Game 35: Knicks vs @OKC: 1/3/2025; 8:00pm NBA-TV

[Clyde_Style]

It should be a rock fight; their offense is good but not great, however their defense is bordering on historically great. They are a much deeper team though, and have 4 good to great perimeter defenders, but we've seen Brunson cook all of them before.

The Bucks beat the brakes off them though, I feel like Precious should play some more in this game with KAT because they're a small team without Chet.

NBA always afraid that the hayseeds will abandon the league so they'll have the refs have the Knicks starting 5 in foul trouble by mid 1st quarter.

OKC wins easily.

That's why we slip the moonshine in their gatorade. The nephew of a CAA connection is an OKC ball boy. We got this.

[Clyde_Style]

Read on Twitter

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Honestly believe he’s played his last game as a knick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nah. If they're openly saying that they're obviously not worried about his current trade value so he's going nowhere.

It's like I said, he's being held back for a late season run and the playoffs.

[Capn'O]

One thing I'm pretty confident about is: Towns is about to cook iHart.

I would put OG on Shai and Mikal on Williams...but the main focus for me would be to disrupt Shai...but yeah Towns should cook Ihart...Ihart could guard Embiid at all...

Right. Embiid was just too strong and KAT is just that strong if not stronger. KAT's gonna body him.

Disagree on the smalls though as Bridges is better with lanky guys. I think Williams would body him but he may have an advantage with SGA. Having OG on Williams reduces some of SGA's bailout options too. Forces him to play hero ball.

[Context]

One thing I'm pretty confident about is: Towns is about to cook iHart.

I would put OG on Shai and Mikal on Williams...but the main focus for me would be to disrupt Shai...but yeah Towns should cook Ihart...Ihart could guard Embiid at all...

Right. Embiid was just too strong and KAT is just that strong if not stronger. KAT's gonna body him.

Disagree on the smalls though as Bridges is better with lanky guys. I think Williams would body him but he may have an advantage with SGA. Having OG on Williams reduces some of SGA's bailout options too. Forces him to play hero ball.

I wont act like I know Mikal that well in terms of his defensive ability but I KNOW OG can shut anyone down. For that reason I put OG on Shai...I think Mikal is definately long enough
(wing span 7-1) to guard the 6-5 williams Cap... but its definintely debatable...

[Clyde_Style]

One thing I'm pretty confident about is: Towns is about to cook iHart.

I would put OG on Shai and Mikal on Williams...but the main focus for me would be to disrupt Shai...but yeah Towns should cook Ihart...Ihart could guard Embiid at all...

Right. Embiid was just too strong and KAT is just that strong if not stronger. KAT's gonna body him.

Disagree on the smalls though as Bridges is better with lanky guys. I think Williams would body him but he may have an advantage with SGA. Having OG on Williams reduces some of SGA's bailout options too. Forces him to play hero ball.

Just looked up Shai and he's only 22nd on the Assist list. Brunson is # 8.

What makes him so effective if he's not a top assist guy and has a mediocre 3P%? Is it just he can't be stopped inside the perimeter?

[MrDollarBills]

One thing I'm pretty confident about is: Towns is about to cook iHart.

I would put OG on Shai and Mikal on Williams...but the main focus for me would be to disrupt Shai...but yeah Towns should cook Ihart...Ihart could guard Embiid at all...

Right. Embiid was just too strong and KAT is just that strong if not stronger. KAT's gonna body him.

Disagree on the smalls though as Bridges is better with lanky guys. I think Williams would body him but he may have an advantage with SGA. Having OG on Williams reduces some of SGA's bailout options too. Forces him to play hero ball.

Let Mikal start out on SGA but stagger him and OG so that one of them are guarding him at all times.

I'm interested to see how this will playout. If I'm not mistaken OKC isn't a high volume three point shooting team and SGA does a crap ton of damage. He's posted a few 40 points games recently

[Worst_to_First]

[x]

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The December players of the month playing in this game. KAT is awesome. Thanks Leon!

[HarthorneWingo]

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Honestly believe he’s played his last game as a knick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nah. If they're openly saying that they're obviously not worried about his current trade value so he's going nowhere.

It's like I said, he's being held back for a late season run and the playoffs.

Yeah, Mitch will be like our trade deadline acquisition.

[Clyde_Style]

Would be amazing if Kolek plays and shines in a big game like this

[G_K_F]

Kessler or Richards have small enough salaries that you could KEEP Mitch and still get them.

Poetl and Stewart and even possibly Valanciunus (who is not an ideal rim protector) would require Mitch to go.

In my opinion The ideal route is to go for Kessler. I am betting Kolek is gaining steam big time in the eyes of other teams evaluators. His game is quickly improving and he didnt look like toast out there on D vs Utah. Utah also had strong interest in Dadiet. From what I am reading, We have the abilty to trade 1FRP and multiple 2nd RPs. Ainge is tough to deal with granted but I think some combination of:

Kolek, Dadiet, Right to Rokas, 1FRP, Multiple 2nd Round picks would get it done for Kessler.

Utah is on a long term rebuild and getting super young cost controlled guys in Kolek and/or Dadiet and/or Rokas would fit their timeline.

The rim protecting 5 doesn't carry extreme value to the league like it once did as much as it does to Thibs defense. And Kessler is not some superstar player. He definitely has value but it isnt like some crazy 3+ FRP value either.

What is the benefit of trading our only young players with any potential and keeping Robinson, who is perennially injured?

I think Poetl would be a solid get.

If you don’t like Robinson cause of his injuries, you’re not going to like Poe either

Before last season Poetl was generally healthy. And he is this year too.

No comparison with Mitch’s career.

Also Mitch has small feet and continuously has lower body injuries. This guy will not be in the league in 4-5 years or sooner based on this trajectory.

[KnixinSix]

What is the benefit of trading our only young players with any potential and keeping Robinson, who is perennially injured?

I think Poetl would be a solid get.

If you don’t like Robinson cause of his injuries, you’re not going to like Poe either

Before last season Poetl was generally healthy. And he is this year too.

No comparison with Mitch’s career.

Also Mitch has small feet and continuously has lower body injuries. This guy will not be in the league in 4-5 years or sooner based on this trajectory.

You keep Robinson cuz he gives you another shot of having a guy who is a DPOY level defender at the very position you need that kind of defense for a Thibs team.

Thats why a Kessler is ideal.

The young guys arent going to get much playing time anyways. This team is clearly in win now mode. Further Kolek while looking really interesting is too redundant to Brunson where the likelihood is he wont become a great defender. Dadiet is developmental. Huk too. If you get back a Kessler that is a huge get for team needs.

[3toheadmelo]

If you don’t like Robinson cause of his injuries, you’re not going to like Poe either

Before last season Poetl was generally healthy. And he is this year too.

No comparison with Mitch’s career.

Also Mitch has small feet and continuously has lower body injuries. This guy will not be in the league in 4-5 years or sooner based on this trajectory.

You keep Robinson cuz he gives you another shot of having a guy who is a DPOY level defender at the very position you need that kind of defense for a Thibs team.

Thats why a Kessler is ideal.

The young guys arent going to get much playing time anyways. This team is clearly in win now mode. Further Kolek while looking really interesting is too redundant to Brunson where the likelihood is he wont become a great defender. Dadiet is developmental. Huk too. If you get back a Kessler that is a huge get for team needs.

Not sure why you’re obsessed with getting Kessler. KAT destroyed him in every way possible last night. The guy is very mid

[KnixinSix]

Before last season Poetl was generally healthy. And he is this year too.

No comparison with Mitch’s career.

Also Mitch has small feet and continuously has lower body injuries. This guy will not be in the league in 4-5 years or sooner based on this trajectory.

You keep Robinson cuz he gives you another shot of having a guy who is a DPOY level defender at the very position you need that kind of defense for a Thibs team.

Thats why a Kessler is ideal.

The young guys arent going to get much playing time anyways. This team is clearly in win now mode. Further Kolek while looking really interesting is too redundant to Brunson where the likelihood is he wont become a great defender. Dadiet is developmental. Huk too. If you get back a Kessler that is a huge get for team needs.

Not sure why you’re obsessed with getting Kessler. KAT destroyed him in every way possible last night. The guy is very mid

Thibs transformed a very mid IHart to a tremendous defender. Kessler is already a pretty strong one and would get better here. KAT is having an MVP type season so he has been destroying a bunch of good defenders. Also Walkers effect in the middle goes way beyond defending someone else's super gifted C 1 on 1. The idea is much more nuanced than you are seeing.

[KnixinSix]

Read on Twitter

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Honestly believe he’s played his last game as a knick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nah. If they're openly saying that they're obviously not worried about his current trade value so he's going nowhere.

It's like I said, he's being held back for a late season run and the playoffs.

We have ammo to make a trade for a C WITHOUT including Mitch. Lets see if that is what happens here.

[3toheadmelo]

You keep Robinson cuz he gives you another shot of having a guy who is a DPOY level defender at the very position you need that kind of defense for a Thibs team.

Thats why a Kessler is ideal.

The young guys arent going to get much playing time anyways. This team is clearly in win now mode. Further Kolek while looking really interesting is too redundant to Brunson where the likelihood is he wont become a great defender. Dadiet is developmental. Huk too. If you get back a Kessler that is a huge get for team needs.

Not sure why you’re obsessed with getting Kessler. KAT destroyed him in every way possible last night. The guy is very mid

Thibs transformed a very mid IHart to a tremendous defender. Kessler is already a pretty strong one and would get better here. KAT is having an MVP type season so he has been destroying a bunch of good defenders. Also Walkers effect in the middle goes way beyond defending someone else's super gifted C 1 on 1. The idea is much more nuanced than you are seeing.

Knicks kept targeting Kessler last night. He’s awful on switches and guarding the perimeter. He has stone feet and no offensive game as well. No thanks. Precious is a great backup and we have Mitch coming back in a month.

[HarthorneWingo]

Would be amazing if Kolek plays and shines in a big game like this

[Clyde_Style]

Would be amazing if Kolek plays and shines in a big game like this

[thebuzzardman]

Read on Twitter

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Honestly believe he’s played his last game as a knick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We need to trade him. We're trying to win a championship. This isn't a charity.

Kessler or Richards have small enough salaries that you could KEEP Mitch and still get them.

Poetl and Stewart and even possibly Valanciunus (who is not an ideal rim protector) would require Mitch to go.

In my opinion The ideal route is to go for Kessler. I am betting Kolek is gaining steam big time in the eyes of other teams evaluators. His game is quickly improving and he didnt look like toast out there on D vs Utah. Utah also had strong interest in Dadiet. From what I am reading, We have the abilty to trade 1FRP and multiple 2nd RPs. Ainge is tough to deal with granted but I think some combination of:

Kolek, Dadiet, Right to Rokas, 1FRP, Multiple 2nd Round picks would get it done for Kessler.

Utah is on a long term rebuild and getting super young cost controlled guys in Kolek and/or Dadiet and/or Rokas would fit their timeline.

The rim protecting 5 doesn't carry extreme value to the league like it once did as much as it does to Thibs defense. And Kessler is not some superstar player. He definitely has value but it isnt like some crazy 3+ FRP value either.

Get Thibs the 6 deep center rotation he craves

[thebuzzardman]

Look at all the positivity in here about to turn toxic in less than 18 hours.

[HarthorneWingo]

What’s Randle doing for crying out loud