Knicks Banking on Anunoby's Return for Eastern Conference Finals

The New York Knicks are in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight season. While their opponent won’t be determined until Sunday when the Cavaliers and Pistons collide in the Motor City, there still are things to worry about with the franchise.

There was some good news for the Knicks on the eve of that pivotal Game 7. In addition to having the rest advantage over whichever team gets the win Sunday, they got positive reports on the injury front. OG Anunoby, who was injured in Game 2 against the 76ers May 6, is trending in the right direction.

Anunoby’s Situation Improving

Anunoby suffered a strained hamstring in Game 2 against Philadelphia. He missed Games 3 and 4 as the Knicks rolled to a sweep of the series. With the combination of the Knicks’ sweep and the Cavaliers/Pistons series going seven games, it gave him the maximum rest ahead of the Eastern Conference Finals. Game 1 takes place either at Madison Square Garden (if Cleveland wins) or the Little Caesars Arena (if Detroit prevails) Tuesday night.

Anunoby averaged 16.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in 67 regular-season games on the year. His numbers have improved in the postseason. In eight playoff games, Anunoby averages 21.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest. His shooting has improved markedly, albeit in a small sample size. He shot 48.4% from the field, including 38.6% from beyond the arc, in the regular season. Those numbers climb to a sizzling 61.9% from the floor and 53.8% from three-point range, in the postseason.

Anunoby returned to practice this week, including a full showing Saturday, and it seems that this hamstring injury isn’t as serious as the one he sustained in the Eastern Conference Finals against Indiana last season. That injury cost him Games 3-6 and he played just five minutes in Game 7 when the team realized he was completely ineffective.

The Impact of His Return

The Knicks were a better team in the regular season with Anunoby on the floor. New York had an effective field goal percentage of 57.3% when he was on the floor. That number dropped to 53.8% when he was off the floor. The Knicks had a better offensive rating with him on the floor (122.4) than off (117.5) in the regular season.

Those numbers rocketed up in the postseason as the Knicks are firing on all cylinders. With Anunoby on the floor, the Knicks are shooting a scorching 61.5% in effective field goal percentage. Their offensive rating is 128.2 when he is on the floor. Those numbers fall to 56.9% effective field goal percentage and a 123.4 offensive rating when he’s off the floor.

Anunoby’s presence on the floor makes the Knicks that much more dangerous. That gives them a floor spacer, allowing Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson to do their thing. The Knicks are dangerous with seven straight wins entering this contest. They have scored at least 125 points in four of those contests and haven’t been held below 108 points in that stretch.

The Eastern Conference Finals are on the horizon. We know the Knicks are ready. Now it sounds like Anunoby is as well and that’s good news for New York’s chances.