Official Knicks Pre-Playoffs Discussion Thread

[HarthorneWingo]

I’ll start.

Who - other than HIM - is key to the success of our playoff run?

Wingo’s choice: Monster Mitch.

[Knicksfan1992]

I’ll start.

Who - other than HIM - is key to the success of our playoff run?

Wingo’s choice: Monster Mitch.

Donte, Bogey and Deuce need to make shots for our offense to function around Brunson enough to win more than 1 round. We know, defensively, we'll be fine.

If not, then we can have some real issues scoring against good teams who can make life hell for JB.

[KnicksGadfly]

OG Anunoby. Captain of the defense, who adds value on offense to boot.

Almost everyone is important because we're lacking so much depth, but here's how I'd rank everyone.

1) Brunson
2) OG
3) iHart - I have to rank him higher than Mitch because he's gotten to pass and use his floater game recently. He also plays an important defensive role.
4) DDV - think it's telling that Thibs didn't bench him during his past few games.
5) Hart - walking triple double recently, pairs well with OG and DDV.
6) Mitch - if he's healthy, he's still the guy who dominated Cleveland's frontcourt
7) McBride - efficient, strong defender, another reliable floor spacer
8) Bojan - if he falls apart, Brunson is probably playing 40ish minutes. Then again, Brunson is playing 40ish minutes anyway. Would be nice if he continues his strong play though.

Really don't want to get into Precious, Burks, Sims, but that's how I'd rank the rest of the guys. And then we got some guys Thibs doesn't trust and I'm not too sure how I feel about that. On one hand, he doesn't have a Taj Gibson type to rely on. On the other hand, a random old head would still be better than these guys and might be able to do some savvy vet crap once in a while.

[The Lamma]

Donte and Boggy are the biggest x-factors imo

[Chanel Bomber]

OG is our second-best player but I expect him to consistently impact the game for us. He'll be a constant. Hart will be a constant as well. I expect our defense to stay solid this postseason, unless we need to heavily rely on Bojan to generate offense.

Our center rotation will be the key in any matchup against Embiid or the Bucks. Foul trouble vs Embiid, being spaced out by Lopez or defending against Giannis going downhill vs Milwaukee.

Otherwise DDV, OG, and McBride's ability to hit 3s will be huge.

Overall I'd say Donte's our biggest x-factor. I expect him to have to make a lot of decisions when teams inevitably trap Brunson. He'll need to maximize those opportunities there, but also space the floor, and survive on defense.

[Fat Kat]

Read on Twitter

Probably Mitch‘s health.

[sol537]

Sounds like Philly is favored to win.... alot is going to depend on Embiid's condition... I like having iHart, Mitch, Precious and then even OG to throw at him. We gotta wear him down and hope he's not effective in 4th quarters against us. We also need to put OG and McBride on Maxey often. Those are the two that can slow him down somewhat. Otherwise, Maxey cooks anyone else we try on him.

Starters:
Brunson (42 mins)
DDV (35 mins)
Hart (38 mins)
OG (42 mins)
iHart (33 mins)

Bench:
Mitch (15 mins)
McBride (20 mins)
Bogs or Precious (15 mins)

That's what I'm expecting against Philly or Miami. 8-man rotation with our starters getting near 40 mins each, and a trickling of Mitch and McBride with the occasional use of Bogs or Precious (either one on a tight leash).

[moocow007]

Keys to playoff success? I would say Hart, then Robinson, then DDV.

Hart is literally the heart and soul of this team. He needs to be able to continue to be that driving force, that attack dog and tone setter. The good news is of the 3, the one that I would trust the most to be able to continue to do what he's done in the regular season come playoff time. He's tops on my list cause I think he's the most important player on this team in terms of what he brings outside of Brunson and beyond what the stats say.

Robinson IMO is extra critical as teams will be attacking the Knicks with their superstar shot creators. Pretty much every team they can possibly meat on their way to the championships has someone that can cause havoc around the basket. As much as Hartenstein has played above his norm, Robinson is the anchor of their ability to stop and alter those attacks. Regular season (when he plays) he's the biggest deterrent to that and Thibs and the Knicks knowing they have Robinson back there can be aggressive with their defense. Can he do it come playoff time? Will come down to 2 things...health (he's got to stay healthy) and refs (if they let the teams play yeah I think Robinson can absolutely be a shutdown x-factor, if not then foul trouble and trouble overall here we come). Also his dual ability to defend the paint AND grab offensive rebounds cannot be understated in terms of importance...especially if DDV and the Knicks other offensive players struggle.

DDV's importance really is as a 2nd option to Brunson (with Randle out) and the primary floor spacer that allows the Knicks offense to have the room to operate especially Brunson. DDV needs to show that his regular season is also his post season. If he wilts the Knicks are going to struggle to find that no.2 option and floor spacer that can be relied on for major minutes. IF he fails the the Knicks inability to land someone like a Demar Derozan at the deadline could be a killer (cause Derozan you know can actually handle that no.2 role). Pressure on the no.1 and no.2 options in the regular season is a bit different than in the postseason. We know that Brunson can handle it. So the question is can DDV?

Doesn't mean other players aren't important, they are obviously. But I'm addressing guys that play very specific critical roles that go beyond what they may have consistently shown. It's why OG is not top 3 on my list cause I don't think expecting him to continue to do what he does best is anything out of the ordinary. Same with Hartenstein, Bogdanovic (he's a backup), or any of the other role players.

[NYKinMIA]

[drekwins]

OG Anunoby. Captain of the defense, who adds value on offense to boot.

Almost everyone is important because we're lacking so much depth, but here's how I'd rank everyone.

1) Brunson
2) OG
3) iHart - I have to rank him higher than Mitch because he's gotten to pass and use his floater game recently. He also plays an important defensive role.
4) DDV - think it's telling that Thibs didn't bench him during his past few games.
5) Hart - walking triple double recently, pairs well with OG and DDV.
6) Mitch - if he's healthy, he's still the guy who dominated Cleveland's frontcourt
7) McBride - efficient, strong defender, another reliable floor spacer
8) Bojan - if he falls apart, Brunson is probably playing 40ish minutes. Then again, Brunson is playing 40ish minutes anyway. Would be nice if he continues his strong play though.

Really don't want to get into Precious, Burks, Sims, but that's how I'd rank the rest of the guys. And then we got some guys Thibs doesn't trust and I'm not too sure how I feel about that. On one hand, he doesn't have a Taj Gibson type to rely on. On the other hand, a random old head would still be better than these guys and might be able to do some savvy vet crap once in a while.

Agree with this list but the key is really 7 & 8. If either one of them step up drastically, we become very difficult to beat. I actually think that Miami is a much more favorable matchup than people realize. That's because Bogey can match minutes with Duncan Robinson and Caleb Martin without our defense becoming significantly compromised.

[thebuzzardman]

1st round exit in 5 games, much handwringing on here

[Clyde_Style]

I’ll start.

Who - other than HIM - is key to the success of our playoff run?

Wingo’s choice: Monster Mitch.

Most objective answer I can give is:

It takes a village

My fan answer:

OG

After Brunson he is the biggest key to our playoff success on BOTH ends of the court. If he can average 18 PPG while chopping away at the scoring opportunities of the people he defends, he's going to be a monster net positive player in these playoffs.

The thing that is great about OG is you can't measure his full defensive impact by opponent shots missed. He literally stops people from even taking shots and drops their FGA's per game which doesn't show up in the box score.

[Clyde_Style]

1st round exit in 5 games, much handwringing on here

Bad boy!

Tsk Tsk

[thebuzzardman]

Thibs is key.

Once teams start game planning the high P&R with iShart or Hart, will he adjust another way to maximize Brunson?

[KnicksGadfly]

I’ll start.

Who - other than HIM - is key to the success of our playoff run?

Wingo’s choice: Monster Mitch.

Most objective answer I can give is:

It takes a village

My fan answer:

OG

After Brunson he is the biggest key to our playoff success on BOTH ends of the court. If he can average 18 PPG while chopping away at the scoring opportunities of the people he defends, he's going to be a monster net positive player in these playoffs.

The thing that is great about OG is you can't measure his full defensive impact by opponent shots missed. He literally stops people from even taking shots and drops their FGA's per game which doesn't show up in the box score.

Another cool Athletics article from today about OG:
https://theathletic.com/5417952/2024/04/16/og-anunoby-cuts-knicks-nba-playoffs/

"OG Anunoby’s ‘sacrificial cuts’ could benefit Knicks, Jalen Brunson in playoffs"

Mired in a tight game, OG Anunoby had to create a bucket. The one issue? He wasn’t holding the basketball. Of course, that didn’t stop him.

Most of the NBA’s headiest off-ball players receive kudos because their movement opens themselves up for shots. Others get credit for the frenzy they create when they rush nonstop from sideline to sideline.

For example, two-time MVP Stephen Curry swerves around screens, inspiring nervous breakdowns in defenders who follow him. Eventually, someone heads the wrong way, and either Curry or one of his teammates finds an easy basket because of it.

On this occasion, Anunoby attempted something different, a move that’s become familiar since he arrived in New York three and a half months ago.

Midway into the fourth quarter of a two-point game in Sacramento, Jalen Brunson tried a step-back jumper on the left side of the court. The Kings guarded it well, and Brunson couldn’t release the shot. With Anunoby stationed on the opposite wing, Brunson was stuck — until his teammate rebalanced the floor.

Just before Brunson handed the ball off to Isaiah Hartenstein, an escape that would mean hurrying around his center and in Anunoby’s direction, Anunoby jogged across the paint, from right to left, removing his defender from the area that seconds later would become Brunson’s path to the basket.

[Insert super cool video you guys can't see]

This subtle move is called a spacing cut.

Its purpose isn’t to free Anunoby for a bucket. It’s not to take advantage of an inattentive opponent. It’s not to cause those dreaded nervous breakdowns. It’s to clear the way for Brunson.

“What it says is, you’re putting the team first,” Donte DiVincenzo said. “It’s an unselfish move.”

On this occasion, just as it has on many others, it worked. Hartenstein delivered a bounce pass to Brunson, who zipped past where Anunoby’s defender once stood and finished an and-1.

Brunson gets the points. Hartenstein, for those who care about the analytics, gets the screen assist. And Anunoby gets … nothing, other than a stamp of approval from DiVincenzo.

“You look at the guys on the team, on any team, that don’t cut and just stand the entire time — you’re almost saying, ‘You have to pass me the ball,’ ” DiVincenzo said. “I think what not just him but what we’ve been good at is doing those cuts. … You’re just saying to your teammates, I’m trying to do whatever it takes to win.”

The trade for Anunoby, which sent RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Toronto Raptors, transformed the New York Knicks’ identity. And for all the talk of a remodeled defense that includes one of the world’s most versatile stoppers, habits morphed on the other side, too.

The Knicks were 20-3 and performed like the league’s stingiest squad when Anunoby was in the lineup during the regular season. Yet, the offense also revved up when he was present, scoring 7.5 more points per 100 possessions while he was in the game, according to Cleaning the Glass.

Anunoby is dynamite shooting from the corners. He streaks in transition, but don’t ignore his activity once the Knicks commit to their half-court attack.

When a defender leaves the back door open, Anunoby notices it. He’ll dart to the rim or create 3-pointers for himself just because he understands spacing and how to respond to defense. Anunoby deploys his powers as he did against the Kings when he’s somehow essential to a play that at first glance doesn’t appear to involve him.

“He’s got a really good feel for it,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He’s very unique in that sense. … He knows how to read defenses and he knows how to attack.”

Come playoff time, DiVincenzo will press that stamp of approval with more vigor.

Improvisational cuts become even more important during the postseason when opponents will key in on every detail of the Knicks offense.

The Knicks, who finished 50-32, second in the Eastern Conference, must wait until Wednesday, when the Philadelphia 76ers face the Miami Heat in the No. 7 versus No. 8 portion of the Play-In Tournament, to learn their first-round opponent.

A date with the Sixers would mean a bash with abundant perimeter defenders, as well as one with reigning MVP Joel Embiid, who controls the paint. Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse remains one of the league’s most flexible, willing to try out imaginative defenses to thwart scorers as dominant as Brunson. He’s familiar with Anunoby, too, considering they overlapped for years in Toronto.

Encountering the Heat, the team that eliminated the Knicks from the playoffs last spring, would bring back memories.

Miami swarmed Brunson during that series, and though the point guard fought through crowds to average more than 30 points in the six-game defeat, the rest of the offense could not support him enough for New York to pull away. Of course, both because of personnel and style, this is not the same Knicks attack as the one from a year ago.

The Knicks have far more 3-point shooting than they did in 2022-23. Brunson is more active off the ball than ever, as The Athletic detailed earlier this month. DiVincenzo is a keen relocater. Josh Hart will cut behind the defense. Hartenstein prefers to catch the basketball on the move.

Whether they’re the Heat’s or the 76ers’, defenders will mob Brunson starting next weekend. That’s when Anunoby’s “sacrificial cuts,” as Hart calls them, become even more significant.

“You can’t game plan for that stuff. I think that’s the biggest thing,” Hart said. “You can sit there and game plan certain plays or certain guys’ style or whatever it is, but when you make those spur-of-the-moment cuts or plays or whatever, it’s hard to defend. It’s hard to scout.”

A postseason series means playing a squad four to seven consecutive times. Players learn their opponents’ tendencies. Coaches jam the other group’s schemes into their guys’ brains. Everyone knows everyone else’s actions.

But when Anunoby takes off, it’s not pre-planned. It’s because he recognizes something faster than the defense does.

“(I look at) which side the ball is being sent to and where my man is,” Anunoby said. “If my man is in the middle watching the ball, I cut through. If the bottom guy messes up and pulls in, I go through. Just know what’s going on, where the ball is.”

I love that quote from DDV.

[knicks1999]

Since we are the 2 seed….do we play the winner or loser tomorrow…..is there a scenario we could play hawks or bulls?

[Deeeez Knicks]

6pm Sat

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[Deeeez Knicks]

Since we are the 2 seed….do we play the winner or loser tomorrow…..is there a scenario we could play hawks or bulls?

We play the winner of the sixers / heat game.

Loser plays the winner of the Hawks/Bulls…whoever wins that plays the Celtics

[knicks1999]

Since we are the 2 seed….do we play the winner or loser tomorrow…..is there a scenario we could play hawks or bulls?

We play the winner of the sixers / heat game.

Loser plays the winner of the Hawks/Bulls…whoever wins that plays the Celtics

Thanks

[HarthorneWingo]

I’ll start.

Who - other than HIM - is key to the success of our playoff run?

Wingo’s choice: Monster Mitch.

Most objective answer I can give is:

It takes a village

My fan answer:

OG

After Brunson he is the biggest key to our playoff success on BOTH ends of the court. If he can average 18 PPG while chopping away at the scoring opportunities of the people he defends, he's going to be a monster net positive player in these playoffs.

The thing that is great about OG is you can't measure his full defensive impact by opponent shots missed. He literally stops people from even taking shots and drops their FGA's per game which doesn't show up in the box score.

Agree with your initial response. We really do need everyone playing well if we want to get to the ECF … or damn close to it.

I just hope that we play smart and with confidence. No tight-asses allowed.