When Mitchell Robinson was sidelined on Dec 8, 2023, fans were extremely concerned about its impact on their defense. The New York Knicks were ranked sixth in defensive rating at 110.3 in November, and many believed they would struggle without the interior defense of Robinson.
The panic was warranted. After Robinson injured his left ankle, the Knicks ranked 30th in team defense in December at 125.2. In the six games Jericho Sims started at center, they went 2-3 and allowed 125.8 points per game. The Knicks found their saving grace in Isaiah Hartenstein’s promotion to the starting lineup, which breathed new life into the team amidst a storm of injuries. Hartenstein’s impact on the Knicks helped them stay afloat when they could have easily drowned.
Analyzing Isaiah Hartenstein’s Impact on the Knicks
Hartenstein started his first game of the season on 20 Dec, 2023. In the six games left in the month, the Knicks went 2-4 and allowed a tick over 123 points per game. Better defense, worse record. However, in those six games, Hartenstein dominated the boards on both sides of the ball. In 31 and a half minutes of playing time, he averaged 3.7 offensive rebounds per game and 8.7 total rebounds. He also averaged just over a steal a game. Comparatively, opponents shot just 51.9% on shots within six feet of the basket, ninth in the NBA within that span. During the games Sims started, he allowed opponents to shoot 64.5% at the same range.
Hartenstein’s Defense
Since the start of the new year, the Knicks have gone 24-12, fifth-best in the association. They have the second-best defensive rating at 110.5 and have held opponents to just 45.5% shooting, 4th in the NBA. Hartenstein is averaging a career-high 1.1 steals and 1.3 blocks over this span. He is the sixth-best defender in terms of opponent shooting and averages 6.6 defensive boards per game. Hartenstein has the fourth-highest Defensive-Lebron this season among players with 1000+ minutes. He has a top-10 defensive rating since the new year. The Knicks’ defense has benefited from Hartenstein, who plays a similar role to Robinson. The Knicks give up the fourth-least points in the paint due to the threat of meeting an imposing seven-foot big at the rim.
Improved Offensive Play
The Knicks remain one of the few teams without an offensive center. Robinson and Hartenstein were both exclusively used as rim protectors and rebounders, and that trend has continued even with the absence of Julius Randle. Hartenstein’s offensive impact, however, has seen an increase due to the various players lost to injury. Hartenstein is averaging a career-high 9 points and 10.2 rebounds since the start of the new year. He averages 3.6 offensive rebounds per game, sixth-most in the NBA. The Knicks average the most offensive rebounds per game at 13.1 due to the success of Hartenstein and Precious Achiuwa, who combine to average 7 per game. They allow the Knicks to score over 16 second-chance points a game, which is second in the league. He has the best field goal percentage of his career at 65.8% (most of his shots are near the rim) and shoots 76.8% from the free-throw line.
His ability to slice the defense up with a quick pass has been a welcome addition to a team that has been without three of their best players for long stretches this season. He has developed great pick-and-roll chemistry alongside Jalen Brunson and averages close to 3 assists on the season. His ability to score has eased the pressure on Brunson, and his 13 points on 6-7 shooting against the Golden State Warriors opened the game up. Hartenstein’s impact on the Knicks has helped them survive the injury scares and stay entrenched in the playoff race as the fourth-seed.
What’s Next?
Robinson’s indefinite timeline has not impacted the Knicks to the extent that most believed in, mainly because Hartenstein stepped up. Knicks fans can dream about the offensive boards the team will recover once Robinson returns. New York now has one of the most potent center duos in the league, even if they don’t know who will come off the bench. However, this offseason is a tricky one. Hartenstein’s contract is up at the end of this year, and projections post him in the $13-14 million range. The Knicks can sign him for the money he wants, and after this season, they must. Hartenstein stepped up and delivered in a big way, and who knows where the Knicks would be if he didn’t?
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