Semifinals Matchup Set: Knicks vs Celtics

[HarthorneWingo]

not expecting this to be pretty for us

If the Magic won 1 game against the Celtics, then we should be able to win 2-3 games.

[Ravenxvirall]

I really want to believe we can win this, someone convince me lol

[sol537]

I really want to believe we can win this, someone convince me lol

OK--I'll bite. I think Boston in 5/6 but we've seen upsets before so...

There's a chance Holiday is hobbled due to that hamstring issue and there's a chance that Brown and Tatum are not 100% throughout the duration of this series due to their recent injuries. That opens the window just enough for the Knicks to steal one in Boston.

Then you got both OG and Bridges playing elite levels of defense so far in these playoffs and you could conceivably hold Brown and Tatum to inefficient numbers. Holiday's shot may be entirely off. That means you've got White and KP that both have to be really efficient to make up for it.

Pistons pushed the current Knicks to their limits and forced them to do some bonding and introspection. There were several quarters in the Pistons series where we looked like world-beaters... as good as any of the top teams.

Let's say we steal one on the road. They steal one back in NY. Then they go up 3-2. Then we hold serve in game 6. It comes down to game 7... This particular Boston team has yet to be tested in a game 7. Maybe it comes down to the wire with Tatum and Brunson trading clutch baskets. Maybe... just maybe... Brunson's clutchness edges out Tatum's and take game 7 and move on to face the Cavs... Maybe.

[Ravenxvirall]

I really want to believe we can win this, someone convince me lol

OK--I'll bite. I think Boston in 5/6 but we've seen upsets before so...

There's a chance Holiday is hobbled due to that hamstring issue and there's a chance that Brown and Tatum are not 100% throughout the duration of this series due to their recent injuries. That opens the window just enough for the Knicks to steal one in Boston.

Then you got both OG and Bridges playing elite levels of defense so far in these playoffs and you could conceivably hold Brown and Tatum to inefficient numbers. Holiday's shot may be entirely off. That means you've got White and KP that both have to be really efficient to make up for it.

Pistons pushed the current Knicks to their limits and forced them to do some bonding and introspection. There were several quarters in the Pistons series where we looked like world-beaters... as good as any of the top teams.

Let's say we steal one on the road. They steal one back in NY. Then they go up 3-2. Then we hold serve in game 6. It comes down to game 7... This particular Boston team has yet to be tested in a game 7. Maybe it comes down to the wire with Tatum and Brunson trading clutch baskets. Maybe... just maybe... Brunson's clutchness edges out Tatum's and take game 7 and move on to face the Cavs... Maybe.

Damn you did a fantastic job! That’s actually a believable path of winning the series.

[MrDollarBills]

Call it wishful thinking but I wouldn’t be surprised if Thibs preparation focus going into the playoffs was predominantly on Boston …I can defintely see him neglecting Detroit…celts in 6

You don’t know Thibs at all. The man does not have any ability to think in the medium or long term.

This man had guys playing 40+ mins on back to backs in January.

[MrDollarBills]

Let's talk strategy. I'm not with the doomerism, we are here and we need to fight and win.

We're not stopping Tatum when he goes on a heater. I'm not even deluding myself. I know the conventional idea is to send help and let others beat you but I think against a team like this that's a horrible idea.

We have to take away their primary weapon, the three ball.

My question to everyone is: How do we do that?

I agree that stopping Tatum and forcing the others to beat you isn't the play here when the others are White/Brown/Holiday/Porzingis since they will probably beat you. So stopping the 3 is paramount and I think you do that by giving up the paint. Its like the one thing that Thibs will not do. He lives and dies with the notion that a good defense is built around stopping layups, which isn't crazy by any means but just not as effective as it was in the past.

According to the NBA advance stats, they shoot way worse on the left corner. I think the defensive strategy should be to take away right corner 3s first and foremost and by extension, also take away right wing 3s (i don't have access to second spectrum but I suspect this is especially true for White).

After that, I'd try to turn them into a 1v1 iso ball team like we play. If we can take away their swing swing open 3 and basically say go ahead and play OG v Tatum on every possession, don't help and stay home on shooters, we will have a good chance of winning.

Yeah I'm with you. I stay home on everyone and force Tatum to beat us 1 v 1 vs OG. I don't care if he scores 60 points as long as we're not giving up open threes to good shooters

[NoDopeOnSundays]

not expecting this to be pretty for us

If the Magic won 1 game against the Celtics, then we should be able to win 2-3 games.

You can't look at it like that, because the Magic were willing to switch on defense and live with the outcome, we will not be looking to do that.

[Davis18]

Knicks in 6.
Wingstop will earn their money.
Kat will remind KP why he was #1 pick.
Of course the captain will lead us once again.

[Spree2Houston]

I think we win Game 1. Fans get hyped. We lose the next 4

[dakomish23]

I think we win Game 1. Fans get hyped. We lose the next 4

I thought this was Buzz at first

Well done

[dakomish23]

25 min mark. They go over the clear overdependence we have on ISO Brunson

https://youtu.be/

Watch on YouTube

?si=HeqGQVZ-BMuB3Mx-

Now The Hoop Collective talks about it to start their show. A lot of ppl see the very obvious flaws in this approach barring Brunson shooting some insane percentage

https://youtu.be/

Watch on YouTube

?si=mm3GbZKypJ39HbA6

[thebuzzardman]

Knicks aren't an awesome team like the Pistons, so Celtics in 4

[prophet_of_rage]

Let's talk strategy. I'm not with the doomerism, we are here and we need to fight and win.

We're not stopping Tatum when he goes on a heater. I'm not even deluding myself. I know the conventional idea is to send help and let others beat you but I think against a team like this that's a horrible idea.

We have to take away their primary weapon, the three ball.

My question to everyone is: How do we do that?

Ypu have to slow the game down. But we don't have the size to close out on shooters and then protect the rim. KAT post ups.help but he will be doubled relentlessly by a roaming big.

We're built like a poor version of Boston. Everything we do they do better except maybe the post up.

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[prophet_of_rage]

I was looking for subtle adjustments from Thibs the entire series against the Pistons and was left severely disappointed. The offense got worse as the series went on. Thibs regressed to playing the starters crazy minutes and refused to go deeper into the bench despite the horrible play from McBride. I have zero faith in Thibs. The players will have to win and overcome his coaching. I don't think it's possible against Boston. I say it will be a gentlemans sweep. Boston in 5.

brother what did you want? NOBODY was doing anything off the bench, McBride has been BRUTAL.

It's easy to sit there and say nobody on the bench was going to do anything than actually play some of your bench and see if they will do anything. Thibs continues to take the first approach which leads to the starters playing 40+ minutes and getting burnt out. You think this is a sustainable formula for success?

Mitch played, Shamet played, Payne played, McBride played. Thibs went 9 deep. What are you wanting? Precious? Dadiet? Kolek?

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[MrDollarBills]

Let's talk strategy. I'm not with the doomerism, we are here and we need to fight and win.

We're not stopping Tatum when he goes on a heater. I'm not even deluding myself. I know the conventional idea is to send help and let others beat you but I think against a team like this that's a horrible idea.

We have to take away their primary weapon, the three ball.

My question to everyone is: How do we do that?

Ypu have to slow the game down. But we don't have the size to close out on shooters and then protect the rim. KAT post ups.help but he will be doubled relentlessly by a roaming big.

We're built like a poor version of Boston. Everything we do they do better except maybe the post up.

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Slowing the game down takes KAT, OG, and Mikal out of the equation offensively

We need to play aggressive and with purpose. Move that ball, set screens, cut to the rim or spot up

[prophet_of_rage]

brother what did you want? NOBODY was doing anything off the bench, McBride has been BRUTAL.

It's easy to sit there and say nobody on the bench was going to do anything than actually play some of your bench and see if they will do anything. Thibs continues to take the first approach which leads to the starters playing 40+ minutes and getting burnt out. You think this is a sustainable formula for success?

I don't get what ppl want, they play they don't produce, how long do you keep giving em minutes? the best players play this time of the year, OG is 2nd in minutes, Brunson 9th, KAT 22nd. Top players play

They want excuses why their team loses.

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[Clyde_Style]

If Cowens and Silas control the boards, the Celtics will get their fastbreak going and win easily. But if Willis and DeBusschere are strong down low, that'll allow Frazier, Barnett and Monroe to start cooking in the half court.

Gotta watch out for Havlicek. He always kills Bradley. Jerry Lucas's long ball could be a factor. Its too bad the three point line hasn't been invented yet.

Big Body Clyde will be the difference

[LFGK]

Let's talk strategy. I'm not with the doomerism, we are here and we need to fight and win.

We're not stopping Tatum when he goes on a heater. I'm not even deluding myself. I know the conventional idea is to send help and let others beat you but I think against a team like this that's a horrible idea.

We have to take away their primary weapon, the three ball.

My question to everyone is: How do we do that?

Ypu have to slow the game down. But we don't have the size to close out on shooters and then protect the rim. KAT post ups.help but he will be doubled relentlessly by a roaming big.

We're built like a poor version of Boston. Everything we do they do better except maybe the post up.

Sent from my SM-S9080 using RealGM mobile app

Slowing the game down takes KAT, OG, and Mikal out of the equation offensively

We need to play aggressive and with purpose. Move that ball, set screens, cut to the rim or spot up

Not necessarily, game should be slowed down a bit so they can't just run up and down and spam 60 3PT a game. Could def pick and choose spots to run but they just have defend, if they get OG and Bridges to defend like they did the first round and play Mitch with them, they will make this a series

[prophet_of_rage]

We almost lost Game 4 & 6 b/c we decided to stop running an offense and went hero ball way too early. If it wasn’t for DET inexperience with closing out playoff games & some insane / lucky shot making by us, we’re facing Game 7 or even a series loss.

Do not expect these things to just happen again against BOS.

If we follow the game 3 template, I think we can push this to 7. We have the talent to go to war with BOS. We just don’t maximize it.

Also Deuce absolutely has to provide some type of counter to Pritchard. He was not great in the DET series.

We do not have a starting five that can match their starting five. How do we have equal talent?

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[prophet_of_rage]

Read on Twitter

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Get up this morning with Hahn and Jay Williams, they had a great breakdown of the game winning 3 by Brunson, however the breakdown was not just the shot BUT the amazing drawn up play by Thibs to allow Brunson the floor spacing to get that good of a look to begin with, if you have twitter and follow Hahn you can check it out, especially for those of you who keep harping on over and over again how thibs never draws up

Thibs doesn't run plays tho!

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