PG: The Josh Hart Game

[SelbyCobra]

It's been said a bunch already in his tenure, but Hart really is a lot like Starks. What I love though is that it isn't a direct comparison between the two and their personalities, primarily because Josh is self-aware that he's playing a John Starks role. Anyone who remembers those 90's Knicks teams well knows that, while Starks was the heart and soul of the team, he was miscast as a #2 and had no guard rails to keep his fiery temper and emotional outbursts under control - he was sort of in new territory and given just enough rope to hang himself at times.

Josh knows Starks, has him as a mentor in the organization, and has an acute understanding of the boundaries of what being the heart and soul of a team means - something that John just didn't have. That role is so much more clearly defined in this day and age, and Hart has refined his own game since coming to NY in pursuit of excelling at it specifically. Hart wearing #3, talking sh*t, playing to the crowd, and doing everything that personifies hustle - and in big spots - while simultaneously knowing when and how to reel it in, calm it down, don't take the shot, make the extra pass, and not feel the burden on his own shoulders, is a beautiful thing.

Since becoming a Knick, Hart's minutes have gone up, but the rate at which he fouls has gone down. The rate of his scoring is not as high as it was earlier in his career, but his asst/TO ratio is the best it's ever been. He's had all 8 of his career triple doubles since becoming a Knick, and he's highly efficient. And he's done it all while diving, shoving, screaming, getting in the opposition's faces, playing to exhaustion, and then finding more to give when it matters most. As someone who grew up loving Starks, watching Hart fill that same space but with more measured control is really satisfying.

[spree2kawhi]

Sit back and relax, post some thoughts and watch Randle crumble on the road

Is that a mod derailing this beautiful thread?

[Parraknick]

It’s been said but I’ll reiterate.

Orlando, despite their injuries, keep games close if they lose and have had some good wins recently.

Wins against Boston, Philly, Phoenix, Miami … and a close loss to OKC, in their last 10 games.

They clearly disrupt any squad they go against and we’ll continue to grow from these kind of tough wins.

[blueNorange]

past 2 games knicks first gave wemby the open 30 footers knowing he’d take them and now played into the magic not allowing them to shoot threes and by doing that had open space in the mid range game.

thibs half time adjustments have been money this season

[K_ick_God]

This team is the most fun I have had as a Knicks fan since 1999. I love the entire roster. The winning. The traveling home games. The energy and the passion they bring is awesome. The BBIQ. There really is nothing to complain about outside of some crazy minutes at this point.

21-10
3 seed
The sky is the limit with this group. I fear no team!!

Not with Brunson and towns on defense Im afraid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We couldn’t stop Jalen suggs and goga when Brunson and towns were on the floor together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just imagine what the Celtics, Cavs thunder etc will do to those two!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Until Thibs figured out a solution the Brunson&towns defensive tandem will continue to get exposed at embarrassing levels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Besart19]

we play a lot of b2b's over the next couple weeks...the first half was good mins distribution but the second half a lot of our guys went the whole way.

We gotta pick and choose and trust some more bench in the 2nd leg of the b2b's.

McBride, Shamet and Precious can and should play with other 3 or 4 starters

[Besart19]

Brunson hasn’t made a 3 in 3 consecutive games (0-12) wonder when the last time that happened

Still yet great game by him

his hand isnt right yet

[Knicks365247]

It's been said a bunch already in his tenure, but Hart really is a lot like Starks. What I love though is that it isn't a direct comparison between the two and their personalities, primarily because Josh is self-aware that he's playing a John Starks role. Anyone who remembers those 90's Knicks teams well knows that, while Starks was the heart and soul of the team, he was miscast as a #2 and had no guard rails to keep his fiery temper and emotional outbursts under control - he was sort of in new territory and given just enough rope to hang himself at times.

Josh knows Starks, has him as a mentor in the organization, and has an acute understanding of the boundaries of what being the heart and soul of a team means - something that John just didn't have. That role is so much more clearly defined in this day and age, and Hart has refined his own game since coming to NY in pursuit of excelling at it specifically. Hart wearing #3, talking sh*t, playing to the crowd, and doing everything that personifies hustle - and in big spots - while simultaneously knowing when and how to reel it in, calm it down, don't take the shot, make the extra pass, and not feel the burden on his own shoulders, is a beautiful thing.

Since becoming a Knick, Hart's minutes have gone up, but the rate at which he fouls has gone down. The rate of his scoring is not as high as it was earlier in his career, but his asst/TO ratio is the best it's ever been. He's had all 8 of his career triple doubles since becoming a Knick, and he's highly efficient. And he's done it all while diving, shoving, screaming, getting in the opposition's faces, playing to exhaustion, and then finding more to give when it matters most. As someone who grew up loving Starks, watching Hart fill that same space but with more measured control is really satisfying.

Fantastic post.

Now that we have Laundry Shamwow, the Knicks can't be stopped, they won't be stopped.

[RHODEY]

anyone talking about Jalen Suggs hairline...come on bro just give in and shave it. Its a terrible look.

His hairline makes Trae young's hairline look flawless.

Suggs is Jewish. That’s a Yam-aka on this head. Stop discriminating !!!!

Are you calling me an anti suggite?

[NiceLikeChrist]

this game and the next few should all be easy W's as long as they don't crap their pants

waiting for the 2 OKC games in January to gauge where we are as a team

[Fat Kat]

Hart is playing a Draymond Green role for us. Not as good defensively, but the same type of spark.

[HarthorneWingo]

His hairline makes Trae young's hairline look flawless.

Suggs is Jewish. That’s a Yam-aka on this head. Stop discriminating !!!!

Are you calling me an anti suggite?

If that’s a derogatory term, the “Yes”!

[ScienceOfLosing]

Magic are saying, "Just you wait until we get Hanz and Franz back again!"

[The KnicksFix]

Watch on YouTube

Y’all miss the good ole days of chaos?

[gavran]

So, do some people still think Jalen sucks ?

Yes, Jalen Suggs ass.

[whocares1]

Knicks give up only 31 points in the second half...

Mainly bc the Magic at this point are terrible.

You mean the team that has beaten the Celtics and Heat in the past 3 games and lost the other on a last second shot? Hmm...interesting.

Didn’t think this needed to be explained. The Orlando Magic have the 25th ranked offense in the league including their time with their stars being healthy. At this current moment in time they are playing without their two best players and their best player off the bench. They’ve beaten some respectable teams not by their ability to score which is what my point was. Maybe I should’ve said their offense is terrible but when you talk about a team whose current best player is Jalen Suggs then I don’t think it needed to be explained.

[ScienceOfLosing]

Enjoyed the game. Orlando played hard but our offensive talent and the 2 Pump you Up injured guys were too much as the game went on. Still, I don’t think this team as currently constructed would win a chip. We are still lacking a defensive presence at the basket and come playoffs, I don’t think we just outscore everyone as offense comes and goes.

We are missing our defensive identity as Brunson and Towns just don’t cut it defensively. Even with 2 all star wings, we still need either a PG to defend at the point of attack or (more likely) a center that can protect the rim come playoffs.

I wish we still had IHart or a healthy Mitch (who we most likely move just to have some stability at center.) IHart really should have stayed instead of taking the money. Hate that part of the game, though the money was actually close. I’d like to trade for Kessler still but don’t want to part with our 2 rookies plus a pick most likely. We need to keep them for our bench. But let’s see what the FO does.

[BKlutch]

Brunson hasn’t made a 3 in 3 consecutive games (0-12) wonder when the last time that happened

Still yet great game by him

his hand isnt right yet

True. It’s left.

[BKlutch]

Magic are saying, "Just you wait until we get Hanz and Franz back again!"

The Magic coaches are in the background.

[BKlutch]

Read on Twitter

Hart is amazing. Very unique player especially for his size.

The body cant function without the Hart.

And it also needs a Brain: Jalen Brainson