Steve Popper: Knicks still have to figure out how to make phantom combinations work for playoffs
The Knicks' Miles McBride reacts following a basket during a game against the Hornets on Nov. 26, 2025 in Charlotte, N.C. Credit: Getty Images/Jared C. Tilton
MILWAUKEE — Time on the court these days for Deuce McBride is limited to form shooting, a slow process back from a core muscle surgical procedure he underwent three weeks ago. No jumping, cautious work to strengthen himself and without a clear timeline, a hope and goal to return to the Knicks in time for the playoffs.
McBride was a key to the Knicks early-season success, as he has been for years now. With every judgment on this season based on what happens in the playoffs, the Knicks need him back, a team at full strength is part of any belief of what they can be.
The work isn’t just his as he rehabilitates and works his way back. Part of what the Knicks are doing, have been doing all season long, is working to fit all of the pieces together. That task will fall to Mike Brown, to figure out how to put it in place and assuming McBride is back for the postseason he might be rolling out combinations that have not spent one second together in a game.
McBride missed his 14th straight game Friday night, has already been sidelined for 25 games this season and even at the most optimistic projections for his recovery on the short end of the six- to eight-week rehab he would not be back until late March. The back end of the projection would put him at the start of the postseason.
“It’s really no exact timeline,” McBride said Friday morning at the team’s morning shootaround. He has been traveling with the team despite his inability to join in. “Just trying to do everything I can do to get back right and do whatever I can to help this team win.”
Asked if could return in the regular season, he said, “That’s always the goal for sure. But right now there’s no exact timeline.”
After he was sidelined this time, the Knicks made the trade that brought Jose Alvarado to the team and with the opening created by McBride’s absence Alvarado has already found his place in the rotation. There was no easing in for Alvarado, thrown right in for 25 minutes in a huge spot in Boston in his first game with the team. A spark plug on both ends, he has provided an energy boost with defense — different from McBride, effective in different ways.
“It’s amazing,” McBride said. “The front office is doing an amazing job as always of finding guys and doing what they think what’s needed to help us win. And I’ve always prided myself on being a spark, being an energy guy. Just to have another guy to go out there and battle with is going to be amazing.”
Alvarado returned the praise, noting of McBride’s return, “That’s something I’m excited to be about when he comes back. Obviously, he’s a great player and I’ve been watching him since he’s been in the league. Get me in a better rhythm? I’ll be in a better rhythm when he comes back so hopefully when we get together we make some noise.”
Maybe in the playoffs, figuring out bench minutes takes a backseat with minutes raised for the starter. But McBride and Alvarado will certainly be important parts of the rotation, along with Landry Shamet and Mitchell Robinson. How to allocate those minutes and make those combinations work will test Brown’s minutes sheet he crafts before every game.
“Obviously, as time goes on they’ll start to let me know when it’s closer,” Brown said. “That’s probably when I’ll (focus on) it. Right now, to spend my energy on it, not as much. I’m trying to lock in on the guys we have right now, trying to get Jose acclimated and get Jeremy (Sochan) acclimated.”
There is time, with no imminent return to action for McBride. He said he is doing form shooting — no jumping — on the court, but mostly just limited to strengthening exercises for his core. Still, he was happy to be with the team.
“I just wanted to be with the guys,” he said. “A lot of the time you can be in an isolation mindset being alone. So I feel like being around the guys, and them uplifting me, and me being able to see things from the sideline and do what I do for them. Help them out in any way I can.”
For now, it is all he can do. And the Knicks will wait, hoping that when it matters they have all the pieces in place and know how to use them.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
