INDIANAPOLIS — Josh Hart watched the tape and did not recognize himself.
He despised what he saw.
Hart produced likely his worst performance of the postseason in the Knicks’ Game 4 loss to the Pacers on Tuesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
He committed five turnovers.
He had just one assist.
He committed unnecessary fouls and struggled on the defensive end.
“Last game, I felt like I was trying and I watched the film and I was really embarrassed about what I was doing, how I looked and the lack of intensity, lack of passion, lack of competitiveness,” Hart said after the Knicks’ 111-94 Game 5 win Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. “I was embarrassed, honestly. Not even the turnovers, but giving up back cuts, not communicating. I’m the guy who’s supposed to play with a high competitive nature, a high motor. Those were things I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror, let alone look at these guys.”
Josh Hart attempts a shot during the Knicks’ Game 5 win on May 29. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Knicks’ defensive effort was dramatically improved Thursday, and that was especially true for Hart.
The Knicks had a 101.4 defensive rating (points given up per 100 possessions) when Hart was on the floor in Game 5.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs
- https://nypost.com/2025/05/30/sports/jalen-brunson-has-chance-to-correct-his-biggest-knicks-mistake/Knicks demolished in second half as dream season ends with dud
- https://nypost.com/2025/05/30/sports/knicks-must-keep-defensive-heat-on-tyrese-haliburton/https://nypost.com/2025/05/31/sports/timothee-chalamet-kylie-jenner-take-in-knicks-pacers-game-6/Knicks’ Game 6 report card: Everyone came up short in season-ending loss
- Bondy: The Knicks didn’t get close to enough from their two biggest stars
- Vaccaro: Knicks have so much to regret — and so much to fix after Pacers heartbreak
Sports+ subscribers: Sign up for Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage and join Expert Take for insider texts about the series.
Josh Hart attempts a layup during the Knicks’ Game 5 win on May 29. Jason Szenes / New York PostThat was a steep improvement from the 117.7 mark in Game 5.
And he limited his mistakes, committing three turnovers and dishing out four assists.
“I put everything on the back burner,” Hart said. “Scoring, all those kinds of things. It was just go out there and be aggressive defensively, try to get into the ball, fly around and get offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, get these guys going. I’ve got to do that next game and sometimes I’ve got to be a little more aggressive offensively and pick my spots. But I was embarrassed how I played Game 4 and I knew I had to come in and pick it up.”
To continue their comeback in the series, the Knicks will need that exact mentality again.
