PG: Knicks vs. Celtics: At least that 3rd quarter was encouraging...

[Guano]

It feels like people are hoping Mitch doesn’t fix anything just so Thibs gets fired

Sometimes it's worth suffering to watch those you hate suffer more. Life is like that.

Americans in a nutshell

We take credit for a lot of things we didn't invent but we're not gonna act as if the Germans didn't invent the word schadenfreude

[mpharris36]

I know we can’t really trust Mitch’s health, but as far as roster balance goes this sure does help.

Josh’s bench production will help stabilize that 2nd unit and you can play him as a point forward which
will allow Deuce and Cam to be scorers rather than facilitators.

Just gotta hope the medical team has a sound plan to keep him healthy, at the very least we get to see this team with a traditional anchor and make decisions going forward based on the results.

Mitch is going to be on a strict minutes cap for a while is my guess...not sure he goes into the starting lineup right away. Also Mitch probably doesn't finish games. Hart is going to be on the court at end of the game he is too important to the team, and Mitch liability at the FT line.

So Thibs is going to have to figure out end of game defense with KAT at the 5 because that is our most likely finishing lineup. So more switching is necessary whether he likes it or not.

I actually think we’ll close out games with Mitch once he’s in game shape

Brunson Hart Bridges Anunoby Robinson

you're in la la land if you think one of our all-starters is going to be ridding pine at the end of the game

[Spree2Houston]

Mitch is going to be on a strict minutes cap for a while is my guess...not sure he goes into the starting lineup right away. Also Mitch probably doesn't finish games. Hart is going to be on the court at end of the game he is too important to the team, and Mitch liability at the FT line.

So Thibs is going to have to figure out end of game defense with KAT at the 5 because that is our most likely finishing lineup. So more switching is necessary whether he likes it or not.

I actually think we’ll close out games with Mitch once he’s in game shape

Brunson Hart Bridges Anunoby Robinson

you're in la la land if you think one of our all-starters is going to be ridding pine at the end of the game

I mean it’s already happened in the playoffs vs the Mavs. It probably will happen again

[GettinitDone]

I wouldn't be shocked with all the media criticisms lately that they're not contenders/ just pretenders, and coupled with Mitch's return, they're gonna string together 7-12 straight wins including some of the "big" wins vs Memphis, Warriors (twice), and Lakers... that will fool us one more time this team is for real, and saves Thibs' job for at least until next season's first few months

But I won't EVER get excited anymore until this team wins against one of Celtics, Cavs, or Thunder (won't meet them anymore damn unless Finals which we're not reaching), or at least until they play like a well oiled machine offensively and play shut down defense, even then I'll want them to win vs Celtics or Cavs which we won't face anymore until April

[prophet_of_rage]

Yeah, I don't think you can make a great defense out of KAT at the 5. But with Bridges, OG, and Hart next to him; being liberal about switches seems like the most reasonable way to try and cover for his flaws. KAT is terrible in drop coverage, and only nominally better at showing and getting back. So, back to the drawing board with what's been tried so far.

I think Thibs just wants to run a consistent defensive system and may have always been waiting to slot Mitch back in instead of running a different scheme all season then switching it up when we get to the playoffs.

YMMV on whether that is a sound process, but the record and seeding are more or less fine, so there hasn't been any real repercussions.

A consistent defense system built around a guy that hasnt played all season and isn't trust worthy to stay healthy even when he comes back?

How about you built your system around the personnel you do have?

On top of all that we acquired KAT lay in off-season where he wasn't playing much drop coverage for a couple years next to Gobert. So why would you force him into a coverage he's not good at that he hasn't been playing for years?

We got KAT right at the start of training camp. No opportunity to change the scheme with him in mind. Then we know there aren't many consistent enough practiced for new schemes.

We have the best traveling system for us. Then we'll see what happens when playoffs come and they gameplan against specific matchups.

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[prophet_of_rage]

I don't think people are hearing what we're saying on Thibs. He's either building his shrine or digging his grave with how he's managed things this year. Either way, we get to move forward.

Thibs integrates Mitch so we have a high level team that's a playoff contender = hooray! we have a contender!

It's a mess and/or Mitch gets injured again and we're a pretender = the brass will have their answer and we can move forward.

Yup, and for better or worse, I think it would be a bit foolish to think Thibs hasn't done the math on this already. He lives and dies on his evaluation of what the game demands. He didn't come to his conclusions haphazardly. We all know he's watching film all day and night.

If he's going down, he's doing it his way.

do you think we move off of Thibs after a 50 something win season and a 2nd round exit?

No. Because we don't have a full roster and made money.

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[mpharris36]

I think Thibs just wants to run a consistent defensive system and may have always been waiting to slot Mitch back in instead of running a different scheme all season then switching it up when we get to the playoffs.

YMMV on whether that is a sound process, but the record and seeding are more or less fine, so there hasn't been any real repercussions.

A consistent defense system built around a guy that hasnt played all season and isn't trust worthy to stay healthy even when he comes back?

How about you built your system around the personnel you do have?

On top of all that we acquired KAT lay in off-season where he wasn't playing much drop coverage for a couple years next to Gobert. So why would you force him into a coverage he's not good at that he hasn't been playing for years?

We got KAT right at the start of training camp. No opportunity to change the scheme with him in mind. Then we know there aren't many consistent enough practiced for new schemes.

We have the best traveling system for us. Then we'll see what happens when playoffs come and they gameplan against specific matchups.

Sent from my SM-S9080 using RealGM mobile app

so you agree with playing the most drop coverage vs the Celtics? You think that gives us the best chance to win?

[HopelessKnick]

I know we can’t really trust Mitch’s health, but as far as roster balance goes this sure does help.

Josh’s bench production will help stabilize that 2nd unit and you can play him as a point forward which
will allow Deuce and Cam to be scorers rather than facilitators.

Just gotta hope the medical team has a sound plan to keep him healthy, at the very least we get to see this team with a traditional anchor and make decisions going forward based on the results.

Mitch is going to be on a strict minutes cap for a while is my guess...not sure he goes into the starting lineup right away. Also Mitch probably doesn't finish games. Hart is going to be on the court at end of the game he is too important to the team, and Mitch liability at the FT line.

So Thibs is going to have to figure out end of game defense with KAT at the 5 because that is our most likely finishing lineup. So more switching is necessary whether he likes it or not.

I actually think we’ll close out games with Mitch once he’s in game shape

Brunson Hart Bridges Anunoby Robinson

Yeah same here....I have a hard time seeing KAT finishing games. We essentially can't hide both JB and KAT, especially not against the top teams. The hope would be that the offense is good enough to keep up with the Celtics. The way Bridges and OG have been playing on offense it is really hard to see them keeping up with Boston but maybe they'll surprise us.

I want to see how the big line-up with KAT and Mitch matches up with Boston but I'll remain somewhat sceptical. It could only potentially work if we completely hammer and dominate them on the boards....otherwise the Celtics are too skilled and too quick.

[HopelessKnick]

Maybe a small note of encouragement:

The T-Wolves played the Celtics twice last season. Both teams were mostly healthy (Derrick White missed one game and Gobert missed the other game). The two games both went to overtime and both teams won one game. In the second game, which Boston won in overtime, they needed a 45points performance by Tatum as well as a 35point performance by Brown to win---both shot the ball very well.

KAT had a bad game where he scored in single digits and a solid second game where he got like 25points/13rebounds/6assists---unfortunately he fouled out in both games...maybe reflecting his difficulties against the Celtics.

My minimum hope is that Mitch is going to make future games much more competitive....

[robillionaire]

It feels like people are hoping Mitch doesn’t fix anything just so Thibs gets fired

Sometimes it's worth suffering to watch those you hate suffer more. Life is like that.

I hope Thibs gets fired so I can start coming at people when we don’t win the championship after he’s fired. I’m thinking 2 moves ahead