Game Thread: New York Knicks vs Atlanta Hawks Wed, Feb 12, 2025 7:30pm

[HopelessKnick]

Anyone know our record on the second half of a back-to-back?

I think it is 6-3 with two losses coming against the Bulls. I do think we played a bunch of mediocre teams on the second night of a back to back.

I think the game is gonna be tough and close but the Hawks haven't been the same without Johnson and with Hunter gone as well I hope we take care of business.

[thebuzzardman]

Loss. Trae humiliates the Knicks again.

[WaltFrazier]

How many times have we played the Hawks now, feels like about 8

[Fury]

How many times have we played the Hawks now, feels like about 8

16 times

[Gant]

Anyone know our record on the second half of a back-to-back?

4-3

The opponents were mostly weak teams: Chi 2, Wash 2, Tor, Brk, Det. Losses were to Chicago twice and Detroit. There was one double digit win and one double digit loss. The rest of the games were close.

[Jalen Bluntson]

How many times have we played the Hawks now, feels like about 8

16 times

We used to play the Magic every other day too.

[Enzo954]

[HEZI]

Pacers game was so boring I fell asleep around halftime. Hopefully a more entertaining game tonight. Good thing we back at MSG

[Fury]

How many times have we played the Hawks now, feels like about 8

16 times

We used to play the Magic every other day too.

I kind of dig it. Reminds me of the old MLB when you'd only play teams from the same league, made stronger rivalries and when the World Series came, it felt like it meant more.

[nykballa2k4]

16 times

We used to play the Magic every other day too.

I kind of dig it. Reminds me of the old MLB when you'd only play teams from the same league, made stronger rivalries and when the World Series came, it felt like it meant more.

Honestly think going that route could help the NBA. More divisional games, and play games in a series format. Sort of replicate the NFL in a way because if you clump, say, 3 games into a weekend (3 games in 4 nights same two opponents) then it really has the power to shift the standings and makes the games more meaningful. Also adds a strategy (do I want to rest a player in that b2b or not?)

[Jalen Bluntson]

We used to play the Magic every other day too.

I kind of dig it. Reminds me of the old MLB when you'd only play teams from the same league, made stronger rivalries and when the World Series came, it felt like it meant more.

Honestly think going that route could help the NBA. More divisional games, and play games in a series format. Sort of replicate the NFL in a way because if you clump, say, 3 games into a weekend (3 games in 4 nights same two opponents) then it really has the power to shift the standings and makes the games more meaningful. Also adds a strategy (do I want to rest a player in that b2b or not?)

We need to eliminate the back to backs entirely. It is pointless and not really fair to the team playing them. Especially if there is travel involved like we have seen plenty of this year. You want back to backs? Then both teams should be playing in them and it should be in one building every time.

I don't mind the idea of more division games though. Why bother having divisions if you play every team basically the same amount of games? Does winning the division even matter anymore towards playoffs?

[HopelessKnick]

I kind of dig it. Reminds me of the old MLB when you'd only play teams from the same league, made stronger rivalries and when the World Series came, it felt like it meant more.

Honestly think going that route could help the NBA. More divisional games, and play games in a series format. Sort of replicate the NFL in a way because if you clump, say, 3 games into a weekend (3 games in 4 nights same two opponents) then it really has the power to shift the standings and makes the games more meaningful. Also adds a strategy (do I want to rest a player in that b2b or not?)

We need to eliminate the back to backs entirely. It is pointless and not really fair to the team playing them. Especially if there is travel involved like we have seen plenty of this year. You want back to backs? Then both teams should be playing in them and it should be in one building every time.

I don't mind the idea of more division games though. Why bother having divisions if you play every team basically the same amount of games? Does winning the division even matter anymore towards playoffs?

This will never happen but I'd reduce the games to 58 (every team playing the other team twice). Maybe 4 times against Division rivals if 58 games is too low-it would put the games at around 66---however that may make it unfair if you are in a tough division. Eliminate the conferences altogether. The top 16 teams make the playoffs. It gives you an entire different variety of playoff matchups. No back to backs. Only 2 games per week. The games themselves would be much more important and thus the intensity would be much higher. I feel like the 82 games nowadays half the entire league (minus Thibs) load managing their way through....the games usually are low intensity for 3,5 quarters and only pick up if it is close in the waning moments. It should also keep injuries way lower and have teams healthy at playoff time. Never gonna happen I know.

Or have the top 12 directly qualified for the playoffs and have 13 through 20 play a best of 3 series to determine the final 4 playoff participants. 66 regular season games. 1 week of best of 3 playoff qualification.

[WaltFrazier]

Honestly think going that route could help the NBA. More divisional games, and play games in a series format. Sort of replicate the NFL in a way because if you clump, say, 3 games into a weekend (3 games in 4 nights same two opponents) then it really has the power to shift the standings and makes the games more meaningful. Also adds a strategy (do I want to rest a player in that b2b or not?)

We need to eliminate the back to backs entirely. It is pointless and not really fair to the team playing them. Especially if there is travel involved like we have seen plenty of this year. You want back to backs? Then both teams should be playing in them and it should be in one building every time.

I don't mind the idea of more division games though. Why bother having divisions if you play every team basically the same amount of games? Does winning the division even matter anymore towards playoffs?

This will never happen but I'd reduce the games to 58 (every team playing the other team twice). Maybe 4 times against Division rivals if 58 games is too low-it would put the games at around 66---however that may make it unfair if you are in a tough division. Eliminate the conferences altogether. The top 16 teams make the playoffs. It gives you an entire different variety of playoff matchups. No back to backs. Only 2 games per week. The games themselves would be much more important and thus the intensity would be much higher. I feel like the 82 games nowadays half the entire league (minus Thibs) load managing their way through....the games usually are low intensity for 3,5 quarters and only pick up if it is close in the waning moments. It should also keep injuries way lower and have teams healthy at playoff time. Never gonna happen I know.

Or have the top 12 directly qualified for the playoffs and have 13 through 20 play a best of 3 series to determine the final 4 playoff participants. 66 regular season games. 1 week of best of 3 playoff qualification.

Most of that won't happen as you said, but I'd love to see a cut to about 72 games or whatever it would take to have no back to backs and still a balanced schedule. The 82 games gets to drag on after the ASG break.

On a different note, Silver floated the idea of changing from 48 minute games to 40 like all other levels of basketball. There was a thread on the Raptors board about it, not sure if it was ever discussed here.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-commissioner-adam-silver-raises-possibility-of-league-moving-to-10-minute-quarters-213929598.html

Might be good for Thibs and his shorter rotations

[Jalen Bluntson]

Honestly think going that route could help the NBA. More divisional games, and play games in a series format. Sort of replicate the NFL in a way because if you clump, say, 3 games into a weekend (3 games in 4 nights same two opponents) then it really has the power to shift the standings and makes the games more meaningful. Also adds a strategy (do I want to rest a player in that b2b or not?)

We need to eliminate the back to backs entirely. It is pointless and not really fair to the team playing them. Especially if there is travel involved like we have seen plenty of this year. You want back to backs? Then both teams should be playing in them and it should be in one building every time.

I don't mind the idea of more division games though. Why bother having divisions if you play every team basically the same amount of games? Does winning the division even matter anymore towards playoffs?

This will never happen but I'd reduce the games to 58 (every team playing the other team twice). Maybe 4 times against Division rivals if 58 games is too low-it would put the games at around 66---however that may make it unfair if you are in a tough division. Eliminate the conferences altogether. The top 16 teams make the playoffs. It gives you an entire different variety of playoff matchups. No back to backs. Only 2 games per week. The games themselves would be much more important and thus the intensity would be much higher. I feel like the 82 games nowadays half the entire league (minus Thibs) load managing their way through....the games usually are low intensity for 3,5 quarters and only pick up if it is close in the waning moments. It should also keep injuries way lower and have teams healthy at playoff time. Never gonna happen I know.

Or have the top 12 directly qualified for the playoffs and have 13 through 20 play a best of 3 series to determine the final 4 playoff participants. 66 regular season games. 1 week of best of 3 playoff qualification.

3 games à week is fine. 2 is not enough IMO. 6 mos, 3 times a week, 72 games. No back to backs. That alone should help reduce injuries and would be a fun season.

I also don't like the play-in tournament concept either.

[KnixinSix]

If Thibs keeps Josh & Kat's minutes in check till the 4th quarter tn we should have a great chance to win. We also play to the opponents pace every time. ATL plays fast which is actually our strength so stylistically this matchup favors us.

Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro XL using RealGM mobile app

Atlanta has played us tough this year. I would like to see us take it to them but I guess we will see.

[louisorr]

Why not a b2b against the same team in the same arena. No travel required. Then later in the season they come to your arena

[LFGK]

fck Atlanta
fck T Young
fck Bogdan
fck capella
fck DYSON Daniels
fck Zaccharie Risacher
fck TI
fck Al Horford
fck Josh Smith
fck a Botanical Garden
fck Peaches
Fck Kanye

[TheGreenArrow]

Loss. Trae humiliates the Knicks again.

WTF is this?!?!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enough with the negativity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Be better buzzy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheGreenArrow]

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[Fat Kat]

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