{"id":192977,"date":"2021-03-03T10:48:36","date_gmt":"2021-03-03T07:48:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/tom-thibodeau-keeps-austin-rivers-stuck-on-the-bench\/"},"modified":"2021-03-03T10:48:36","modified_gmt":"2021-03-03T07:48:36","slug":"tom-thibodeau-keeps-austin-rivers-stuck-on-the-bench","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/tom-thibodeau-keeps-austin-rivers-stuck-on-the-bench\/","title":{"rendered":"#Tom Thibodeau keeps Austin Rivers stuck on the bench"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Tom Thibodeau keeps Austin Rivers stuck on the bench<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

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Combo guard Austin Rivers has crept even deeper into Tom Thibodeau\u2019s doghouse.<\/p>\n

Even with their top two point guards, Derrick Rose (COVID-19 protocols) and Elfrid Payton (hamstring), missing Tuesday\u2019s blowout 119-93 loss to the Spurs, Rivers was not placed back into the rotation and did not play.<\/p>\n

The Post reported Rivers was not on the bench for Saturday\u2019s game<\/a> after he hinted he could be traded soon, and the Knicks said he was in the locker room getting treatment on his ankle. Thibodeau could have used his veteran savvy Tuesday, but he used only a nine-man rotation for the second straight game.<\/p>\n

With Rose out, Frank Ntilikina got the start and Thibodeau placed Kevin Knox back into the mix at small forward. He also had Alec Burks as a shooting guard with some ballhandling duties.<\/p>\n

Thibodeau was not expansive on Rivers\u2019 massive demotion that began after the Knicks traded for Rose last month.<\/p>\n

\"Austin
Austin Rivers<\/figcaption>
NBAE via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s situational,\u2019\u2019 Thibodeau said of Rivers. \u201cHe\u2019s got to keep working.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Rivers seemed to anger Thibodeau last week when he raised the prospect several times of being traded at any moment.<\/p>\n

When asked if Rivers has an injury, Thibodeau confirmed he has \u201can ankle issue.\u2019\u2019 Nevertheless, Rivers has not been put on the injury report.<\/p>\n

Rivers did not go toward the bench during Thibodeau\u2019s huddles. The Sixers were interested in Rivers in the offseason, but new coach Doc Rivers scuttled the idea of adding his son because they went through that once with the Clippers. Rivers is already coaching his son-in-law, Seth Curry.<\/p>\n

The Knicks may need a roster spot to sign a center with Mitchell Robinson (hand surgery) and Taj Gibson (sprained ankle) out for an extended time.<\/p>\n