Josh Hart’s shooting could emerge as one of the most important X factors for the Knicks in their first-round series against the Pistons.
Jalen Brunson scored at a historic rate last postseason, which prompted opposing defenses to double-team him and spend much of their attention trying to slow him down.
That only increased when OG Anunoby went down with an injury.
Often, that resulted in Hart being left open as a shooter.
He made the 76ers pay in the Knicks’ first-round series win, shooting 43.2 percent from 3-point range in the six games.
That included the series-winning 3-pointer in Game 6, which came off an assist from Brunson, who was double-teamed.
Hart then struggled with his shot in the second-round series loss to the Pacers, however, regressing to 27.3 percent from deep in the seven games.
“Feels solid,” Hart said of his jump shot after practice on Wednesday. “This week is a good week to really put the work in on it. I’m working in practice, getting some shots up. After practice, my friend has a court at his house, so getting shots up before practice at the house. And I’m shooting at the facility at night or back at his house at night.
“So, I’m getting probably two or three workouts [a day] and shooting just to make sure I’m comfortable and confident with it and I’m just working the kinks out but I’m always confident in it.”
The addition of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges this year, along with Anunoby being healthy, should only result in Hart, who shot 33.3 percent from deep in the regular season, being left open even more.
But Hart does not feel the need to shoot just because he’s left open or to force defenses to come out of the paint and respect his shot, even if that frustrates fans.
“Last year, last playoffs, I was extremely comfortable with added shots,” Hart said. “I kind of take it upon myself to make sure the guys get put in a good position to [take] good shots and try to get them a touch. Sometimes on the outside looking in, people might see that, and I might be open, but I try to get something else [a shot], and they might not like that or might hate that, but I’m gonna play my game.”
With how ball-dominant Brunson is, Hart recognizes his value as a needed facilitator to get the ball to Anunoby, Towns and Bridges.
“I know the shots are gonna be there, but I also want to make sure we get those guys involved offensively,” Hart said. “Because the ball has energy, and when guys are making shots, the energy is better in terms of communications, in terms of defensive effort, those kinds of things. I’m obviously gonna shoot the shots that I have to take and I’m comfortable taking, but also gonna make sure I help get other guys touches.”
