8516knicks wrote:seren wrote:8516knicks wrote:KAT and Thibs for 2025-26 means we are not likely to ever again reach the ECF. One or both have to go. Yesterday was like the Pacers on ice skates and the Knicks stuck in cement. For a reported D coach, Thibs screwed the pooch. And that's not even getting into the pound 17 seconds for an iso offense. That worked well yesterday, didn't it? If this was baseball, KAT would be the designated hitter. And valuable. But it's basketball.
Curious why you think this way. What have you seen from the current eastern conference that makes you think the teams we beat with these guys that will make them better or the teams we didn’t face to be better than this squad?
Well to start with we didn't beat the Pacers. And the Pistons will be better. Orlando probably won't be hit with injuries like this year and they have pick #16. Philly will Maxey, maybe Embid and they have pick #3. Boston is still Boston even if Tatum is iffy for next season. The Bucs still have Giannis. And the Cavs still have a good team and DM.
And we will have the same D and same O and same Coach and be the slowest of the bunch with the worst bench. Last year we were injury free. Will that last thru next season at the rate NBA stars are going down each year?
Getting 51 wins again, let alone to the 2nd round Playoffs, relies on some changes that were not evident in the Pacer series. But maybe...
Well we already won 50+ games two seasons in a row and another 47 games the season before with this coach despite injuries in prior seasons. So I think we are good with 45+ wins without changes. Probably closer to 50 since Boston will be injured all year, Bucs may blow the team or will be less talented with Lillard out all season, Cleveland possibly taking a step back if the FO doesn’t want to pay a large tax bill. I don’t think Philly situation is easily resolvable. I agree Orlando and Detroit will probably get better but that cancels out Bucks Celtics possible decline.
We also didn’t have Mitch for most of the year. I also think younger players and the bench showed enough that one or two players will get bigger roles next season. So overall I think we can be back to ECF and it doesn’t necessarily need a complete overhaul.
