PG: DO YOU BELIEVE NOW?

[GettinitDone]

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[Garbagelo]

If the Knicks have a good offensive game next game, the series is over

[Spree2Houston]

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The scary thing is his conditioning isn’t 100% yet. He’s playing at 50%. I hope he gets his health right this off-season.

[KNICKS007]

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When you really think about, how could they game plan for mitch when they never really face the Knicks with him in the line up. He played a little in the final match up this season, and we should have won that game.

I don't think they have answer for him, other than to foul him

[Context]

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This is the bottom line. It's how we were able to come back down in back to back games. Our defense is elite. TODAY.

[Besart19]

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Sounds like Tom needs to play Mitch and KAT together a lot more.

No brainer... no team has 5 3pt specialists, plus Mitch can guard at least three positions vs the Cs

And Hart has been a net negative against the Cs since his arrival

Brunson needs to adapt Toney Parkers mentality... facilitate when others can score, try to score only if you are cooking or others cant score to save their jobs

[MrDollarBills]

Where is Brother Stannis? Game time is at 3 tomorrow and we need to keep the dice hot!!!

[MrDollarBills]

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This is the bottom line. It's how we were able to come back down in back to back games. Our defense is elite. TODAY.

See how Mitch forced Tatum into that step back three at the 3:04 mark?

Leave both Mitch and KAT on an island with this guy on a switch and let the chips fall where they may. But stay at HOME on everyone else. No help.

[Context]

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over the last 10 games Celtics are #1 we are #3

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-team-defensive-rating-ranking-last-10-games

Yet, we are up 2-0...The Knicks have clearly turned their defense UP a level against the Celtics.

[MrDollarBills]

Bring in Mitch a little earlier I would say especially if the starters come out flat. Mitch for Hart would probably make the most sense if we were to change anything. But tough to change much when we are up 2-0 but at same time we have to adjust you what's working best

I'd bring Mitch in midway through the first for Josh, let him and Karl finish the quarter, and let Karl rest at the start of the 2nd.

We just gotta find ways to maximize their time on the floor together. I don't think Josh really needs to play 43+ mins if we're being honest.

[thebuzzardman]

i would guess he wants to keep starting hart, who's been one of our better players, and they gave up too much for mikal to bench him.

the starting lineup just hasn't done that well though. -3.7 net rating in the playoffs

the starters and mitch are our 2nd most used lineup and have a net rating off 11.3

i think for now he'll just try to weather the storm of the starters not being perfect together and since we're winning it's ok.

He kind of has to. Also, Thibs has always seemed to have a thing of having bench defenders who he puts in the game situationally and especially trusts more in the 4th quarter.

Besides starters, over the last few years that's been IQ, Grimes, Mitch, Deuce

Kind of needs the secondary/tertiary ballhandling, playoff 3 point shooting, that Hart brings, and is probably saving Mitch for those situations where he helps most. Also, Mitch probably can't effectively play 30 minutes, so Thibs is looking to get that max 22-25 Mitch minutes.

all of this. gonna have to let coach cook here. it’s been earned.

I know Boston had 60 wins, won a chip, Knicks only 5th best NBA record etc etc, but I feel like the media kind of overlooks that the team is actually good.

And losing iShart stunk, and it hurt to lose Donte, BUT:

Knicks FO executed a plan I think they had their eye on for a while.

- They wanted additional height, defensive ability and a better all around game at SG. - That's Mikal.
Did they sacrifice the 3 point gunning of Donte? Yes. Maybe they hoped he'd be here for the bench, but TWolves insisted.
Also, and this will be a theme, Mikal can play the 2, 3 and probably a LITTLE 4, if needed

- They knew they were going to move on from extending or resigning Randle. Randle was a VERY good player for the Knicks.
They replaced him with KAT, as good as a scorer and passer (not as individually creative but better shooter) and importantly, KAT is a stretch 5
But KAT can also play the 4

- When they got OG, they moved on from RJ and IQ, not wanting to pay them and feeling like they had Deuce and other options in the draft barrell
- OG is a great defender; he can also play the 3 or the 4

- When they got Hart, it was getting a Brunson guy, but also a guy who can play 3,4,2

- Hart, OG and Mikal's ability to be multi positional, along with KAT, provides multiple opportunities to sub in Mitch for different guys.
Mostly, he comes in for Hart, but it can be KAT. It could be OG or Mikal going out

- And then Deuce is available for situational guard defense and 3 point shooting.

Can the team get taller at the wing? Absolutely. Would be great if Dadiet and McCullars emerge to provide legit wing height, defense and shooting (more Dadiet than McCullars). Do they need a better backup PG than Cam? Yup.

Team is still pretty good and roster is better than I think the pundits understand.

[MrDollarBills]

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Sounds like Tom needs to play Mitch and KAT together a lot more.

No brainer... no team has 5 3pt specialists, plus Mitch can guard at least three positions vs the Cs

And Hart has been a net negative against the Cs since his arrival

Brunson needs to adapt Toney Parkers mentality... facilitate when others can score, try to score only if you are cooking or others cant score to save their jobs

Brunson definitely needs to keep taking what the defense gives him and then Q4 it's Closer time.

[nedleeds]

where's the game thread? this is dumb

[GettinitDone]

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This is the bottom line. It's how we were able to come back down in back to back games. Our defense is elite. TODAY.

Our team chemistry, camaraderie, and trust on defense are peaking at the right time

[Jeff Van Gully]

He kind of has to. Also, Thibs has always seemed to have a thing of having bench defenders who he puts in the game situationally and especially trusts more in the 4th quarter.

Besides starters, over the last few years that's been IQ, Grimes, Mitch, Deuce

Kind of needs the secondary/tertiary ballhandling, playoff 3 point shooting, that Hart brings, and is probably saving Mitch for those situations where he helps most. Also, Mitch probably can't effectively play 30 minutes, so Thibs is looking to get that max 22-25 Mitch minutes.

all of this. gonna have to let coach cook here. it’s been earned.

I know Boston had 60 wins, won a chip, Knicks only 5th best NBA record etc etc, but I feel like the media kind of overlooks that the team is actually good.

And losing iShart stunk, and it hurt to lose Donte, BUT:

Knicks FO executed a plan I think they had their eye on for a while.

- They wanted additional height, defensive ability and a better all around game at SG. - That's Mikal.
Did they sacrifice the 3 point gunning of Donte? Yes. Maybe they hoped he'd be here for the bench, but TWolves insisted.
Also, and this will be a theme, Mikal can play the 2, 3 and probably a LITTLE 4, if needed

- They knew they were going to move on from extending or resigning Randle. Randle was a VERY good player for the Knicks.
They replaced him with KAT, as good as a scorer and passer (not as individually creative but better shooter) and importantly, KAT is a stretch 5
But KAT can also play the 4

- When they got OG, they moved on from RJ and IQ, not wanting to pay them and feeling like they had Deuce and other options in the draft barrell
- OG is a great defender; he can also play the 3 or the 4

- When they got Hart, it was getting a Brunson guy, but also a guy who can play 3,4,2

- Hart, OG and Mikal's ability to be multi positional, along with KAT, provides multiple opportunities to sub in Mitch for different guys.
Mostly, he comes in for Hart, but it can be KAT. It could be OG or Mikal going out

- And then Deuce is available for situational guard defense and 3 point shooting.

Can the team get taller at the wing? Absolutely. Would be great if Dadiet and McCullars emerge to provide legit wing height, defense and shooting (more Dadiet than McCullars). Do they need a better backup PG than Cam? Yup.

Team is still pretty good and roster is better than I think the pundits understand.

i'm glad you pointed out the yutes. they are the next generation from this machine. and they needed to see this. they'll be ready when it's time. we have baby versions of some key players and roles. i love it.

and, no. they're not ready for what this all is right now. god love them. if healthy, hukporti might be the broken glass backup center mitchy role. but we built this machine for trench warfare and we're in it now.

[GONYK]

all of this. gonna have to let coach cook here. it’s been earned.

I know Boston had 60 wins, won a chip, Knicks only 5th best NBA record etc etc, but I feel like the media kind of overlooks that the team is actually good.

And losing iShart stunk, and it hurt to lose Donte, BUT:

Knicks FO executed a plan I think they had their eye on for a while.

- They wanted additional height, defensive ability and a better all around game at SG. - That's Mikal.
Did they sacrifice the 3 point gunning of Donte? Yes. Maybe they hoped he'd be here for the bench, but TWolves insisted.
Also, and this will be a theme, Mikal can play the 2, 3 and probably a LITTLE 4, if needed

- They knew they were going to move on from extending or resigning Randle. Randle was a VERY good player for the Knicks.
They replaced him with KAT, as good as a scorer and passer (not as individually creative but better shooter) and importantly, KAT is a stretch 5
But KAT can also play the 4

- When they got OG, they moved on from RJ and IQ, not wanting to pay them and feeling like they had Deuce and other options in the draft barrell
- OG is a great defender; he can also play the 3 or the 4

- When they got Hart, it was getting a Brunson guy, but also a guy who can play 3,4,2

- Hart, OG and Mikal's ability to be multi positional, along with KAT, provides multiple opportunities to sub in Mitch for different guys.
Mostly, he comes in for Hart, but it can be KAT. It could be OG or Mikal going out

- And then Deuce is available for situational guard defense and 3 point shooting.

Can the team get taller at the wing? Absolutely. Would be great if Dadiet and McCullars emerge to provide legit wing height, defense and shooting (more Dadiet than McCullars). Do they need a better backup PG than Cam? Yup.

Team is still pretty good and roster is better than I think the pundits understand.

i'm glad you pointed out the yutes. they are the next generation from this machine. and they needed to see this. they'll be ready when it's time. we have baby versions of some key players and roles. i love it.

and, no. they're not ready for what this all is right now. god love them. if healthy, hukporti might be the broken glass backup center mitchy role. but we built this machine for trench warfare and we're in it now.

Everyone sh*ts on the bench, but we're basically a fully actualized Dadiet from being deep.

Who knows if he'll ever get there, but like you said, all the needed archetypes are there (Kolek, Dadiet, Huk)

[Jeff Van Gully]

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our defense hasn't been jail like we've been saying.

it's been hell. like, WW1, erich maria remarque, "war is hell" hell.

it's been the missing and inconsistent piece all season and they finally kind of have it together. scary hours.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

I know Boston had 60 wins, won a chip, Knicks only 5th best NBA record etc etc, but I feel like the media kind of overlooks that the team is actually good.

And losing iShart stunk, and it hurt to lose Donte, BUT:

Knicks FO executed a plan I think they had their eye on for a while.

- They wanted additional height, defensive ability and a better all around game at SG. - That's Mikal.
Did they sacrifice the 3 point gunning of Donte? Yes. Maybe they hoped he'd be here for the bench, but TWolves insisted.
Also, and this will be a theme, Mikal can play the 2, 3 and probably a LITTLE 4, if needed

- They knew they were going to move on from extending or resigning Randle. Randle was a VERY good player for the Knicks.
They replaced him with KAT, as good as a scorer and passer (not as individually creative but better shooter) and importantly, KAT is a stretch 5
But KAT can also play the 4

- When they got OG, they moved on from RJ and IQ, not wanting to pay them and feeling like they had Deuce and other options in the draft barrell
- OG is a great defender; he can also play the 3 or the 4

- When they got Hart, it was getting a Brunson guy, but also a guy who can play 3,4,2

- Hart, OG and Mikal's ability to be multi positional, along with KAT, provides multiple opportunities to sub in Mitch for different guys.
Mostly, he comes in for Hart, but it can be KAT. It could be OG or Mikal going out

- And then Deuce is available for situational guard defense and 3 point shooting.

Can the team get taller at the wing? Absolutely. Would be great if Dadiet and McCullars emerge to provide legit wing height, defense and shooting (more Dadiet than McCullars). Do they need a better backup PG than Cam? Yup.

Team is still pretty good and roster is better than I think the pundits understand.

i'm glad you pointed out the yutes. they are the next generation from this machine. and they needed to see this. they'll be ready when it's time. we have baby versions of some key players and roles. i love it.

and, no. they're not ready for what this all is right now. god love them. if healthy, hukporti might be the broken glass backup center mitchy role. but we built this machine for trench warfare and we're in it now.

Everyone sh*ts on the bench, but we're basically a fully actualized Dadiet from being deep.

Who knows if he'll ever get there, but like you said, all the needed archetypes are there (Kolek, Dadiet, Huk)

Most people want a bench creator though, someone who just comes in and gets buckets. But, I am with you in that I want another wing off the bench, we need just one more 6'6+" guy with versatility.

[Jeff Van Gully]

i'm glad you pointed out the yutes. they are the next generation from this machine. and they needed to see this. they'll be ready when it's time. we have baby versions of some key players and roles. i love it.

and, no. they're not ready for what this all is right now. god love them. if healthy, hukporti might be the broken glass backup center mitchy role. but we built this machine for trench warfare and we're in it now.

Everyone sh*ts on the bench, but we're basically a fully actualized Dadiet from being deep.

Who knows if he'll ever get there, but like you said, all the needed archetypes are there (Kolek, Dadiet, Huk)

Most people want a bench creator though, someone who just comes in and gets buckets. But, I am with you in that I want another wing off the bench, we need just one more 6'6+" guy with versatility.

we'll get him. we did all we could with this roster in short order in one offseason. hats off to the FO.

[Jeff Van Gully]

If the Knicks have a good offensive game next game, the series is over

i don't like to look ahead like that at all. but, word. caveat, if we maintain this defensive execution and intensity.

speaking of looking ahead, where is our great warrior king? it's time.