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Josh Hart sounds off on Knicks' late-season woes
Like most NBA teams in a grueling 82-game campaign, the Knicks are experiencing the late-season blues. Tom Thibodeau's squad has lost six of their last nine games, but the losses are not as concerning as the lack of spirit in their performances.
On Thursday, they were blown out by the lowly Charlotte Hornets less than 24 hours after being drubbed by another lottery-bound team, the San Antonio Spurs.
After the back-to-back losses, Josh Hart called out his teammates for being outworked and out-hustled in the season's final leg. To Hart's point, the Knicks were out-rebounded 52 to 38 by the Hornets and 52-44 by the Spurs — markers of a team not giving enough effort.
"The way that we're losing games is embarrassing," Hart told the media. "We have to find a way to right the ship. We have to come out next game with more intensity and desperation. Starts with myself. As someone who's supposed to bring energy. I've been atrocious the last several weeks. So, we have to get our minds prepared for the end of the season."
Josh Hart: "Mental toughness. That's my big concern right now. We can make all the excuses in the world. There's highs & lows in the season, no one's 82-0, but the way we're losing games is embarrassing. We have to find a way to right the ship. We gotta come out next game w more… pic.twitter.com/iGu1vF8mGA
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 21, 2025
The one thing working in the Knicks' favor is they still own a three-game lead over the fourth-seeded Pacers. If the playoffs were to start today, New York would face Detroit in the first round and the Celtics in the second, provided the chips fall as expected.
There's no guarantee the Knicks would get past the Pistons, one of the hottest teams in the league since the All-Star break. Heat legend Udonis Haslem has boldly predicted that the Knicks would be sent home packing by J.B. Bickerstaff's young squad in the first round.
The Knicks will host the Wizards on Saturday. The alarm bells will get louder if they lose to a third consecutive lottery-bound team.
More must-reads:
- Knicks suffer their worst loss of the season to lowly Hornets
- Tom Thibodeau must give tired Knicks rest down the stretch
- The 'NBA minutes leaders by season' quiz
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The 'Most 15-assist games in NBA history' quiz
Happy 66th birthday to NBA Hall of Famer and Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson! Johnson is a 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA selection, three-time NBA and NBA Finals MVP, four-time assist champion, and five time NBA champion. He spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and was also part of the famous 1992 Olympic Dream Team that dominated the Summer Games in Barcelona. Since his retirement Johnson has remained in the sporting world. He’s spent time in the front office of the Lakers as well as purchasing stakes in MLB’s Los Angles Dodgers and the NFL’s Washington Commanders. Which brings us to today’s quiz. There have been 34 players in NBA history to rack up 15 assists in at least 25 career games. How many of those players can you name in five minutes? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
Oregon suspends former five-star WR recruit indefinitely
Oregon wide receiver Jurrion Dickey has struggled to live up to expectations in his first two seasons with the Ducks, and he is now in a terrible position heading into 2025 as well. Dickey has been suspended indefinitely by Oregon, head coach Dan Lanning announced on Tuesday. Lanning also suggested that Dickey may not play for the Ducks again. "We have two team rules; that’s respectful, be on time,” Lanning said, via James Crepea of The Oregonian. “There’s some pieces of that where I felt like he needed a break from us and we needed a break from that so we could focus on what’s in front of us right now. "Wishing him nothing but the best, as far as success and want to see him get back to where he can be a contributor somewhere; that might be here that might be somewhere else.” Dickey was a five-star recruit and rated as one of the top wide receivers in the country when he came out of Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, California, in 2023. He suffered an injury in his senior year in high school and redshirted as a freshman at Oregon. Dickey has two catches for 14 years during his time with the Ducks. Oregon went 13-1 in Lanning's third season with the program last season. The Ducks lost to eventual national champion Ohio State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Browns' Shedeur Sanders could be losing valuable opportunity after injury update
Just when it seemed everything was going right for Shedeur Sanders, the Cleveland Browns' rookie quarterback caught an unlucky break on Wednesday. The 23-year-old QB was sidelined during Wednesday's joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles after suffering an oblique injury. Per Kelsey Russo of the team website, the 2025 fifth-round pick won't practice Thursday and is considered day-to-day. He is deemed unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason game against Philadelphia, scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Before Wednesday's practice, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed rookie QB Dillon Gabriel will start against Philadelphia as long as he's healthy enough to play. The 2025 third-rounder missed Cleveland's preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers because of a hamstring issue. However, Stefanski previously said Sanders would get more reps this week after a solid preseason debut. The former Colorado Buffaloes star received the start in the 30-10 win over Carolina, going 14-of-23 passing for 138 yards and two touchdown passes. Not playing against Philadelphia could disrupt Sanders' momentum. More importantly, it may eliminate another opportunity for him to overtake Gabriel in Cleveland's four-way QB competition. Sanders is listed as the Browns QB4 behind Gabriel, Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco on the team's unofficial depth chart. Despite questions about Gabriel's size (5-foot-11, 205 pounds), the coaching staff seems to favor him over Sanders. Earlier this offseason, Gabriel's processing speed reportedly impressed Browns coaches, giving him an edge over Sanders. The former Oregon Ducks star also received reps with the first-team offense during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, while his fellow rookie didn't. If Gabriel plays well against the Eagles, that would continue to affirm the coaching staff's confidence in the 24-year-old QB. Neither Sanders nor Gabriel is expected to be the Week 1 starter for the Browns. It's likely going to be Flacco, who helped Cleveland make the playoffs in 2023 when he went 4-1 during a late-season stretch. Still, another solid preseason showing could help Sanders position himself to replace 40-year-old Flacco in the future. With the setback, it may take more time to climb the depth chart.
Ex-Steelers Decision Maker Delivers Harsh Statement About Cam Heyward
The Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t overly thrilled to learn that defensive stalwart Cam Heyward was seeking more money before the 2025 season. Just ahead of the 2024 campaign, the Steelers and Heyward went through similar negotiations, with the organization feeling they had done right by their veteran leader. Heyward, however, saw things differently. News broke that the All-Pro defensive lineman was staging a hold-in, participating in team activities but withholding his full commitment while waiting for a new deal. Mark Kaboly has even noted how unusual this situation is, pointing out that it should be a straightforward resolution for both sides to reach an agreement and save face. The fact that it remains unresolved has led some to believe there may be deeper issues at play beyond just contract numbers. This standoff has fueled speculation about what is truly driving Heyward’s demands and whether the relationship between the player and the franchise has become more strained than the public realizes. Former Steelers pro personnel coordinator Doug Whaley, who spent a decade in Pittsburgh working under General Manager Kevin Colbert, weighed in on the matter this week. Speaking on 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday, Whaley called the situation a significant misstep by Heyward and his camp. In his view, the veteran’s handling of the contract dispute could tarnish his standing with the team and complicate what should have been an easily negotiated extension for one of the Steelers’ most respected players. "Think about this," Whaley started in an interview with 93.7 The Fan Wednesday morning. "The 15 years of goodwill Cam Heyward has gained in the public and on the team, it's smashed over this lack of foresight. So to me, it's an abject failure from Cam. So I can understand why he has such vitriol from the fans because you should have did this before." Whaley has worked in professional football for decades and understands the inner workings of the league. His opinion on the matter carries validity, and it’s interesting to hear from someone who once made important decisions inside the Steelers’ building share where he stands. Heyward is the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner. When he received the honor, the Steelers fan base rallied behind him, expressing just how beloved he is in Pittsburgh. He still holds that status, but Whaley says he understands why some fans are upset with his request. "In the end, it's not on the Steelers," Whaley said. "This is on Cam Heyward and his camp." The coming weeks will be telling for both Heyward and the Steelers. Training camp and the preseason are usually a time for optimism, but this contract standoff has added an unexpected layer of tension. While most expect Heyward to be on the field when the games begin to count, the lingering negotiations could leave a lasting impression on how the organization and its fans view one of the franchise’s all-time great defenders. Steelers' Situation With Cam Heyward Causing Slight Tensions From the team’s perspective, it is a delicate balance between rewarding a player who has been a cornerstone of the defense for over a decade and making sound financial decisions for the future. For Heyward, it is about securing what he feels he has earned after years of leadership, production, and sacrifice for the team. Both sides have valid points, yet the longer this situation drags on, the more potential there is for frustration to build. Whaley’s remarks may not change the outcome, but they highlight a perspective from someone who knows the pressures of building a winning roster. Whether this ends with a handshake or more hard feelings, one thing is clear: the resolution of this standoff will play a role in shaping the Steelers’ 2025 season narrative. Do you agree with Whaley and his sentiments about Heyward?
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