Knicks - Pelicans PG: RJ CAME TO PLAY

[god shammgod]

It's so crazy that we're 5-1 with the best offense in the league and we really haven't played that great of basketball. Imagine when this team is actually firing on full cylinders?

being the best 3pt shooting team in the league on a lot of attempts makes up for a lot of weaknesses.

it'll be interesting to see if we can keep it up because we're 21st in defense so far and we really haven't played a hard schedule yet. we're 4th in paint defense which is basically mitch but on the perimeter it's another story.

[mpharris36]

It's so crazy that we're 5-1 with the best offense in the league and we really haven't played that great of basketball. Imagine when this team is actually firing on full cylinders?

being the best 3pt shooting team in the league on a lot of attempts makes up for a lot of weaknesses.

it'll be interesting to see if we can keep it up because we're 21st in defense so far and we really haven't played a hard schedule yet. we're 4th in paint defense which is basically mitch but on the perimeter it's another story.

yeah I mean outside of RJ we really don't have a trust worthy wing defender. IQ or Burks are just a bit redundant in my eyes. Could use a little more defense with that second unit especially. You know thibs aint removing burks so IQ might be in jeopardy for either Grimes or McBride just to provide a little more defense.

[Oscirus]

being the best 3pt shooting team in the league on a lot of attempts makes up for a lot of weaknesses.

it'll be interesting to see if we can keep it up because we're 21st in defense so far and we really haven't played a hard schedule yet. we're 4th in paint defense which is basically mitch but on the perimeter it's another story.

yeah I mean outside of RJ we really don't have a trust worthy wing defender. IQ or Burks are just a bit redundant in my eyes. Could use a little more defense with that second unit especially. You know thibs aint removing burks so IQ might be in jeopardy for either Grimes or McBride just to provide a little more defense.

yea keeping burkes over bullock aint looking too good at the mome

[god shammgod]

being the best 3pt shooting team in the league on a lot of attempts makes up for a lot of weaknesses.

it'll be interesting to see if we can keep it up because we're 21st in defense so far and we really haven't played a hard schedule yet. we're 4th in paint defense which is basically mitch but on the perimeter it's another story.

yeah I mean outside of RJ we really don't have a trust worthy wing defender. IQ or Burks are just a bit redundant in my eyes. Could use a little more defense with that second unit especially. You know thibs aint removing burks so IQ might be in jeopardy for either Grimes or McBride just to provide a little more defense.

thibs loves iq according to a story i read because iq is actually in the gym more than anyone. i don't think he's gonna bench him this quickly. plus changing one guy who plays off the bench for ten minutes won't fix that much.

[robillionaire]

it'll be interesting to see if we can keep it up because we're 21st in defense so far and we really haven't played a hard schedule yet. we're 4th in paint defense which is basically mitch but on the perimeter it's another story.

yeah I mean outside of RJ we really don't have a trust worthy wing defender. IQ or Burks are just a bit redundant in my eyes. Could use a little more defense with that second unit especially. You know thibs aint removing burks so IQ might be in jeopardy for either Grimes or McBride just to provide a little more defense.

yea keeping burkes over bullock aint looking too good at the mome

Have you watched Bullock he’s been terrible

[Oscirus]

yeah I mean outside of RJ we really don't have a trust worthy wing defender. IQ or Burks are just a bit redundant in my eyes. Could use a little more defense with that second unit especially. You know thibs aint removing burks so IQ might be in jeopardy for either Grimes or McBride just to provide a little more defense.

yea keeping burkes over bullock aint looking too good at the mome

Have you watched Bullock he’s been terrible

I havent, has his defense fell off as well?

[mpharris36]

it'll be interesting to see if we can keep it up because we're 21st in defense so far and we really haven't played a hard schedule yet. we're 4th in paint defense which is basically mitch but on the perimeter it's another story.

yeah I mean outside of RJ we really don't have a trust worthy wing defender. IQ or Burks are just a bit redundant in my eyes. Could use a little more defense with that second unit especially. You know thibs aint removing burks so IQ might be in jeopardy for either Grimes or McBride just to provide a little more defense.

thibs loves iq according to a story i read because iq is actually in the gym more than anyone. i don't think he's gonna bench him this quickly. plus changing one guy who plays off the bench for ten minutes won't fix that much.

it wont but our 2 maybe even 3 best defenders if you include Randle are with the starters The bench outside of Taj or Noel whenever he comes back play with a bunch of bad defenders on the perimeter.

[cgf]

being the best 3pt shooting team in the league on a lot of attempts makes up for a lot of weaknesses.

it'll be interesting to see if we can keep it up because we're 21st in defense so far and we really haven't played a hard schedule yet. we're 4th in paint defense which is basically mitch but on the perimeter it's another story.

yeah I mean outside of RJ we really don't have a trust worthy wing defender. IQ or Burks are just a bit redundant in my eyes. Could use a little more defense with that second unit especially. You know thibs aint removing burks so IQ might be in jeopardy for either Grimes or McBride just to provide a little more defense.

I was in favor of keeping Bullock over Burks, but I can undertand why the FO wanted to make sure that Thibs would have a bunch of options with his closing unit, so he could ride the hothead when someone's cold and have some iteration of:

D.Rose | Kemba
Fournier | Burks | Quickley
Barrett
Randle
Robinson | Noel | Gibson

clicking on any given night. The balance might be better with Reggie over Alec, but there will be nights when Fournier & IQ are both cold but Burks is cooking...and if that happens just once in the playoffs, the decision will be well worth it.

[GONYK]

yeah I mean outside of RJ we really don't have a trust worthy wing defender. IQ or Burks are just a bit redundant in my eyes. Could use a little more defense with that second unit especially. You know thibs aint removing burks so IQ might be in jeopardy for either Grimes or McBride just to provide a little more defense.

yea keeping burkes over bullock aint looking too good at the mome

Have you watched Bullock he’s been terrible

Regardless of how Bullock has been playing, Burks is the better archetype to carry on your team.

Bullock was absolutely useless in the playoffs. You want players who can put the ball on the floor and make a play.

[HerSports85]

I mean let’s play more than 5 games before making adjustments to the rotation. Imagine if Grimes struggles for 5 games should he be replaced for someone too? Let’s give the guy a decent shot since he earned it last season.

For me, it’s more than 5 games. It’s the playoffs, summer league, pre season and now a 6 game stretch during the regular season. His shot selection is insanely terrible, his handle is mid, and he’s a net zero when the ball not in his hands.

I want Grimes because it’ll let Rose be the best version of himself. Grimes provides defense, mid range game, and movement off the ball that IQ lacks.

The game plan is out on IQ, let him chuck his 3s … if they’re not falling he’s very limited.

The only reason I may be in favor of keeping him in his spot is because of chemistry and his connection with Obi but I know it frustrates Grimes seeing this guy get mins over him.

Yea you’re reaching dude. You don’t know what is in Grimes’ mind to make a statement like that. You make it seem like IQ didn’t have great games in summer league or that he didn’t have at least one good game in the regular season, which was against the Magic. Best version of Rose? He’s been our best player and he can play the role he wants to whenever he wants to. So yea just chill a bit and root for your team bc things are going pretty good rn.

IQ didn't have any great games in summer league. But I'll give it to you.. yeah he had 1 good game out of the last 20 or so. But we'll revisit this later in the season. Let's see how it goes and if he continues on this trajectory will Thibs adjust.

[GONYK]

yeah I mean outside of RJ we really don't have a trust worthy wing defender. IQ or Burks are just a bit redundant in my eyes. Could use a little more defense with that second unit especially. You know thibs aint removing burks so IQ might be in jeopardy for either Grimes or McBride just to provide a little more defense.

thibs loves iq according to a story i read because iq is actually in the gym more than anyone. i don't think he's gonna bench him this quickly. plus changing one guy who plays off the bench for ten minutes won't fix that much.

it wont but our 2 maybe even 3 best defenders if you include Randle are with the starters The bench outside of Taj or Noel whenever he comes back play with a bunch of bad defenders on the perimeter.

I don't see the need defense off the bench. One better defender in 10-12 minutes isn't going to make a difference. That 2nd unit is optimized to blow out the other team's unit offensively.

[thebuzzardman]

People getting hung up on certain defensive stats.

It's going to be about point differential this year. Knicks are looking to score but be tough enough defensively to win games and put the clamps on situationally.

Knicks can be middle of the pack in points allowed, be top 4 in scoring, and wind up top 5 in points differential.

[thebuzzardman]

yea keeping burkes over bullock aint looking too good at the mome

Have you watched Bullock he’s been terrible

Regardless of how Bullock has been playing, Burks is the better archetype to carry on your team.

Bullock was absolutely useless in the playoffs. You want players who can put the ball on the floor and make a play.

All this.

And sure, I'd like an upgrade over Burks. Or for Grimes to be that upgrade. But he has use.

Bullocks in the "regular season player", which is odd, since some of the complaints are emanating from posters who complained last year was a team built for the regular season.

[GONYK]

People are overreacting to our defensive rating. What you're seeing is a small sample size with NBA offenses and defenses still working themselves out.

Last year, we finished the season as the 4th best defense in the NBA with a DRTG of 107.8

Right now, our defense is 21st with a DRTG of 108.

If you think teams like the Timberwolves are going to maintain a DRTG of 98.4 all year, I don't know what to tell you.

We can obviously get better, but we're not terrible at the moment. Most of our sink comes from points in transition because we keep turning the ball over and shoot more 3's, which leads to long rebounds.

[F N 11]

k still on an irrelevant stat kick

Read on Twitter

RJ used to do the same with Zion back in duke. RJ is good at utilizing bigs.

Stagger RJ with Obi

[F N 11]

I see a lot of defensive post. It comes down to we have Mitch in the middle and can step it up with Thibs as coach. What we are doing to individuals is coaching. Thibs has some schemes. Can’t wait to see what he came up with for dynamic point guards.

[mpharris36]

thibs loves iq according to a story i read because iq is actually in the gym more than anyone. i don't think he's gonna bench him this quickly. plus changing one guy who plays off the bench for ten minutes won't fix that much.

it wont but our 2 maybe even 3 best defenders if you include Randle are with the starters The bench outside of Taj or Noel whenever he comes back play with a bunch of bad defenders on the perimeter.

I don't see the need defense off the bench. One better defender in 10-12 minutes isn't going to make a difference. That 2nd unit is optimized to blow out the other team's unit offensively.

I don't necessarily agree with that. If IQ usage is going to be really small with Rose/Burks getting most of the action. And we are using IQ basically as a C&S stretch the floor big with very limited ball handling duties if he's not making those shots consistently it might be better to have a more quality defender in that group.

I personally don't think we will be able to survive as a bottom 3rd defensive team. I guess if we keep up the #1 OFF (which I don't see likely). But if we do it might not matter. Obviously if IQ goes back to making a ton of shots sure.

But if IQ is going to remain a 4-5 FGA guy I don't think that is necessarily using him to full ability since he isn't going to help you much defensively.

[GONYK]

it wont but our 2 maybe even 3 best defenders if you include Randle are with the starters The bench outside of Taj or Noel whenever he comes back play with a bunch of bad defenders on the perimeter.

I don't see the need defense off the bench. One better defender in 10-12 minutes isn't going to make a difference. That 2nd unit is optimized to blow out the other team's unit offensively.

I don't necessarily agree with that. If IQ usage is going to be really small with Rose/Burks getting most of the action. And we are using IQ basically as a C&S stretch the floor big with very limited ball handling duties if he's not making those shots consistently it might be better to have a more quality defender in that group.

I personally don't think we will be able to survive as a bottom 3rd defensive team. I guess if we keep up the #1 OFF (which I don't see likely). But if we do it might not matter. Obviously if IQ goes back to making a ton of shots sure.

But if IQ is going to remain a 4-5 FGA guy I don't think that is necessarily using him to full ability since he isn't going to help you much defensively.

We aren't a bottom third defensive team because of IQ's 13 MPG though and I'm not sure swapping him with Deuce even makes a meaningful improvement offensively or defensively.

It's much more likely that IQ starts shooting better.

I think in a lot of ways, we're overindexing on 6 games.

[mpharris36]

I don't see the need defense off the bench. One better defender in 10-12 minutes isn't going to make a difference. That 2nd unit is optimized to blow out the other team's unit offensively.

I don't necessarily agree with that. If IQ usage is going to be really small with Rose/Burks getting most of the action. And we are using IQ basically as a C&S stretch the floor big with very limited ball handling duties if he's not making those shots consistently it might be better to have a more quality defender in that group.

I personally don't think we will be able to survive as a bottom 3rd defensive team. I guess if we keep up the #1 OFF (which I don't see likely). But if we do it might not matter. Obviously if IQ goes back to making a ton of shots sure.

But if IQ is going to remain a 4-5 FGA guy I don't think that is necessarily using him to full ability since he isn't going to help you much defensively.

We aren't a bottom third defensive team because of IQ's 13 MPG though and I'm not sure swapping him with Deuce even makes a meaningful improvement.

It's much more likely that IQ starts shooting better.

I think in a lot of ways, we're overindexing on 6 games.

I'm not suggesting making a change in the immediate future. I'm saying it could be something to look at if the shooting continues to struggle. I think its much more likely a young guy like Grimes or McBride cracks the rotation on an inevitable injury.

[Oscirus]

People getting hung up on certain defensive stats.

It's going to be about point differential this year. Knicks are looking to score but be tough enough defensively to win games and put the clamps on situationally.

Knicks can be middle of the pack in points allowed, be top 4 in scoring, and wind up top 5 in points differential.

we gave up 59 points in the first half to a team that didnt have its two best players. If thats not worrisome, then nothing is.