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

[RHODEY]

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

Because the East is so Much better. The tankers wont come from the the crop of good teams and the heavy tanking wont start till maybe January.

[AkiliNYK]

So people are agreed that we will only win 3 more games? SMH the self hate of Knick fans is astonishing to think with off season work of our young players and the addition of one of the better PGs in the NBA we can only string together 3 more wins…

We won 37 games last year and the season was a disaster.

Bad read on the pulse of the room even when taking into account the general negativity, because most people here are still viewing it within the context of the Eastern Conference

The East is better this year. It makes it harder to add easy wins which is what would allow them to have a turnaround season that shoots for 50 wins. A few wins more this season = more than a few more wins last year. Playing .500 would be more than a small improvement now

I can counter that it’s all in theory that these changes add to wins adding players does not always add to wins. And I know what your thinking the Knicks are in that group which I agree but we should be judged same as everyone and not in Knicks colored glasses like we always are.

[Capn'O]

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.

Basically this. It sounds like the question was whether Brunson launches the Knicks into contention. He does not. But he obviously helps vs what we had. Legler answered the first question and Windhorst answered the second. Answering the first question sounds like a negative spin vs the question of where we stand vs. last year which sounds more upbeat. In actuality, everyone's basically saying the same thing. He improves us a bit.

[Luv those Knicks]

I'm firmly in the "I don't know" camp. I'll wait till the season gets underway.

Ultimately, this year will be judged on whether the Knicks should have tanked and gotten a lotto pick, maybe one of the big 2, or whether the trying to win approach will work for a change (which seems to be all they've ever done outside of a couple seasons) . . . I don't know, but Brunson could be another in a long line of additions that make us too good for a top pick and not good enough for a deep playoff run. The odds of that happening aren't small and that's what this team has always done wrong. The one difference with Leon is that he's adding picks not spending them, so . . . some room for hope.

Can Brunson, Obi, RJ & Mitch carry a team and attract a free agent when they get under the cap? Maybe. The jury is still out. It's also not really about this season either, it's about what they can do after this season, with a bunch of picks and maybe they pull off a trade or eventually get under the cap and sign a top free agent.

[Capn'O]

Honestly, aside from some freakish luck, the only thing that can launch the Knicks into contention in the foreseeable future is RJ taking a leap into superstardom. Otherwise, some great fortune in the draft (drafting a Kawhi or Giannis in the teens) or simply fleecing a team are the only other ways. Brunson and even a reformed Randle could be a piece of it. Grimes could be a key role player. But they're not the meal ticket.

[cgmw]

Team "No" here

1) Generally in life it's better to set low expectations so you're pleasantly surprised if/when things go better; and:

2) Difference maker from/to what exactly? The Leon Rose years are a gigantic waste of time and have virtually zero path to Division Champ, let alone Conference or World Champ. Even if Brunson has a good individual year, the best we can hope for is that somehow Leon trades for a Donovan-Mitchell, Carmelo-Anthony, Stephon-Marbury level borderline top-20 player who also won't be able to be a "difference maker" because the franchise is being run as a generational joke with 0 hope or chance. Pinning "difference maker" on Brunson is unfair, unrealistic, and just begging for outrage/disappointment later.

Spoiler:

The real difference maker and Knicks' best hope is the 1-3% chance of landing a top 3 pick from the 8-11 lotto position we are almost guaranteed this year and every year under Dolan.

[Spot31]

We'll win more games this year but it won't be because of Brunson. RJ Mitch Fournier and Randle will play better defense this season.

[Luv those Knicks]

Honestly, aside from some freakish luck, the only thing that can launch the Knicks into contention in the foreseeable future is RJ taking a leap into superstardom. Otherwise, some great fortune in the draft (drafting a Kawhi or Giannis in the teens) or simply fleecing a team are the only other ways. Brunson and even a reformed Randle could be a piece of it. Grimes could be a key role player. But they're not the meal ticket.

That's basically where I am. Star players do get picked in the teens from time to time. Donovan Mitchell for one. I like Obi, but would they be better now if they'd drafted Haliburton? Probably.

But drafting "the guy" isn't as easy as people sometimes make it out to be. If it was easy, then the best players in the draft would go in the top 5 every year. They need something to go right. I wouldn't go so far as to say they need a miracle, but they're still a good distance away from their goal.

[Snacks]

it's about roster construction. We have a true pt guard that can score efficiently and play on ball and off and isn't a sieve on D (most of the time)-- he'll move the needle when we get a few more efficient players at the other spots.

[RoyceDa59]

Define difference maker. That’s really the key here.

Brunson will be a nice player, but below allstar level. He should avg 20 per game and run the offense. He was a good pick up for the Knicks.

[bearadonisdna]

Is Brunson a difference maker ?
Yes a big time difference maker.
He is probably better than Julius , about par with Emerging RJ but more of a leader .

Difference maker as far as his little segment is concerned ?
No . Why because of aforementioned low ceiling .
Also , because even DM was not seen as a difference maker for this roster .
Also because of Perceived low ceiling.

[spree2kawhi]

He's the starting PG in this year's all star game! You heard it here first.

Or he's just gonna fit in and be the biggest upgrade at PG we have seen in years. That alone is a difference maker. This team lacks top end talent. A new PG is only going to make so much difference on this team. It's not going out on a limb to say he doesn't make us a contender or a threat.

This answers the original question.

We ain’t ther yet, dude.

[Adelheid]

he deffo makes a difference, but does not make NY a championship contender

[thebuzzardman]

Team "No" here

1) Generally in life it's better to set low expectations so you're pleasantly surprised if/when things go better; and:

2) Difference maker from/to what exactly? The Leon Rose years are a gigantic waste of time and have virtually zero path to Division Champ, let alone Conference or World Champ. Even if Brunson has a good individual year, the best we can hope for is that somehow Leon trades for a Donovan-Mitchell, Carmelo-Anthony, Stephon-Marbury level borderline top-20 player who also won't be able to be a "difference maker" because the franchise is being run as a generational joke with 0 hope or chance. Pinning "difference maker" on Brunson is unfair, unrealistic, and just begging for outrage/disappointment later.

Spoiler:

The real difference maker and Knicks' best hope is the 1-3% chance of landing a top 3 pick from the 8-11 lotto position we are almost guaranteed this year and every year under Dolan.

Ah yes, the championship or completely suck argument. Oh well, 28 teams wasting their time in the NBA right now.

[cgmw]

Team "No" here

1) Generally in life it's better to set low expectations so you're pleasantly surprised if/when things go better; and:

2) Difference maker from/to what exactly? The Leon Rose years are a gigantic waste of time and have virtually zero path to Division Champ, let alone Conference or World Champ. Even if Brunson has a good individual year, the best we can hope for is that somehow Leon trades for a Donovan-Mitchell, Carmelo-Anthony, Stephon-Marbury level borderline top-20 player who also won't be able to be a "difference maker" because the franchise is being run as a generational joke with 0 hope or chance. Pinning "difference maker" on Brunson is unfair, unrealistic, and just begging for outrage/disappointment later.

Spoiler:

The real difference maker and Knicks' best hope is the 1-3% chance of landing a top 3 pick from the 8-11 lotto position we are almost guaranteed this year and every year under Dolan.

Ah yes, the championship or completely suck argument. Oh well, 28 teams wasting their time in the NBA right now.

The OKC Thunder have no chance of a championship in 2023. But they sure look like decent favorites for championship contention in the next decade. The same can be said for about half the teams in the league, who at least HAVE A POTENTIAL PATH to contention.

The Knicks have 0% chance of a championship this year, next year, the year after that, and every year during at least the next decade. That's a very different scenario than the "other 28 teams" who pretty much all at least attempt to value taking shots at the top of the draft.

The difference is ownership, who insisted on hiring a player agent as POBO with the explicit strategy of trading for or signing CAA cronies in FA. Newsflash: That ain't happening. Leon Rose has 0 way of making the Knicks into contenders.

I'm saying Jalen Brunson isn't a difference maker because he's simply not good enough to overcome the unbelievably stupid and rotting dysfunction of MSG.

[thebuzzardman]

Team "No" here

1) Generally in life it's better to set low expectations so you're pleasantly surprised if/when things go better; and:

2) Difference maker from/to what exactly? The Leon Rose years are a gigantic waste of time and have virtually zero path to Division Champ, let alone Conference or World Champ. Even if Brunson has a good individual year, the best we can hope for is that somehow Leon trades for a Donovan-Mitchell, Carmelo-Anthony, Stephon-Marbury level borderline top-20 player who also won't be able to be a "difference maker" because the franchise is being run as a generational joke with 0 hope or chance. Pinning "difference maker" on Brunson is unfair, unrealistic, and just begging for outrage/disappointment later.

Spoiler:

The real difference maker and Knicks' best hope is the 1-3% chance of landing a top 3 pick from the 8-11 lotto position we are almost guaranteed this year and every year under Dolan.

Ah yes, the championship or completely suck argument. Oh well, 28 teams wasting their time in the NBA right now.

The OKC Thunder have no chance of a championship in 2023. But they sure look like decent favorites for championship contention in the next decade. The same can be said for about half the teams in the league, who at least HAVE A POTENTIAL PATH to contention.

The Knicks have 0% chance of a championship this year, next year, the year after that, and every year during at least the next decade. That's a very different scenario than the "other 28 teams" who pretty much all at least attempt to value taking shots at the top of the draft.

The difference is ownership, who insisted on hiring a player agent as POBO with the explicit strategy of trading for or signing CAA cronies in FA. Newsflash: That ain't happening. Leon Rose has 0 way of making the Knicks into contenders.

I'm saying Jalen Brunson isn't a difference maker because he's simply not good enough to overcome the unbelievably stupid and rotting dysfunction of MSG.

Yeah, not saying most of what you say isn't true, but it took the topic of "if Brunson makes a difference on the court" and spins into the larger point of "what's the use", which wasn't exactly the question.

It's a larger version of the reply "Well, Brunson doesn't catapult the Knicks into deep playoff or championship contention, so no"

I think he makes the team better and the current produce more watchable and it's pretty hard to deny that, Legler's Knicks for clicks BS notwithstanding.

Are the Knicks going anywhere except maybe a bottom seed playoff team as a result - no.

I'd still have added Brunson - if there's ANY chance for the Knicks to do anything and build off whatever they've done, then they had to address the position in some way and I think Brunson, at his price (ignoring having to clear FA mistakes etc out of the equation) is a worthy player.

I don't believe this FO or any FO under Dolan has the ability to take the next steps towards proper contention/legitimacy, but that's another argument.

[cgmw]

Ah yes, the championship or completely suck argument. Oh well, 28 teams wasting their time in the NBA right now.

The OKC Thunder have no chance of a championship in 2023. But they sure look like decent favorites for championship contention in the next decade. The same can be said for about half the teams in the league, who at least HAVE A POTENTIAL PATH to contention.

The Knicks have 0% chance of a championship this year, next year, the year after that, and every year during at least the next decade. That's a very different scenario than the "other 28 teams" who pretty much all at least attempt to value taking shots at the top of the draft.

The difference is ownership, who insisted on hiring a player agent as POBO with the explicit strategy of trading for or signing CAA cronies in FA. Newsflash: That ain't happening. Leon Rose has 0 way of making the Knicks into contenders.

I'm saying Jalen Brunson isn't a difference maker because he's simply not good enough to overcome the unbelievably stupid and rotting dysfunction of MSG.

Yeah, not saying most of what you say isn't true, but it took the topic of "if Brunson makes a difference on the court" and spins into the larger point of "what's the use", which wasn't exactly the question.

It's a larger version of the reply "Well, Brunson doesn't catapult the Knicks into deep playoff or championship contention, so no"

I think he makes the team better and the current produce more watchable and it's pretty hard to deny that, Legler's Knicks for clicks BS notwithstanding.

Are the Knicks going anywhere except maybe a bottom seed playoff team as a result - no.

I'd still have added Brunson - if there's ANY chance for the Knicks to do anything and build off whatever they've done, then they had to address the position in some way and I think Brunson, at his price (ignoring having to clear FA mistakes etc out of the equation) is a worthy player.

I don't believe this FO or any FO under Dolan has the ability to take the next steps towards proper contention/legitimacy, but that's another argument.

Don't get me wrong, as somebody who has tuned in (or attended) probably 70 live games a year for 20+ years I am very grateful to have Jalen Brunson at point. Also very grateful they didn't trade the farm for Donovan Mitchell because I actually enjoy the storyline of whether or not RJ, IQ, Obi, and Grimes will develop into anything.

Jalen Brunson is a difference-maker in my ability to watch an enjoyable basketball game on TV, absolutely. I mean we've just endured 160+ games of Alec Burks and Elfrid Payton ffs. Could the bar be any lower?

But the East is stacked and I just don't get the same short-term sugar high as most Knick fans about a best-case scenario of chanting "F Trae Young" for two home playoff games. I'm more just disappointed at what's become of a once-proud franchise and how we continue to fail even when we set the goal posts of "success" so far forward that we're just rooting to make the Play-In as if it's the Super Bowl.

[HighRyzer83]

What a difference 1 day makes.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

He's a difference maker in that our roster is much better situated than before, we're not as far away as people think, and holding our assets and waiting on a better player than Mitchell is going to pay off.

[islanders11040]

Jalen Brunson will make luka doncic look like cam reddish.