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The Knicks coach, David Fizdale, has publicly acknowledged for the first time that it was possible that Kristaps Porzingis is not playing this season, calling it "if and when".
Fizdale said he could not think or plan Porlezis' return at this point because he did not want to lose sight of the current players. Polling day was the ninth birthday of Porzingis who tore his ACL at the Garden against the Bucks. The schedule for his return, however, began on February 13, the date of his operation.
"I'm not planning … I'm watching these guys right now," Fizdale said after Thursday's training. "I do not even plan on KP at all. I can see how it's going, but I'm just trying to keep my mind focused on them. Because it would be just a huge distraction for me mentally, hoping and wishing KP, that 25, 28 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. I have to live up to these young dollars, keep them up. "
When he was specifically asked if he thought Porzingis would not return to the 2018-2019 season, Fizdale said he had to think that way for his peace of mind, but that he had no knowledge of one way or the other.
"Just mentally for me," said Fizdale. "It's elsewhere. As a coach, I do not want to be personally distracted by the fear of his return. I prefer to focus on the daily tasks of these guys and when he comes back, it will be a gift for me. As a coach, you can be distracted, caught in this world where hopefully soon, and you lose focus on what you do. And these guys deserve all my attention.
According to sources, the Knicks expect Porzingis to return this season, but Fizdale's rhetoric in recent weeks has not made reference to Porzingis. Porzingis did not travel with the team, as he had expected.
Significantly, Fizdale stated that Porzingis's basketball activities had not progressed beyond its opening level of the training camp. He still does light running and shooting, but not full jump shots.
"By sprinting, he's not at that level yet," said Fizdale.
It is unclear whether the urgency of Porzingis's return has been slightly mitigated by not extending his contract by 15 October. Sources indicate that Porzingis's return was not based solely on his physical health, but also on his mental health, whether or not he was ready to undergo a surgically repaired knee injury.
Porzingis has not spoken to the media since the beginning of the training camp at the end of September. He added that there was no information on 7-foot-3 players returning from tears in the ACL, but that he would come back when he would pass strength tests on his legs.
About why Porzingis did not travel with the Knicks, who will be playing in Toronto on Saturday afternoon, Fizdale said, "At the moment, we feel like we're keeping it in its rhythm, let's keep this leg where she is.
"Travel is difficult with rehabilitation. So we all reached the agreement. We often keep it at home on many trips. He will come on some. He has a good rhythm. We love the routine we have on him right now. And I agree with that. He really respected everything I asked him. When it's right, it's true, and we'll do it. He led. He is engaged. "
At the end of June, Knicks President Steve Mills said at an ESPN radio appearance that he would have a more accurate schedule when Porzingis would move on. his strength tests at the end of September, after his return from Europe. The Knicks, however, did not publish a schedule at that time.
In fact, Mills reported on "The Stephen A. Smith Show" that the return of Porzingis could take place as early as nine months after surgery. This obviously does not happen and a Happy Kristaps seems almost impossible.
National networks pitted the moribund Knicks against the Bucks on Christmas Day with an eye on Porzingis' possible return to the club he faced when he suffered a catastrophic injury.
"What happens after about seven months of injury, is when we can have a pretty good evaluation [what] the timetable will be the following: if it is a nine-month recovery, a 12-month recovery. It's hard to say for the moment, "said Mills in his late June interview." We expect him to be back during the season, but we're not going to rush . "
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