PG: Knicks Win Game One Even Without Nova Mob Juice

[HarthorneWingo]

Would you give Precious a try at PF with the bench to give Hart a breather?

I feel like Precious could help out there. Mitch guards Embiid in the paint, Precious guards him on the perimeter.

Agreed. I thought that Precious would’ve been helpful in this game.

[kNicksGmen]

Was this OG's first game as a knick with a negative +/- ?

[RHODEY]

Was this OG's first game as a knick with a negative +/- ?

Not sure but I do know its his 21st game out of 24 with a win.

[Galvationknicks]

He’s never made a bad video about the Knicks which is odd. Even if we a lose a game he won’t make a vid bashing Thibs like he does other coaches.

I think a Thibs video was his first ever positive coach video but he said he isn’t even a Knicks fan and just likes how we play defense. Which was believable at the time but now after like 6 or 7 vids praising the Knicks and Brunson I feel like he’s a closet Knicks fan

I've been watching him since December he made plenty of games of the Knicks playing poor D. He didn't make a positive knick vid until after the OG trade and we started racking up wins in January

[ScienceOfLosing]

New video from Thibs illegitimate son.

Watch on YouTube

Eventually he is going to slip up and say “Great coaching by Dad tonight.”

[Ray Williams]

Any and all talk of trading Mitch ends now.

[HopelessKnick]

Great great win. Mitch was absolutely huge and Deuce was magnificient. Hart was huge all game long on the boards and phenomenal late with his 3-point shooting. He is quickly emerging as an all-time favorite knick type of player. I also liked Bojan's agressiveness on offense, not hesitating but letting it fly instantly. He is an absolute key to any playoff success---in JR's absence we need those 15point performances by him.

Really remarkable to see the Knicks pull this out on a day Brunson couldn't buy a bucket. Absolutely remarkable. In a way the many injuries helped make this team remarkably resilient and deep. Hartenstein, Deuce but also DD and Josh have played so many minutes and assumed so much responsibility it feels they have all transformed themselves into efficient starting caliber players instead of the bench players that they were.

Biggest takeaway: Had someone told you before the game that Brunson is going to struggle his way to 22 points on 8-26 shooting while Embiid and Maxey combine for 62 points on 50% shooting, who would have thought the Knicks win this one? Amazing job! Kudos to everybody. Absolutely remarkable. A team of dogs.

[Juco24]

Any and all talk of trading Mitch ends now.

I think Mitch is one of those guys who focuses harder come playoffs. I can't explain it but he just plays different in the playoffs like last year against Cleveland

[GettinitDone]

Deuce was the guy who slowed the onslaught.

Yea, I don't love OG on Maxey. It's not the best use of his talent.

We were much better when Deuce was on Maxey and OG was playing Free Safety

you watched the game

Yeah I think Maxey was too quick for OG in this game but I thought it could be dramatically better in Game 2, I think OG gonna be on Maxey again cuz unlikely he starts Deuce over Divo or Hart.

[MrDollarBills]

Another thought - Brunson was off but probably well aware that by drawing the defense in we'd have an advantage on the offensive glass. We had a ton of putbacks off his misses where he drew out Embiid. I think that was a semi intentional counter to their blitzing.

It was an odd feeling seeing Brunson push/heave some shots he normally has a finessed touch with. It was like watching another player. Not concerned though. He is the most resilient player possible and he always makes adjustments.

Both he and iHart missed some bunnies.

Yep. Could have been nerves honestly, he was forcing it early on.

I think Game 2 Brunson will be much better and Philly should be very concerned.

[K_ick_God]

It seemed like yips for JB, they also defended him well, and he may be gassed or all the above

[aromeoj]

My takeaway from the game is a slightly different take. It is also something that most of these teams (not all) in these playoffs do.

Most of these teams try to be good at a couple different defenses. Like last night Nurse came in with a 1-2-2 half court zone. Sixers were good with it but it is not sustainable. Knicks can make offensive adjustments for that defense which they didn’t see from the sixers before last night. Cant just play a defense and think it will be great.

That is something the Knicks do not do. They stay true to who they are. Yes they make make a slight adjustment here and there but they do not change their whole defense. They play physical man 2 man defense and work to close out on any rotation through help defense. They have their identity. These teams that try to change their identity will not win series. They may win a game or two but not the series. Philly played the best they could and it ended up with a 7 point loss with their “good” new defense.

Thibs is a coach and will make small adjustments to beat the sixers defense.

Excited to see what offensive adjustments the Knicks make. Defensively we will still have our metal bats out and socks filled with nickles.

[Guano]

Chanel glad you made it to the game

Read on Twitter

[Reign23]

couldn't wait to get out of bed to watch this. this was so freaking important to close the game out and take the lead.
game ball(s) go to Mitch, Deuce, Bogie and Hart for coming alive in the 4th.
Brunson was abysmal and we still won.

[GettinitDone]

Read on Twitter

[thebuzzardman]

Watch on YouTube

[BKlutch]

Mitchell locked in not biting on fakes was incredible.

I read the Philly board last night when I couldn't sleep after the game -- one guy wrote how "Joel has no lift, but they always fall for his fakes." That was before the game was ours.

In general, I found the Philly fans who posted not very knowledeable about the game. They disparaged our team as a bunch of bench guys who could never elevate their game again to win, and most thought they will win in 6 despite Embiid's injury. One or two seemed to get it, but not those fans. They've been drinking the cool aid for too long - "Trust the Process."

[BKlutch]

I think we just took their best shot. No?

Just wrote that on the GB an hour ago lol

Philly's best shot will be a stiff bourbon after each loss. It will help ease the pain of disillusionment.

[BKlutch]

Any particular reason about this series?

The main reason I see for that is Deuce being the ideal matchup against Maxey

Philly was so determined to stop Donte that they were face guarding him to prevent him from getting any looks. For their trouble they were rewarded with Deuce torching them to death AND shutting down Maxey

Wishing us continued success with having too many shooters to defend. That is the premise and it worked today. Even if a shooter is colder, if they are a known marksman then you can't leave your man to double someone else. Eventually, one of the shooters will be open.

What I like about this squad is they usually keep moving off the ball. While some say we lack pace, that's maybe only true in the full court sense, but in the half court we generate looks by being in motion. And we have enough shooters to take advantage of those opportunities. It only takes one out of 3 or 4 guys to have the hot hand to make it work. Today, Deuce and Bogie were able to be those guys.

This is the key to our win.

[Chanel Bomber]

Chanel glad you made it to the game

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