:58","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T16:38:58","slug":"josh-hart-was-frustrated-by-a-postseason-shooting-slump-the-knicks-knew-his-work-would-pay-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=1184","title":{"rendered":"Josh Hart was frustrated by a postseason shooting slump. The Knicks knew his work would pay off"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) reacts after scoring a three-point goal during the second half of Game 2 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Thursday, May 21, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo\/Yuki Iwamura)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

NEW YORK \u2014 Josh Hart is the closest thing to a comedian on a New York Knicks team that\u2019s been all business in these NBA playoffs.<\/p>

Read more Alberto Bettiol wins Stage 13 of the Giro d\u2019Italia as Afonso Eul\u00e1lio retains overall lead<\/a><\/p>\n

There was nothing to laugh about Thursday night early in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals<\/a> , when Hart missed three 3-pointers to continue a postseason shooting slump. His frustration was evident as he slammed the ball down a few times, and he wondered why what he was doing in practice wasn\u2019t showing up in the games.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just like, bro, it\u2019s not translating right now,\u201d Hart said, once he finished chewing a slice from the box of pizza<\/a> he carried to his postgame news conference.<\/p>\n

His teammates \u2014 particularly the ones who were also his teammates at Villanova \u2014 knew eventually it would.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know we joke around a lot about his practice habits, but he does work hard,\u201d Jalen Brunson said.<\/p>\n

Hart broke out with five 3-pointers and scored a playoff career-high 26 points as the Knicks pulled away for a 109-93 victory over Cleveland to move two wins from their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. He exited to a standing ovation<\/a> , two nights after he was on the bench for nearly all of New York\u2019s comeback from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter<\/a> .<\/p>\n

Even with everything he does for the Knicks, it was hard to keep Hart on the court at that time. The Cavaliers<\/a> , like a number of NBA teams, view the forward\u2019s outside shooting as one of the weaknesses in a potent lineup headlined by All-Stars Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, and assign their center to cover him. He realizes he will have room to shoot from outside, because opponents want him to.<\/p>\n

Knowing that, Hart worked extra hard on his shot fundamentals leading into Game 2.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you have guys that are gamers, they do stuff that people don\u2019t think that they can do at any time,\u201d Knicks coach Mike Brown said. \u201cAnd he knows the work that he puts in, we know the work that he puts in, and his confidence is not going to waver. He\u2019s going to put pressure on himself to take that next one and make that next one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hart was shooting only 26.7% behind the arc in the playoffs going into the game, so sagging off him is statistically a sound strategy \u2014 except Hart is not a player to be judged solely by the numbers.<\/p>

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\u201cI\u2019m never a huge analytics guy,\u201d Hart said. \u201cAt a certain point they\u2019re a lamppost to a drunk person. You can lean on them, but it won\u2019t get you home.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Towns, seated next to him at the podium, removed his sunglasses to stare at Hart in bemusement, Hart explained that the quote belonged to Jay Wright, his coach at Villanova.<\/p>\n

Hart, a couple years older than Brunson and Mikal Bridges, was the scorer late in his career with the Wildcats. After they won the 2016 NCAA championship, he averaged a career-high 18.7 points and shot 40.4% behind the arc and was the Big East player of the year as a senior.<\/p>\n

Brunson is the dominant scorer now, while Hart\u2019s value to the Knicks is for the many other things he does. He\u2019s taken a large role in the defending of Cavs All-Star Donovan Mitchell, and his defensive rebounding, while standing only 6-foot-4, allows the Knicks to push the ball up the court quickly in transition.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s the perfect example for any basketball player who wants to learn how to truly impact the winning of a team and he does that at the highest level,\u201d Towns said. \u201cWhat he does not only talentwise but mentally for our team, when he goes out there, he\u2019s hustling, he\u2019s playing that hard, you feel like you\u2019ve got to match his intensity.\u201d<\/p>\n

And on nights like Thursday, Hart can punish teams that dare him to shoot. Just like he did two years ago in the first round, when he made the series-clinching 3-pointer against Philadelphia in Game 6.<\/p>\n

So Brunson, who had a playoff career-high 14 assists in Game 2, will keep looking for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, I\u2019m really not trying to look for him. He just happens to be open, so I give him the ball,\u201d Brunson said, with a smirk that resembled his sidekick. \u201cI have the utmost confidence in him, watching the things he does and after practice with his routine and everything. He works hard.\u201d<\/p>

Read more Thomas Tuchel drops big names from England\u2019s World Cup squad<\/a><\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP NBA: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/nba<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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