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5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far

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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#21 » by RHODEY » Sat Nov 2, 2024 5:55 pm

KnixinSix wrote:Not necessarily what we expected like KAT being really good from 3 or Bridges playing strong D per se but what you didn’t expect to see but has opened your eyes a bit in KATs and Bridges potential in our system.....

Here's mine:

1.KATs passing. Had no idea it was this good and I think Thibs is designing a system to fully take advantage of it (as we saw last night). We thought we were going to miss IHarts passing from a big, well KAT is even better.

2.KATs tougness offensively.Drives to the hoop vs good defenders, and especially his tough rebounding in traffic and strong putbacks in traffic. He hasnt backed down in this regard and looks anything but soft (at least offensively).

3.Bridges ultra efficient mid range game. I am blown away by how money his turnaround game is. Both the fadeaway jumper and the turnaround jump shots. He is so sudden with those moves and with his long arms and high point release it almost never gets blocked and he is very accurate with that shot. This is a dynamic that will be a huge addition to this offense.

4. BONUS: The elite ball movement with our starters . Looks so so good thus far. I expected it to improve but not quite this much. I loved Randle but sorry that would simply not be the case if Randle was still here pounding the ball into the court for 9 seconds every other possession. That slows everyone down and gets them out of rythym. Ball is like not sticking AT ALL. Sure a few ISOs here and there but not with ball stagnation and ball stopping for more than a few seconds occasionally.


Nice post....I have to say I didn't expect not to miss what Ragu would have given us off the bench ..but Deuce has made me do just that. He doesn't play like Ragu but his confidence, defense, and that near automatic calm jumper is truly something to behold.
And unlike Ragu he doesn't become inconsistent with less minutes. He's a true keeper and easily the best contract in the entire NBA.
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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#22 » by Clyde_Style » Sat Nov 2, 2024 8:16 pm

This team has more variables to play with on offense because both KAT and Bridges move well off the ball and can score and pass from anywhere on the court more than the guys they replaced.

And they are both better on defense as well.

I always expected KAT to be dealt for, but he's much better than his detractors were trying to portray him.

He was always going to be an upgrade over Randle, but he's a leap ahead of Randle. He's superior in almost all facets of the game.

We might have contended with Randle (if he showed up in the playoffs), but now it is certain we will contend with KAT.
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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#23 » by sol537 » Sat Nov 2, 2024 8:46 pm

KAT, JB, and Bridges should strive do be the most dominant top 3 offensive combo in the league. They are capable.
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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#24 » by KOA » Sat Nov 2, 2024 9:25 pm

KnixinSix wrote:
Context wrote:
KnixinSix wrote:
That is really it right here. There is really nothing this team is missing except for the times a matchup will call for elite rim protection more often. However even that should be mitigated by the return of Mitch Rob and Precious (or a trade).

I am not being a homer when I say this but I do believe this team NOW has the talent (and eventual team chemistry) to be the best team in the NBA and yes better than the Celtics.

2000%
I think Mitch is watching the games -watching Kat and thinking -I cant wait to get back and do my part. For some reason my
desire to trade Mitch has left me.


I love Mitch as a fit for the remaining thing we may need but dang....he just so injury prone. Like Kessler, Richards or Poetl give us more stability from a health standpoint.

Poetl supposedly is available and we have some interesting pieces to give them if they want to go into rebuld mode.

Poetl is 19.5M over next 2 years

Mitchell Robinson(14.3)+ Dadiet (1.8)+ Sims (2.1)+ Payne or Kolek (2.1 or 3M)+ possible draft picks (if it is Payne vs Kolek) for Poetl

-OR-

Mitchell Robinson(14.3)+Precious(6M)+ Dadiet (1.8) and a 1st rd Pick for Poetl (19.5)+ C/PF Bruno Fernando (2.4M)

We have to give more salary than we take back but stay within 10%. Toronto is below 1st apron so they can take up more salary.

Ainge supposedly REALLY likes Dadiet too. We give him something like Dadiet plus some other stuff, that might work.


You seriously want to give up all our remaining assets for Jakob Poetl? This has got to be one of the worst trade proposals I’ve seen in a long time….
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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#25 » by KOA » Sat Nov 2, 2024 9:29 pm

Biggest surprise by far is the reduced iso play. Could easily have seen Thibs just have each guy taking turns getting their own on offense. Instead, the ball is moving seamlessly leading to the second highest team FG% in the league behind the undefeated Cavs
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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#26 » by spree2kawhi » Sat Nov 2, 2024 9:43 pm

KOA wrote:Biggest surprise by far is the reduced iso play. Could easily have seen Thibs just have each guy taking turns getting their own on offense. Instead, the ball is moving seamlessly leading to the second highest team FG% in the league behind the undefeated Cavs

That’s what the Randle homers didn’t want to believe. I actually like Randle’s attitude, but not his basketball IQ. He changes everything with his ball dominant ways and it’s not for the better.
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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#27 » by spree2kawhi » Sat Nov 2, 2024 10:35 pm

One more thing: ability is not the same as averages. I think we’ve all seen enough this quickly to understand that Towns’s 3 apg are no indication of his real passing ability. He will not stop the ball. That is a quality that made the Warriors multiple champions. It is winning basketball.

Btw it is also one of Ant Edwards’s strengths, which is why they went to the WCF together. Brunson, OG, Bridges, Hart, McBride all share this ability, too. That’s good… an upgrade from last season’s team.
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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#28 » by Context » Sat Nov 2, 2024 10:46 pm

spree2kawhi wrote:One more thing: ability is not the same as averages. I think we’ve all seen enough this quickly to understand that Towns’s 3 apg are no indication of his real passing ability. He will not stop the ball. That is a quality that made the Warriors multiple champions. It is winning basketball.

Btw it is also one of Ant Edwards’s strengths, which is why they went to the WCF together. Brunson, OG, Bridges, Hart, McBride all share this ability, too. That’s good… an upgrade from last season’s team.

this is what stands out to me as being a major part of this teams identity.
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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#29 » by Context » Sat Nov 2, 2024 11:31 pm

Read on Twitter
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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#30 » by BKlutch » Sat Nov 2, 2024 11:46 pm

Context wrote:
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Find better players than are currently available in the NBA.
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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#31 » by KnixinSix » Sun Nov 3, 2024 1:07 am

KOA wrote:
KnixinSix wrote:
Context wrote:2000%
I think Mitch is watching the games -watching Kat and thinking -I cant wait to get back and do my part. For some reason my
desire to trade Mitch has left me.


I love Mitch as a fit for the remaining thing we may need but dang....he just so injury prone. Like Kessler, Richards or Poetl give us more stability from a health standpoint.

Poetl supposedly is available and we have some interesting pieces to give them if they want to go into rebuld mode.

Poetl is 19.5M over next 2 years

Mitchell Robinson(14.3)+ Dadiet (1.8)+ Sims (2.1)+ Payne or Kolek (2.1 or 3M)+ possible draft picks (if it is Payne vs Kolek) for Poetl

-OR-

Mitchell Robinson(14.3)+Precious(6M)+ Dadiet (1.8) and a 1st rd Pick for Poetl (19.5)+ C/PF Bruno Fernando (2.4M)

We have to give more salary than we take back but stay within 10%. Toronto is below 1st apron so they can take up more salary.

Ainge supposedly REALLY likes Dadiet too. We give him something like Dadiet plus some other stuff, that might work.


You seriously want to give up all our remaining assets for Jakob Poetl? This has got to be one of the worst trade proposals I’ve seen in a long time….


Jakob Poetl is a perfect backup Center to KAT. He can score, he passes very well and is not super injury prone like Mitch. He is also decent to very good defensively.
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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#32 » by KnixinSix » Sun Nov 3, 2024 1:10 am

spree2kawhi wrote:One more thing: ability is not the same as averages. I think we’ve all seen enough this quickly to understand that Towns’s 3 apg are no indication of his real passing ability. He will not stop the ball. That is a quality that made the Warriors multiple champions. It is winning basketball.

Btw it is also one of Ant Edwards’s strengths, which is why they went to the WCF together. Brunson, OG, Bridges, Hart, McBride all share this ability, too. That’s good… an upgrade from last season’s team.


KAT is the better fit here vs Randle. And it should become even more evident (if it isn't already for some) once they fully gel. This free flowing offense is a revelation already really.
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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#33 » by KnixinSix » Sun Nov 3, 2024 1:11 am

Clyde_Style wrote:This team has more variables to play with on offense because both KAT and Bridges move well off the ball and can score and pass from anywhere on the court more than the guys they replaced.

And they are both better on defense as well.

I always expected KAT to be dealt for, but he's much better than his detractors were trying to portray him.

He was always going to be an upgrade over Randle, but he's a leap ahead of Randle. He's superior in almost all facets of the game.

We might have contended with Randle (if he showed up in the playoffs), but now it is certain we will contend with KAT.


Well Randle has not been a good playoff performer so he would need to drastically improve in Minny.
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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#34 » by prophet_of_rage » Sun Nov 3, 2024 1:25 am

I don't think anything is surprising. They are all playing as advertised and as they did if you watched other NBA games. Getting KAT touches in the post and getti g Brunson off the ball do wonders for the Knicks.

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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#35 » by prophet_of_rage » Sun Nov 3, 2024 1:28 am

spree2kawhi wrote:
KnixinSix wrote:Not necessarily what we expected like KAT being really good from 3 or Bridges playing strong D per se but what you didn’t expect to see but has opened your eyes a bit in KATs and Bridges potential in our system.....

Here's mine:

1.KATs passing. Had no idea it was this good and I think Thibs is designing a system to fully take advantage of it (as we saw last night). We thought we were going to miss IHarts passing from a big, well KAT is even better.

2.KATs tougness offensively.Drives to the hoop vs good defenders, and especially his tough rebounding in traffic and strong putbacks in traffic. He hasnt backed down in this regard and looks anything but soft (at least offensively).

3.Bridges ultra efficient mid range game. I am blown away by how money his turnaround game is. Both the fadeaway jumper and the turnaround jump shots. He is so sudden with those moves and with his long arms and high point release it almost never gets blocked and he is very accurate with that shot. This is a dynamic that will be a huge addition to this offense.

4. BONUS: The elite ball movement with our starters . Looks so so good thus far. I expected it to improve but not quite this much. I loved Randle but sorry that would simply not be the case if Randle was still here pounding the ball into the court for 9 seconds every other possession. That slows everyone down and gets them out of rythym. Ball is like not sticking AT ALL. Sure a few ISOs here and there but not with ball stagnation and ball stopping for more than a few seconds occasionally.

But he is soft and Randle averages more assists… :roll:

I’ve said it months in advance: he is the more willing and more intelligent passer. The ball doesn’t stick. Plus, he’s a big, big body.
He is not the more willing and intelligent passer. He passes from the high post more often than not which is easier and he catches from the block versus dribbling in, getting a double and kicking out.

They have different reads to make. You see Julius in Minnesota is making faster passes because he isn't dribbling in to post ups. He's driving to score.



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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#36 » by prophet_of_rage » Sun Nov 3, 2024 1:29 am

sol537 wrote:I’m still worried about OKC and Boston. Both teams have stellar defense that will slow us but then both teams have tons of offensive weapons like us. I’m curious to see how our games against both teams go once we have our footing. I’m not worried about any other team all that much.
And Cleveland and Orlando. Any dpuvle big team will be a problem.

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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#37 » by Clyde_Style » Sun Nov 3, 2024 1:30 am

KnixinSix wrote:
Clyde_Style wrote:This team has more variables to play with on offense because both KAT and Bridges move well off the ball and can score and pass from anywhere on the court more than the guys they replaced.

And they are both better on defense as well.

I always expected KAT to be dealt for, but he's much better than his detractors were trying to portray him.

He was always going to be an upgrade over Randle, but he's a leap ahead of Randle. He's superior in almost all facets of the game.

We might have contended with Randle (if he showed up in the playoffs), but now it is certain we will contend with KAT.


Well Randle has not been a good playoff performer so he would need to drastically improve in Minny.


Randle's playoff non-performance was a very good reason to move him. Too many excuses.
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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#38 » by thebuzzardman » Sun Nov 3, 2024 1:31 am

I'm surprised they don't suck and are an approximation of the greatness of Randle and Divo
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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#39 » by prophet_of_rage » Sun Nov 3, 2024 1:31 am

KOA wrote:Biggest surprise by far is the reduced iso play. Could easily have seen Thibs just have each guy taking turns getting their own on offense. Instead, the ball is moving seamlessly leading to the second highest team FG% in the league behind the undefeated Cavs
I will agree with that. That was my biggest fear.

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Re: 5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far 

Post#40 » by Clyde_Style » Sun Nov 3, 2024 1:42 am

thebuzzardman wrote:I'm surprised they don't suck and are an approximation of the greatness of Randle and Divo


There is only one known accurate approximation of Julius Randle

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