In a bold move ahead of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau revamped the starting lineup, swapping out Josh Hart for Mitchell Robinson. This change seemed to ignite a fire in the team, leading them to their much-needed first victory of the series.

In a surprising twist, Hart took ownership of this strategic adjustment, revealing it was his own suggestion after witnessing Robinson's standout performance in Game 2. "I had a hand in that decision, so it was never going to be a tough day for me," Hart explained to reporters, exuding confidence and comfort with the switch.

Despite coming off the bench, Hart made his presence felt on the court, clocking in 34 minutes, contributing eight points and snatching ten rebounds, several crucial ones that fortified the Knicks' late-game push.

Robinson also played a pivotal role, putting in six points and six rebounds in 29 minutes, helping the Knicks evade the slow starts that plagued them in the first two games. His solid contributions kept the score tied at the end of the first quarter.

Thibodeau chimed in on the lineup dynamics, emphasizing that swapping Hart and Robinson had minimal impact on their total minutes. "Mitch is a starter coming off the bench, and so is Josh. Their minutes will remain consistent, and both can gel with different units, which is fantastic for our strategy," he said.

The lineup shuffle also granted Karl-Anthony Towns more freedom at power forward, a tactical advantage that bore fruit as he scored an impressive 20 of his 24 points during a nail-biting fourth quarter.

Hart noted that the inspiration for this strategic move had been brewing since their previous second-round series against the Celtics, hinting at his foresight and dedication to the team.

This change seems to have set a positive tone for the Knicks as they aim to continue their playoff journey, proving that teamwork and adaptability can lead to victory!