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In a critical move aimed at revitalizing the struggling New York Knicks, head coach Tom Thibodeau has decided to bench Josh Hart and promote Mitchell Robinson to the starting lineup for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. This change comes after the Knicks dropped the first two games of the series at home against the Indiana Pacers.

Thibodeau had previously resisted making changes despite acknowledging the struggles of his starting five, stating that the coaching staff evaluates all aspects of the lineup. In a recent pregame news conference, Thibodeau explained that decisions are not made lightly. "Every player has different strengths and weaknesses and so sometimes you look at the impact one may have on one particular unit. But there's also a trickle down," he said. "How does it impact the second group? I don't look at starting lineups, per se. I look at the groupings, and then you're mixing and matching also to take advantage of what everyone's strengths and weaknesses are to try to get the most out of the team."

The original starting five of Hart, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns has not performed well in the playoffs, being outscored by 81 points and registering a NET rating of minus-9.5. This stands as the worst mark among the starting groups of the four remaining playoff teams. Conversely, the Pacers’ starting lineup boasts a NET rating of plus-20.7.

Robinson, known for his defensive prowess and offensive rebounding, has the second-best NET rating on the team at plus-8.6, trailing only Miles McBride’s plus-8.8. Despite his strong individual performance, the new unit of Robinson, Brunson, Towns, Anunoby, and Bridges has only played together for a total of seven minutes in this postseason.

Josh Hart expressed understanding and support for the decision. "I've been the 15th man, I've been the third man, I've been the sixth man, I've been whatever," he said. "I truly feel like I'm a starter in the league. I think I played amazing this year... If Thibs does that, and I don't know if he is or isn't, I'm all for it. I'm going to play my game, my minutes, my style, no matter if I'm coming off the bench or starting."

The starting lineup has been problematic for the Knicks throughout the postseason, often digging the team into early deficits. This led to Hart’s underwhelming performance in Game 2, where he posted just six points, six rebounds, and an assist in 29 minutes. "The last game I didn't play well. I don't hang my hat on scoring and those kinds of things," Hart acknowledged. "I'm not too worried about it. Whenever I have a bad game, I usually come around and have a good game at some point. Hopefully that point is today."

As the Knicks head into this crucial Game 3, all eyes will be on Thibodeau’s lineup adjustments to see if they can help turn the tide in the series.