ECF Playoff Game Thread: Knicks @ Pacers, Game 3, May 25th 8pm

[god shammgod]

listen, the wolves had this guy for years. they know what he can and can't do. they traded everything they had for the guy who was the best defensive center in basketball at the time for a reason. you can't win with him starting there. this is not new information. everybody conveniently forgot when we traded for him.

if he's here next year, they need to have a 2nd center and almost never play him there. maybe it's huk. maybe it's someone we get for the mle. i don't know. but it can't be him. maybe horford will take the tax payers mle for a year to be the backup center.

yeah then unfortunately he'll be more naturally matched up with a wing playing the 4 and will not be the same offensive player. this is the KAT experience.

it does take away some of his offensive advantages but they're just not enough to overcome his defensive limitations

[mpharris36]

this also suggests that Precious in coming back into the rotation.

[Adelheid]

listen, the wolves had this guy for years. they know what he can and can't do. they traded everything they had for the guy who was the best defensive center in basketball at the time for a reason. you can't win with him starting there. this is not new information. everybody conveniently forgot when we traded for him.

if he's here next year, they need to have a 2nd center and almost never play him there. maybe it's huk. maybe it's someone we get for the mle. i don't know. but it can't be him. maybe horford will take the tax payers mle for a year to be the backup center.

tell that to thibs. Almost everyone in this board wants Mitch to play starting C (kat as pf) but the org doesnt listen!

[EnigmatiC]

listen, the wolves had this guy for years. they know what he can and can't do. they traded everything they had for the guy who was the best defensive center in basketball at the time for a reason. you can't win with him starting there. this is not new information. everybody conveniently forgot when we traded for him.

if he's here next year, they need to have a 2nd center and almost never play him there. maybe it's huk. maybe it's someone we get for the mle. i don't know. but it can't be him. maybe horford will take the tax payers mle for a year to be the backup center.

yeah then unfortunately he'll be more naturally matched up with a wing playing the 4 and will not be the same offensive player. this is the KAT experience.

it does take away some of his offensive advantages but they're just not enough to overcome his defensive limitations

i dont disagree just to me it feels like rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic. at this point i just dont think you can win with this guy. hopefully he proves me wrong.

[HerSports85]

Starting with Mitch is good first step. But KAT need to be the first sub out so he's sharing most of his mins with Deuce oppose to Brunson.

[3toheadmelo]

listen, the wolves had this guy for years. they know what he can and can't do. they traded everything they had for the guy who was the best defensive center in basketball at the time for a reason. you can't win with him starting there. this is not new information. everybody conveniently forgot when we traded for him.

if he's here next year, they need to have a 2nd center and almost never play him there. maybe it's huk. maybe it's someone we get for the mle. i don't know. but it can't be him. maybe horford will take the tax payers mle for a year to be the backup center.

tell that to thibs. Almost everyone in this board wants Mitch to play starting C (kat as pf) but the org doesnt listen!

It took this board 7 months to realize KAT isn't a 5. Me and sham has been saying it since the trade was made that he needs to be paired with another defensive center but yall said no and kept talking about this magical 5 out offense that's supposed to outweigh his terrible defense. It never happened, like we predicted. So if anything, the organization did what you guys wanted.. and it didn't work as usual

[Bob Ross]

Loss

[The KnicksFix]

Begley just tweeted Mitchell Robinson will start game 3 most likely
WHY MUST IT TAKE YOU 2 WHOLE GAMES TO REALIZE THAT HART DOES NOT WORK IN THE STARTING LINEUP

WHY DID IT TAKE YOU THE ENTIRE YEAR TO FIGURE THAT OUT?!

[Bob Ross]

This is interesting because this forces haliburton on Mikal and then Nembhard on OG who has a huge size and strength advantage.

KAT just needs to stay out of foul trouble on siakam

He's already picked up 2 fouls upon this announcement

[KnicksGadfly]

This is interesting because this forces haliburton on Mikal and then Nembhard on OG who has a huge size and strength advantage.

KAT just needs to stay out of foul trouble on siakam

KAT needs to dominate Siakam. Those 2 have been going back and forth this series and in G2, Siakam laid the smack down on this team.

[The KnicksFix]

Read on Twitter

NOW STAGGER THE JB AND KAT MINUTES SO THEY ARENT ON THE FLOOR TOGETHER THAT MUCH
YOU FAT PIECE OF SH**

[Adelheid]

listen, the wolves had this guy for years. they know what he can and can't do. they traded everything they had for the guy who was the best defensive center in basketball at the time for a reason. you can't win with him starting there. this is not new information. everybody conveniently forgot when we traded for him.

if he's here next year, they need to have a 2nd center and almost never play him there. maybe it's huk. maybe it's someone we get for the mle. i don't know. but it can't be him. maybe horford will take the tax payers mle for a year to be the backup center.

tell that to thibs. Almost everyone in this board wants Mitch to play starting C (kat as pf) but the org doesnt listen!

It took this board 7 months to realize KAT isn't a 5. Me and sham has been saying it since the trade was made that he needs to be paired with another defensive center but yall said no and kept talking about this magical 5 out offense that's supposed to outweigh his terrible defense. It never happened, like we predicted. So if anything, the organization did what you guys wanted.. and it didn't work as usual

I dont know about "everyone wanted", but trade happened like lightning (because CAA wanted it?) and I for one, know that thibs' style needs a rim protector and Towns cant be one - just cant learn to be a rim protector when he didnt even have traces of the ability during his rookie years

Perhaps the league and most fans see KAT as C, but I always saw him as a pf

[Context]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

There it is folkssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wont get excited until I see it.

[EnigmatiC]

the double bigs did not work well last game im not sure this is the magic elixir many are hoping

[The KnicksFix]

the double bigs did not work well last game im not sure this is the magic elixir many are hoping

It doesn’t put us in a 10 point hole to start the game

[Capn'O]

listen, the wolves had this guy for years. they know what he can and can't do. they traded everything they had for the guy who was the best defensive center in basketball at the time for a reason. you can't win with him starting there. this is not new information. everybody conveniently forgot when we traded for him.

if he's here next year, they need to have a 2nd center and almost never play him there. maybe it's huk. maybe it's someone we get for the mle. i don't know. but it can't be him. maybe horford will take the tax payers mle for a year to be the backup center.

We really lost a lot by not being able to give Mitch and KAT reps together in the RS. I agree, KAT should never have been starting C.

I liked Huk's aggression this year. It was such a stark difference from, say, valium Sims. He was a bit of a dummy but everyone is early on in the league. He showed some good stuff before he went down, including a little more offensive versatility than Mitch. Mitch is better, IJS.

If we go this way, and I agree we should, who's the odd man out? I think it's Hart and I wouldn't be surprised to see him moved this summer if he's not amenable to being moved to the bench. We moved Donte. It would be a big shockwave to our system but, return pending, we've gotta make some tough decisions. I love Hart but he's another bad defender in the lineup.

We also need another playmaker. Could be Kolek. Could be someone else who we receive if we do the above. But somebody to make them pay if they're pressing JB.

[Red Vines]

I'm for the double big lineup, KAT shoots and Mitch rebounds until KAT makes it.

[Clyde_Style]

Mitch
OG
Bridges
Deuce
Brunson

That should be our starting unit.

It is probably impossible for Thibs to go against his star phucking DNA, but KAT should come into the game after it is started so they can begin every game with maximum defensive intensity.

That's what wins games. It is crushing the other team's offense. When that happens your offense usually falls into place organically with extra defensive stops and several more easy buckets.

We settled for trading buckets this series.

[Clyde_Style]

listen, the wolves had this guy for years. they know what he can and can't do. they traded everything they had for the guy who was the best defensive center in basketball at the time for a reason. you can't win with him starting there. this is not new information. everybody conveniently forgot when we traded for him.

if he's here next year, they need to have a 2nd center and almost never play him there. maybe it's huk. maybe it's someone we get for the mle. i don't know. but it can't be him. maybe horford will take the tax payers mle for a year to be the backup center.

We really lost a lot by not being able to give Mitch and KAT reps together in the RS. I agree, KAT should never have been starting C.

I liked Huk's aggression this year. It was such a stark difference from, say, valium Sims. He was a bit of a dummy but everyone is early on in the league. He showed some good stuff before he went down, including a little more offensive versatility than Mitch. Mitch is better, IJS.

If we go this way, and I agree we should, who's the odd man out? I think it's Hart and I wouldn't be surprised to see him moved this summer if he's not amenable to being moved to the bench. We moved Donte. It would be a big shockwave to our system but, return pending, we've gotta make some tough decisions. I love Hart but he's another bad defender in the lineup.

We also need another playmaker. Could be Kolek. Could be someone else who we receive if we do the above. But somebody to make them pay if they're pressing JB.

Kolek is ideal next to Deuce. Should have been the second unit backcourt all along instead of Cam Payne.

Kolek can shoot. Needs reps to get the consistency down, but the guy can score buckets off the bench, not just orchestrate.

Also, the last couple of times he saw game time when it was not garbage time his defense was wayyyyy better than people had been saying. He mostly stayed in front of his man and got deflections and a steal.

Huk is the big we should have been playing until Mitch came around, but just when it looked like he might get into the rotation he got hurt. It's not too late to give him spot minutes in this series. He is the biggest body we've got after Mitch.

[The KnicksFix]

Mitch
OG
Bridges
Deuce
Brunson

That should be our starting unit.

It is probably impossible for Thibs to go against his star phucking DNA, but KAT should come into the game after it is started so they can begin every game with maximum defensive intensity.

That's what wins games. It is crushing the other team's offense. When that happens your offense usually falls into place organically with extra defensive stops and several more easy buckets.

We settled for trading buckets this series.

This is EXACTLY what I’ve been screaming for all season
MITCH AND DEUCE IN THE STARTING LINEUP, SIT HART AND KAT
It’s quite literally the best opportunity we give ourself to win

Jb deuce Mikal OG Mitch