Mike Brown identified his probable rotation for the playoffs.
The coach said the nine players used in the past two games — including Thursday’s 112-106 win over the Celtics — have the edge. The four reserves are Mitchell Robinson, Miles McBride, Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson.
“Those guys are probably our top nine when you’re talking about the playoffs,” Brown said, “and it’s hard to play more than nine guys [in the playoffs].”
That alignment leaves out Jose Alvarado, Mohamed Diawara and Tyler Kolek — all players who have been part of the rotation at times during the regular season.
And all of them picked up DNPs in the past two games against Boston and at Atlanta on Monday.
Alvarado is probably the biggest surprise after being acquired at the trade deadline for two second-round picks, but he was supplanted by McBride — who recently returned from sports hernia surgery — and Clarkson, who has impressed with his defense.
With a clean injury report for Monday’s 108-105 win over Atlanta, the Knicks gave heavier minutes to Jalen Brunson (39 minutes) and OG Anunoby (37). Off the bench, Robinson, Shamet and McBride all recorded at least 20 minutes apiece. Clarkson was sparsely used with nine minutes.
On Thursday against Boston, the four reserves each played at least 14 minutes.
“Trying to find a way to get those guys on the floor with the right combinations at the right times is something I’m messing around with,” Brown said. “But it’s close [to our playoff rotation]. There might be a few things I might change.”
Brown collected his 52nd victory of the season Thursday, eclipsing the highest total by Tom Thibodeau with the Knicks.
“It didn’t register that they had 51 wins [last season], or whatever, and I wasn’t trying to pass what they had last year. I was trying to get the best possible seed we could get going into the playoffs. I was trying to hopefully help the team improve going into the playoffs and then hopefully make a run at this thing,” the coach said. “I’ve said this before: Thibs is a great coach. I’m not trying to be him or replace him. I’m just trying to do the best that I can do with this team. So I don’t really think of that.
“It’d be great to get 60 [wins] and not because we had 60 last year but 60 sounds better than 52 or 54, but that’s kind of how I look at it.”
