In a critical Game 6 last season, with the Philadelphia 76ers trying to tie their first-round series against the New York Knicks, Jalen Brunson was heavily guarded with less than 30 seconds left.
Brunson drove to the left, but Philadelphia`s center Joel Embiid blocked the paint, while Nicolas Batum and Kelly Oubre Jr. followed closely. Instead of trying a difficult shot or drawing a foul, Brunson passed to an open Josh Hart at the top of the key.
Hart, who had been surprisingly effective against the 76ers in the series, was left unguarded. He briefly considered passing to Donte DiVincenzo on the wing, a 40% 3-point shooter that season. But DiVincenzo was covered, and Hart saw no defender in front of him. He decided to take the shot himself, a situation he had faced throughout the series because Philadelphia chose to give space to the 34% career 3-point shooter.
Hart made a crucial 3-pointer, his 17th in the series, which secured the Knicks` victory in the first round. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau commented after the game that Hart had dedicated significant time to improving his shooting, expressing confidence in Hart making big shots.
Almost a year later, the same question about Hart`s jump shot is relevant for the Knicks` current playoff run.
Josh Hart is known for his relentless effort. He played the most minutes per game in the NBA under Coach Thibodeau and is essential to the Knicks in many roles. He constantly puts his body on the line and contributes in various ways, unlike any other player on the team. Despite being 6-foot-4, Hart was 13th in the league in rebounding, the shortest player in the top group by a significant margin.
However, like last playoffs, the Knicks will need more than just hustle from Hart to advance. His performance when the Detroit Pistons allow him to shoot 3-pointers could be a key factor in New York`s playoff success.
Josh Hart`s energetic play often brings excitement to the game.
Earlier this month, in a game against the Phoenix Suns, Hart chased a pass from Royce O`Neale that he thought he could intercept.
He deflected the pass towards the sideline but realized he was out of bounds. With no space to stop, he jumped onto the courtside digital billboard and then landed a few rows into the stands at Madison Square Garden.
The commentator Mike Breen joked during the broadcast about Hart being lucky there were empty seats for a safe landing, as fans high-fived him on his way back to the court.
Hart was among the league leaders in steals and deflections this season. He plays with fearlessness, often diving for loose balls, leading the NBA in recovering loose balls this season. He is also frequently seen leading fast breaks, being very effective in transition.
Additionally, he is a strong rebounder and playmaker. Statistics show Hart has the highest attack rate in the NBA when rebounding, indicating his exceptional effort. His rebounding ability is remarkable for his size, making him only the second player 6-4 or shorter to average at least 9.6 rebounds in the last 60 years.
Hart once told teammate Mitchell Robinson that his rebounds are more impactful, breaking the opponent`s spirit.
For example, in a Christmas Day game against the San Antonio Spurs, with the Knicks leading by three points and 30 seconds remaining, Brunson missed a shot that Hart dove for and secured. After San Antonio missed their subsequent shot, Hart rebounded again, preventing the Spurs from attempting a game-tying shot and securing the Knicks` win.
Beyond rebounding, Hart is also a valuable playmaker.
Brunson, who leads the NBA in ball possession and clutch baskets, is often double-teamed. This is where Hart`s playmaking, similar to Draymond Green, becomes crucial. He is effective in short roll situations, receiving the ball from Brunson and passing to open teammates. Hart is also efficient when driving to the basket, shooting a career-best from two-point range. Last month, he set a franchise record for triple-doubles in a season, surpassing Clyde Frazier`s record with nine.
Hart has achieved 15 triple-doubles in the last two seasons, after none in his first six NBA years. According to ESPN Research, only Bill Russell has recorded more triple-doubles after having none in his initial seasons.
Brunson humorously recalled that in college, they advised Hart against passing due to his perceived lack of passing skills.
Now, Hart excels in almost every aspect of the game, except for consistent 3-point shooting. The Pistons are likely to test this weakness in their first-round series.
Josh Hart consistently works on improving his 3-point shot during breaks in the schedule.
During the All-Star break last season, the week before the playoffs, and recently before facing the Pistons, Hart dedicated himself to refining his 3-point technique.
He takes hundreds of extra shots daily on his own time. Hart mentioned feeling good about his shot recently, working on it during and after practices, and even at a friend`s court multiple times a day to ensure comfort and confidence in his adjustments.
This extra effort is justified.
Throughout the season, defenses often gave Hart significant space on the 3-point line. On average, teams allowed him over 8 feet of space on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. Among players with at least 175 such attempts, only a few were given more room than Hart.
Despite this space, Hart shot only 34% on these open 3-pointers, below the league average of nearly 40% when given similar space. This makes it easy for opponents to focus on guarding Brunson and other shooters, leaving Hart open.
This strategy was used by the Sixers in the previous playoffs, comfortable leaving Hart open to better trap Brunson. This initially worked, as Brunson struggled in the first two games of that series.
However, Hart`s improved shooting became a significant advantage for the Knicks. Philadelphia`s strategy forced Hart to shoot more 3-pointers, and he made a high percentage of them, much better than his regular season average.
This series between the Pistons and Knicks, and potentially the Knicks` entire playoff run, is intriguing because of Hart`s shooting. His 3-point performance has varied greatly in past playoff series. While he shot well in one series against the Cavaliers, he struggled in others. His shooting ability could dictate how defenses play the Knicks and create opportunities for their offense.
Coach Thibodeau acknowledged that playoff defenses often prioritize leaving weaker shooters open, but emphasized that Hart`s overall impact goes beyond just shooting.
Thibodeau described Hart as a complete basketball player, more than just a shooter, highlighting his abilities with the ball and in transition.
Thibodeau`s message to Hart is simple: shoot when open and make plays when guarded, appreciating his versatile game.
