PG: Not fun

[Wildcat]

I'm not gonna overreact to one game...

but...

This is now 3 games where we've gone down BIG to this team, and the first two can easily be chalked up to luck with 3 point shooting from the Cs, though I think we played great defense in game 2 and boston made some really dumb decisions.

But if they start hitting 3s and a 40% clip we are cooked. I pray that we get up hard on shooters and Mitch can make a difference at the rim in the next game.

Going back 2-2 to Boston is not a good spot to be in. we gotta get game 4.

This is a reoccurring theme. Between the starters and the bench, this team can't put together 4 quarters of good basketball. Game 1 they lost the 2nd by 15 PTS, Game 2 they lost the 1st by 11 PTS, and Game 3 they lost the 1st by 16. Game 4 of the Detroit series they lost the 2nd quarter by 14, and Game 6 they lost the 2nd by 16.

[NowWHYcee7]

Towns has been great this season in general but this series is why I always maintained that, at the end of the day, I rather go to war with Julius Randle.

Towns just plays way too soft.

[prophet_of_rage]

we are 5th in the playoffs in DEF rating

we are 13th in the playoffs in OFF rating

don't let one really hot half for one of the best shooting teams blind you. The offense is the issue. The poor possessions leading to fast breaks are what led BOS to get off to a hot start. When we have good offense we typically can get into a decent DEF position.

Im not as worried about the Celtics having a monster 1st half offensively...that will happen. They shoot a lot of 3's and will score in bunches. What is consistent for the Knicks in this playoffs is the lack of offensive explosion. Everything and I mean everything is a grind. Yes we have had some 4th qtrs and Brunson is as elite as your going to get late in games/4th qtr. But we simply haven't adjusted since the middle part of the year on how everyone is guarding us.

Our offensive rating was ELITE early in the season. A small adjustment by putting wings on KAT shouldn't make our offense all of a sudden an issue. The fact we haven't countered any of that is terrible coaching IMO.

Us consistently having poor possessions is the issue.

There are really no magic plays. If KAT can't post up and Hart won't shoot then it is what it is.

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[prophet_of_rage]

Towns has been great this season in general but this series is why I always maintained that, at the end of the day, I rather go to war with Julius Randle.

Towns just plays way too soft.

Just had a td last night in a win.

Sent from my SM-S9080 using RealGM mobile app

[HEZI]

If you count the regular season, Knicks have been down 20 to the Celtics in 6 out of 7 games this season

They have completely dominated us

[Handledatruth]

The Knicks made 5 threes this game. They made 17 threes the first game. They made 9 3s the second game. Unlike the Celtics the needs don't NEED to make a ton of 3s to win. However, only making 5 is not going to work. A good shooting game out of the Knicks keeps the score close enough for Tatum to choke the 4th quarter away. I'll believe this until I see something different.

Also we better not let Payton Pritchard cook like that again. That's on the starters for not setting a good tone and putting the bench in a hole. These dudes only shoot well when they are front running so the game should be close when Payton gets in.

Finally, the same formula remains. You get 20-25 points out of Deuce and Hart combined and its a win. Our bench has to score some points and they have to be punished for leaving Hart by himself.

You guys are quick to panic because a little shooting game from the Celtics. Detroit gave us more problems.

[KnixinSix]

I was hoping the addition of Mitch would make the team better under Thibs.

Well while it did help I think it is abundantly clear at this point that Thibs system does not maximize the potential of the personell.

When they win in these playoffs, they have been winning on extremely difficult shot making and supremely clutch individual efforts to barely squeak out a victory. The majority of each game is filled with inconsistency and one on one iso with not nearly the type of ball movement and flow to an offense you normally see from the top NBA teams.

Look Thibs was amazing for this team when we had less talent because he gets players giving their 100% most of the time and is a floor raiser for sure.

However when he has a lot of talent his system isnt ideal because the ball movement isnt great at all and he overuses his starters. The defense is overly complicated and leaves guys wide open from 3.

I look at how the Cavs had a very significant uptick under Atkinson/Bryant with almost the same squad. I believe the same would happen here under the right coach.

In the offseason promote Thibs to GM (or somethign in the front office) and bring in Johnnie Bryant or another guy to get this team playing truly complementary team ball. You have 4 guys in your starting lineup who all can easily pop off for 20 plus. Superior ball movement would be huge in getting the most out of this team and a simpler defense that utilizes our many players high level of defensive abilities also will make a big difference.

[KnixinSix]

Towns has been great this season in general but this series is why I always maintained that, at the end of the day, I rather go to war with Julius Randle.

Towns just plays way too soft.

Just had a td last night in a win.

Sent from my SM-S9080 using RealGM mobile app

Finch is a better coach than Thibs. He also had KAT playing better in the playoffs than Thibs is.

In any event and Im not saying this is how it needs to go but KATs salary matches up very well with Giannis under the new CBA.

Giannis and trading back for DDV would be pretty sweet.

[Iron Mantis]

No game thread?????

[rajajackal]

No game thread?????

i think it should be Context's turn. don't think he's made a postseason game thread yet

[8516knicks]

Great points between you. If only THIBS would read you guys. But we do apparently lack a hot perimeter 3pt shooter (like DDV) unless Shamet shows up - but then, again, Thibs wouldn't play him.


I agree with a lot of your saying. And I ask why do you think Brunson and KAT are struggling? BOS has a very good defense so I will give them that. But it was the same struggles vs a much less talented defensive team in DET. Brunson wasn't overly EFF in that series even with a monster game 6 on the road.

KAT shot the ball decent but now in 3 games vs BOS and 6 games vs DET KAT is taking 3.5 3's per game, even then some of KATs make are crazy...he has to make some really difficult shots because nothing is schemed easy for us. That is dowright ubsurd. Under 4 attempts from 3 from our best shooter? How is that legit offense? How is our coach inable to scheme KAT to take more 3's...we have beeen guarded this was since Jan...no excuse now to just run the same "read and react" BS offense and just hope the talent level of Brunson/KAT bail us out.

Like you said...Brunson and KAT we already know aren't good defenders...they have to be on the top of there game offensively to really make this work. The fact both continue to struggle really only pts to one thing for me. Everything is a grind...everything is a struggle. We don't really try anything different. Its the same vanilla offense we have been running all year. Its just that early in the year KAT was being guarded by Centers and he kills those matchups.

Fully agree. I think it's a combination of factors.

Thibs prefers to run an isolation offense because it limits turnovers.

Brunson and KAT are not better than the sum of their parts. Brunson's mindset is focused on scoring rather than playmaking, and KAT's probably not an aggressive screen setter.

We can't run a 5-out offense with Hart on the court. Not a criticism of Hart, but his lack of shooting throws a wrench in the works. I agree with you Hart should be setting more off-ball screens for KAT.

And I think there's no excuse for the low 3-point shooting output, for which I think Thibs is largely responsible. It's a low-risk, low-reward offense. In a series where our defensive weak points can be exposed, I don't know if this safe approach to offense can produce enough points. It makes sense to use our qualities in the midrange down the stretch of a close game, but we need to take more 3s over the course of 48 minutes. Including our stars.

good way to analyze the offense is a low risk but low reward type style to limit turnovers. The difference that works better for an elite offensive rebounding team...which we aren't anymore. KAT job is to space the floor and our best rebounder is 6'4...so we don't get the same amount of second/thrid opportunities a low turnovers...ISO based offense requires to remain effective.

We need to be more creative in moving guys around to get better looks. We thrive in transition. THat should be more reason to get guys moving instead of having so many guys in the half court just stand around and watch.

Brunson and KAT are fantastic off the catch and we really need to run with that.

We never run KAT away from the ball screens to try to get the center back on him. We never run double screens with Hart and KAT...like BOS did today to really put pressure on Brunson guarding.

We need to put pressure on BOS defense by running some different sets. KAT isn't an elite screener...and Brunson isn't an elite playmaker for others.

I think we should put Mikal on the ball more...and use Hart as a off ball screener to either free up KAT to then screen for Brunson or Mikal.

[NowWHYcee7]

Towns has been great this season in general but this series is why I always maintained that, at the end of the day, I rather go to war with Julius Randle.

Towns just plays way too soft.

Just had a td last night in a win.

Sent from my SM-S9080 using RealGM mobile app

Yup, factored into my post. Not taking anything away from towns and how good he’s been this year but that finesse stuff doesn’t work in the playoffs. Randle would be bullying his way into the paint and kicking it out to the corner to OG for 3. I don’t want to see Towns taking Steph curry 3’s that inevitably lead to to transition baskets for Boston when he misses them.

[H_20]

If you count the regular season, Knicks have been down 20 to the Celtics in 6 out of 7 games this season

They have completely dominated us

Knicks are probably going into the game knowing at one point they will be down by 20 again.

If the Celtics have another big lead in game 4 then its truly over, they figured out how not to blow the lead. If its a back and forth competitive game then it's possible the Knicks can win game 4.

[SpreeNYK]

Knicks are the worst defending Team at the threes. If Boston didn't get another off-day from the 3, we will lose over and over again. The only way to win is to defend the 3 or hit enough by your own.

KAT is now playing like a 90s center, refusing to shoot threes and only going for the basket. WTF? Bridges and Hart are undependable. That leaves only Brunson and OG. The Celtics, on the other hand, have eight three-point specialists on their team. They won't shoot 25% again. We are f**** up!

[TheGreenArrow]

I was hoping the addition of Mitch would make the team better under Thibs.

Well while it did help I think it is abundantly clear at this point that Thibs system does not maximize the potential of the personell.

When they win in these playoffs, they have been winning on extremely difficult shot making and supremely clutch individual efforts to barely squeak out a victory. The majority of each game is filled with inconsistency and one on one iso with not nearly the type of ball movement and flow to an offense you normally see from the top NBA teams.

Look Thibs was amazing for this team when we had less talent because he gets players giving their 100% most of the time and is a floor raiser for sure.

However when he has a lot of talent his system isnt ideal because the ball movement isnt great at all and he overuses his starters. The defense is overly complicated and leaves guys wide open from 3.

I look at how the Cavs had a very significant uptick under Atkinson/Bryant with almost the same squad. I believe the same would happen here under the right coach.

In the offseason promote Thibs to GM (or somethign in the front office) and bring in Johnnie Bryant or another guy to get this team playing truly complementary team ball. You have 4 guys in your starting lineup who all can easily pop off for 20 plus. Superior ball movement would be huge in getting the most out of this team and a simpler defense that utilizes our many players high level of defensive abilities also will make a big difference.

If we lose tomorrow’s game then I hope we just lose 4 straight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Changes will be made if we lose 4 straight and lose this series!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jeff Van Gully]

I'm not gonna overreact to one game...

but...

This is now 3 games where we've gone down BIG to this team, and the first two can easily be chalked up to luck with 3 point shooting from the Cs, though I think we played great defense in game 2 and boston made some really dumb decisions.

But if they start hitting 3s and a 40% clip we are cooked. I pray that we get up hard on shooters and Mitch can make a difference at the rim in the next game.

Going back 2-2 to Boston is not a good spot to be in. we gotta get game 4.

as ghostface said, “we gotta get ‘em, baby.”

Watch on YouTube

we were amazingly flat on our rotations. whatever life and death urgency boston brought to game 3 needs to be recognized and matched.

we heard from our players that they are disappointed in themselves on this front. for one, I’d like to see us revisit an extension of the good quarters that I imagine influenced the bad shooting.

those shots were going in early even in the losses. improved execution, dogged intensity, respecting the margin for error, etc. probably helped us get that good fortune portion.

if they learned from games 1-3, I expect this to be a major component of the discussion. the guard JB seems to be on that. (the conversation being how do we play like that for more of the game.)

some early guard hour building.

happy Mother’s Day, everyone. if you got moms in your life, try to enjoy today as we lock back in for trench warfare tomorrow.

[HEZI]

If you count the regular season, Knicks have been down 20 to the Celtics in 6 out of 7 games this season

They have completely dominated us

Knicks are probably going into the game knowing at one point they will be down by 20 again.

If the Celtics have another big lead in game 4 then its truly over, they figured out how not to blow the lead. If its a back and forth competitive game then it's possible the Knicks can win game 4.

The focus and intensity and urgency need to be there from the start. I think a lot of our offensive struggles are because players just aren’t locked in the way they should be from the start of the game

[KnixinSix]

Knicks are the worst defending Team at the threes. If Boston didn't get another off-day from the 3, we will lose over and over again. The only way to win is to defend the 3 or hit enough by your own.

KAT is now playing like a 90s center, refusing to shoot threes and only going for the basket. WTF? Bridges and Hart are undependable. That leaves only Brunson and OG. The Celtics, on the other hand, have eight three-point specialists on their team. They won't shoot 25% again. We are f**** up!

I didnt watch closely but some have said we were playing more drop coverage again this game. That stubborn Thibs never learns. Hopefully we stick like glue to these guys up top. Take them out of what they want to do and force them to try and beat you with what they prefer not to do.

[KnicksGadfly]

No game thread?????

i think it should be Context's turn. don't think he's made a postseason game thread yet

Yah…he got us a long ass win streak. We need the man

[2010]

As bad as we’ve played for 3 consecutive games against Boston, we’re up 2-1. At some point we’re due to play well, right?