Tim Legler: "Jalen Brunson Will Not Be A Differance Maker"

[Clyde_Style]

It's not Brunsons fault that the only one spacing the floor is Fourni3r. If the paint wasn't so crowded he would be able to be more of a difference maker.

That said he will still be a difference maker - cause his D looks bad. Getting cooked by McConnell was really disappointing.

You really are going to die on Fournier Hill aren't you?

He's right though.

Assuming Brunson is the primary ball-handler, the Knicks in 2022 really have only one legit floor spacer.

If Randle and/or RJ can shoot in the high-30s/40s again like they did two years ago, then that changes things.

They will shoot better by not being the primary ball handlers

Brunson and Fournier is a defensive wreck of Titanic proportions and since Brunson will start no matter what you have to put Fournier on the second unit

Do otherwise and this team will be playing come from behind ball after most first quarters. Brunson's defense sucks ass and so does Fournier's

[Chanel Bomber]

You really are going to die on Fournier Hill aren't you?

He's right though.

Assuming Brunson is the primary ball-handler, the Knicks in 2022 really have only one legit floor spacer.

If Randle and/or RJ can shoot in the high-30s/40s again like they did two years ago, then that changes things.

They will shoot better by not being the primary ball handlers

Brunson and Fournier is a defensive wreck of Titanic proportions and since Brunson will start no matter what you have to put Fournier on the second unit

Do otherwise and this team will be playing come from behind ball after most first quarters. Brunson's defense sucks ass and so does Fournier's

When you accumulate average NBA players that's what you get. They're often only good on one end of the floor, if that.

The Knicks are mediocre in almost every role. Lead ball-handler, shot creator, floor spacer, 3&D...

Our strengths (when Randle doesn't play like a star) are our collective defense with Thibs at the helm, and our bench. It will continue.

[KnicksGadfly]

Easiest ways Brunson will help this team:
1. Don’t be Kemba
2. Don’t be Elfrid
3. Take the ball from Randle
4. Get guys easier shots
5. Lead

I’m optimistic. What the Knicks have to do now is figure out the long term plan. There’s a chance we treadmill.

[Clyde_Style]

He's right though.

Assuming Brunson is the primary ball-handler, the Knicks in 2022 really have only one legit floor spacer.

If Randle and/or RJ can shoot in the high-30s/40s again like they did two years ago, then that changes things.

They will shoot better by not being the primary ball handlers

Brunson and Fournier is a defensive wreck of Titanic proportions and since Brunson will start no matter what you have to put Fournier on the second unit

Do otherwise and this team will be playing come from behind ball after most first quarters. Brunson's defense sucks ass and so does Fournier's

When you accumulate average NBA players that's what you get. They're often only good on one end of the floor, if that.

The Knicks are mediocre in almost every role. Lead ball-handler, shot creator, floor spacer, 3&D...

Our strengths (when Randle doesn't play like a star) are our collective defense with Thibs at the helm, and our bench. It will continue.

RJ plays defense. Randle can play defense, but needs a coach who will hold him accountable. Grimes plays defense. Mitch plays defense.

We have defenders, but we also have huge holes in our defensive talent and an accountability problem.

[Chanel Bomber]

They will shoot better by not being the primary ball handlers

Brunson and Fournier is a defensive wreck of Titanic proportions and since Brunson will start no matter what you have to put Fournier on the second unit

Do otherwise and this team will be playing come from behind ball after most first quarters. Brunson's defense sucks ass and so does Fournier's

When you accumulate average NBA players that's what you get. They're often only good on one end of the floor, if that.

The Knicks are mediocre in almost every role. Lead ball-handler, shot creator, floor spacer, 3&D...

Our strengths (when Randle doesn't play like a star) are our collective defense with Thibs at the helm, and our bench. It will continue.

RJ plays defense. Randle can play defense, but needs a coach who will hold him accountable. Grimes plays defense. Mitch plays defense.

We have defenders, but we also have huge holes in our defensive talent and an accountability problem.

Yes, we have the personel to have a good defense, and Thibs is good at building a solid defense.

But these players are limited/inefficient offensively, so there's a trade-off. With Fournier it's the same, just the other way around.

We need one of Randle, Brunson or RJ to play like an elite NBA player offensively. Then the spacing around them is sub-optimal, but at least that'd give you something to build around.

[Clyde_Style]

When you accumulate average NBA players that's what you get. They're often only good on one end of the floor, if that.

The Knicks are mediocre in almost every role. Lead ball-handler, shot creator, floor spacer, 3&D...

Our strengths (when Randle doesn't play like a star) are our collective defense with Thibs at the helm, and our bench. It will continue.

RJ plays defense. Randle can play defense, but needs a coach who will hold him accountable. Grimes plays defense. Mitch plays defense.

We have defenders, but we also have huge holes in our defensive talent and an accountability problem.

Yes, we have the personel to have a good defense, and Thibs is good at building a solid defense.

But these players are limited/inefficient offensively, so there's a trade-off. With Fournier it's the same, just the other way around.

We need one of Randle, Brunson or RJ to play like an elite NBA player offensively. Then the spacing around them is sub-optimal, but at least that'd give you something to build around.

Your executioner RJ is working on it

[Chanel Bomber]

RJ plays defense. Randle can play defense, but needs a coach who will hold him accountable. Grimes plays defense. Mitch plays defense.

We have defenders, but we also have huge holes in our defensive talent and an accountability problem.

Yes, we have the personel to have a good defense, and Thibs is good at building a solid defense.

But these players are limited/inefficient offensively, so there's a trade-off. With Fournier it's the same, just the other way around.

We need one of Randle, Brunson or RJ to play like an elite NBA player offensively. Then the spacing around them is sub-optimal, but at least that'd give you something to build around.

Your executioner RJ is working on it

We'll see. If he becomes an elite scorer it changes everything for the Knicks.

The Knicks aren't going anywhere without one.

[FrozenEnvelope]

I think Brunson will add about 5 more wins. Just having him handle the ball instead of Randle or someone else in the final 5 minutes of a game will be huge. We lost a ton of games last season because we couldn't even run a play in the last few minutes. Brunson will help but as he said, he's not the savior.

[robillionaire]

It's not Brunsons fault that the only one spacing the floor is Fourni3r. If the paint wasn't so crowded he would be able to be more of a difference maker.

That said he will still be a difference maker - cause his D looks bad. Getting cooked by McConnell was really disappointing.

You really are going to die on Fournier Hill aren't you?

He's right though.

Assuming Brunson is the primary ball-handler, the Knicks in 2022 really have only one legit floor spacer.

If Randle and/or RJ can shoot in the high-30s/40s again like they did two years ago, then that changes things.

So you’re saying we should start Hartenstein, very compelling argument!

[j4remi]

Stability matters and he’ll provide that, so yes he’s a difference maker. But legler’s not wrong that the Knicks are still chasing a playoff spot rather than assured one. I think Brunson and a healthy rose (for most of the season at least) gets New York in…but it’s far from guaranteed.

[cgf]

Depends on what you mean by difference maker. He's a huge upgrade at a position that we've needed competence from for decades...which will make a big difference for us...but is he a guy who will decide games in our favor on his own, night after night, or guarantee us a playoff spot? No. But that's ok, that's not what we need him to be.

[G_K_F]

Why is it when someone doesn’t praise an awful franchise with the worst W/L record in the entire NBA over 22 years they are considered ‘anti-Knicks’?

The Kings are rightfully treated like jokes but nobody here cares and also joins in on the Kings bashing.

Grow thicker skin. You’re New Yorkers. The team is bad. You’re not going to be praised when you’re bad.

[Guano]

He's right though.

Assuming Brunson is the primary ball-handler, the Knicks in 2022 really have only one legit floor spacer.

If Randle and/or RJ can shoot in the high-30s/40s again like they did two years ago, then that changes things.

They will shoot better by not being the primary ball handlers

Brunson and Fournier is a defensive wreck of Titanic proportions and since Brunson will start no matter what you have to put Fournier on the second unit

Do otherwise and this team will be playing come from behind ball after most first quarters. Brunson's defense sucks ass and so does Fournier's

When you accumulate average NBA players that's what you get. They're often only good on one end of the floor, if that.

The Knicks are mediocre in almost every role. Lead ball-handler, shot creator, floor spacer, 3&D...

Our strengths (when Randle doesn't play like a star) are our collective defense with Thibs at the helm, and our bench. It will continue.

We have a team full of role players only thing we're missing is the stars.

[RHODEY]

Watch on YouTube

Always considered Legler to be one of the more knowledgeable guys at Espn but I noticed he seems to be anti Knicks like the rest of em

Brian Windhorst my guy !

Legler never seemed anti Knicks to me. Out of all of those clowns he's been one of the few to call things fairly. I just think his definition of moving the needle is different than Windhorst's. He mentioned "contention".... so yeah Brunson doesn't make us that.

But I agree with Windhorst in that he's a huge upgrade at PG that will net us at least few more wins (or possibly more) in the ultra tough East.

[Gravy]

How is the east so much better when most of the league is supposedly tanking for Wemby? Which one is it

[rajajackal]

from what i've seen jalen brunson is on the cusp of being a pretty well rounded floor spacer. his 3 looks good, and i'm confident he'll work hard enough to make that a consistent skill. i do think we need to start grimes for backcourt defense and additional ballhandling. fournier is a great 3 pt shooter, but grimes is very good as well and brings other valuable tools to the SL

[Chanel Bomber]

How is the east so much better when most of the league is supposedly tanking for Wemby? Which one is it

I think there will be a split where the pool of competitive teams is better as a whole and the bad teams are even worse.

The trade deadline will be interesting. There should be few sellers, which will only widen the gap.

[blueNorange]

well if randle still brings the ball up the court then yeah brunson will just be a 5 foot tall player that's weak defensively.

[Synciere]

I voted yes, but only in relation to what we've had for a while

He's a solid PG. Nothing special, but he's shown steady growth the last 2 years, so I don't think last year was just a fluke for him

But I don't think he's good enough to elevate a bad team to a contender or anything, just provide a steady hand at PG, like a Mike Conley type, at least offensively

If he were better on defense, he might be more of a difference maker.

I agree with this post, which is why I voted no.

[KnicksGadfly]

How is the east so much better when most of the league is supposedly tanking for Wemby? Which one is it

Narrator: In Gravy's world, there are only 8 teams in the East. Either all 8 are tanking for Wemby, or all 8 are trying to improve and go for the playoffs.

RealGM posters: should we tell him?

KnicksGadly: Nah, just make random posts like this