are the Knicks LEGIT contenders?!

[Iwasawitness]

Celtics won 60 games and the title.

Slow down here

Yeah but you can't deny how important it's going to be for the Knicks to now have two elite perimeter defenders to put on their best players. That's a game changer. Not to mention, Boston still lacks a legitimate big rotation. I don't know what New York will do with Hartenstein, but I imagine they will do what they can to keep him. If they manage to do so, that's another matchup advantage right there.

The big if here is health. I have confidence in Bridges doing that, but can OG stay healthy? Can Randle (assuming he's still a Knick)? Health has been their kryptonite.

[KingofTheClay]

The Celtics had healthy Porzingis in the RS.

No Porzingis in the playoffs (which at this point is probably expected, sadly) and they showed major cracks against Indy.

Very fortunate that every team they played had their best player completely injured or significantly hobbled.


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I dont see the Knicks getting 14 games better.

knicks were 20-3 with OG playing in the regular season....add Mikal on top of that I think they're more than capable of being a 60 win team.

I don't think they should go all out in the regular season though, 60 win shouldn't be the goal....it should be for Thibs not to overplay his players.

Yep,bingo. We have to consider the Knick record post OG-trade. And now they’re adding another versatile DPOY-caliber wing to boot.

If the green teamers and green sheep can take off their green glasses for one goddamn time and truly understand the situation, maybe they wouldn’t be so quick to label someone a troll?


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[omerome]

This team isn't beating the Celtics or a healthy Giannis.

They don't have the star power to do it.

Can you imagine Holiday and White hounding Brunson for a series? Or having to guard Giannis with Mitchell Robinson?

Lol give me a break.

Lol.

Can you imagine Giannis being hounded by OG with Mitchell Robinson in the paint to back him up?

Can you imagine OG and Mikal matching up with Tatum and Brown?

Just as easy to spin this the other way around.

As for Brunson vs Jrue/White, I’m sure he’ll be fine.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/O1XHUQEsyaw?si=HLrB-RtqBXGt3sYO[/youtube]

OG and Mitchell Robinson are going to bother Gianiss???

He won't be fine. Its very hard for a small guard to overcome that kind of defensive pressure.

No one has been able to stop Brunson when the pressure was at its highest. In fact, that's when he's taken his game to another level. I mean why has that small guard still been able to average over 30 points a game in the post season for the last two years - especially when you look at who he's had around him.

And yes, Giannis will be bothered by OG. Will OG stop him? No. Because no one can. But to say that Giannis will have no issues against NY is almost silly.

The Knicks are building a team. Not a superstar lineup. They have guys that fit together because they have played together and have great chemistry. Their strength is the sum of their parts. It's why their next man up mentality has allowed for them to win 50 games.

[bronxknicksfan1]

This team isn't beating the Celtics or a healthy Giannis.

They don't have the star power to do it.

Can you imagine Holiday and White hounding Brunson for a series? Or having to guard Giannis with Mitchell Robinson?

Lol give me a break.

Lol.

Can you imagine Giannis being hounded by OG with Mitchell Robinson in the paint to back him up?

Can you imagine OG and Mikal matching up with Tatum and Brown?

Just as easy to spin this the other way around.

As for Brunson vs Jrue/White, I’m sure he’ll be fine.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/O1XHUQEsyaw?si=HLrB-RtqBXGt3sYO[/youtube]

OG and Mitchell Robinson are going to bother Gianiss???

He won't be fine. Its very hard for a small guard to overcome that kind of defensive pressure.

Yes? OG is one of the best defenders against Giannis in the league. Do you watch ball?

Brunson averaged 27.4 on 57.8% TS against the Celtics this season. He’d be perfectly fine against them.

[SkyBill40]

This seems to be a bit of cart before the horse at this point. While it looks good on paper due to namesake and general knowledge of the skill players involved, it's the putting it together that counts and we've yet to see how cohesive or disjointed this squad will be.

Case in point: My PHX Suns. it was expected they'd be world beaters when they acquired Durant and Beal, yet the end result has been far less than expected. Getting swept in the first round showcased the ignorance of the team's construction despite the pomp before the season began.

[YogurtProducer]

The Celtics had healthy Porzingis in the RS.

No Porzingis in the playoffs (which at this point is probably expected, sadly) and they showed major cracks against Indy.

Very fortunate that every team they played had their best player completely injured or significantly hobbled.


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I dont see the Knicks getting 14 games better.

knicks were 20-3 with OG playing in the regular season....add Mikal on top of that I think they're more than capable of being a 60 win team.

I don't think they should go all out in the regular season though, 60 win shouldn't be the goal....it should be for Thibs not to overplay his players.

Fair enough - but how much of that was a mid-season surge of WOW BIG TRADE while other teams are coasting in February?

I would be surprised if the Knicks surpassed Boston this year.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

Who exactly did the Knicks add that can beat Boston? Having 3 & D guys will probably work against other teams but Boston?

[Riot Randolph]

This team isn't beating the Celtics or a healthy Giannis.

They don't have the star power to do it.

Can you imagine Holiday and White hounding Brunson for a series? Or having to guard Giannis with Mitchell Robinson?

Lol give me a break.

I can also imagine Zinger getting bodied by half the team and knicks having double digits Offensive rebounds every quarter....lol NETS fans always so salty...

[SFour]

I dont see the Knicks getting 14 games better.

knicks were 20-3 with OG playing in the regular season....add Mikal on top of that I think they're more than capable of being a 60 win team.

I don't think they should go all out in the regular season though, 60 win shouldn't be the goal....it should be for Thibs not to overplay his players.

Fair enough - but how much of that was a mid-season surge of WOW BIG TRADE while other teams are coasting in February?

I would be surprised if the Knicks surpassed Boston this year.

Sure Celtics still probably finish 1st...but OG and Mikal are a great defensive combo to put up against Tatum/Brown come playoff time. The Mavs didn't have that defense which is a big reason why they fell short.

[omerome]

Who exactly did the Knicks add that can beat Boston? Having 3 & D guys will probably work against other teams but Boston?

They now have two legit 3 and D players instead of just one.

And by doing so, they pushed three guys from their current starting to the bench - if they are able to keep everyone.

That's what they added. Depth and another guy you have to pay attention to on the shooting report.

[fallguy]

Knicks now have an armada of defensive 3-D wings to throw on the perimeter. Brown will still get his, because he has consistent go to moves that he can rely on and his midrange is mostly unguardable, but I think the Knicks can stymie Tatum and his inharmonious, haphazard assortment of offensive counters.

The Knicks still have Randle and the best scorer (and thus probably best player) on either team, Jalen Brunson. A player that can score with the best of them. Finals MVP Brown has a heavy lift now when he plays NY, to spearhead the team on offense AND defense. He can do it, because Brown has that “dawg” so to speak. But it won’t be easy.

Porzingis is perennially injured unfortunately and Horford has one foot in the nursing home. Horford had a hell of a career, nothing but respect.

So Losing ihart will hurt but it’s likely inconsequential for a Boston team with aging/injured bigs that will likely be playing Tillman/Kornet significant minutes in the playoffs.


TLDR; The Knicks have the best scorer and the best defenders to slow down the Celtics players.

I have them making the finals against OKC/MIN. The Bucks and Celtics tied for 2nd favorites.


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Are you going to spend the entire summer starting new threads to bash Tatum?

Good lord - it's basically spam at this point.

[therealbig3]

Nah, Celtics are still the better team. I’d take Holiday/Brown/Tatum/KP over Brunson/Bridges/Randle/OG. The rest of the team looks more even but I think the best players on the Celtics are better.

[KingofTheClay]

Knicks now have an armada of defensive 3-D wings to throw on the perimeter. Brown will still get his, because he has consistent go to moves that he can rely on and his midrange is mostly unguardable, but I think the Knicks can stymie Tatum and his inharmonious, haphazard assortment of offensive counters.

The Knicks still have Randle and the best scorer (and thus probably best player) on either team, Jalen Brunson. A player that can score with the best of them. Finals MVP Brown has a heavy lift now when he plays NY, to spearhead the team on offense AND defense. He can do it, because Brown has that “dawg” so to speak. But it won’t be easy.

Porzingis is perennially injured unfortunately and Horford has one foot in the nursing home. Horford had a hell of a career, nothing but respect.

So Losing ihart will hurt but it’s likely inconsequential for a Boston team with aging/injured bigs that will likely be playing Tillman/Kornet significant minutes in the playoffs.


TLDR; The Knicks have the best scorer and the best defenders to slow down the Celtics players.

I have them making the finals against OKC/MIN. The Bucks and Celtics tied for 2nd favorites.


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Are you going to spend the entire summer starting new threads to bash Tatum?

Good lord - it's basically spam at this point.

Where am I bashing Tatum here?

The whole thread is about explaining how NYs trades put Boston in a precarious position


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[ChiCitySPORTS#1]

I will still take Boston and Milwaukee pretty easily. Maybe a toss up with Philly, but if they land someone this summer then they're slotted as 4th in the east IMO. They don't have the elite talent (Tatum, Embiid, Giannis) that these other teams do. Brunson is great but he is not a superstar or an MVP caliber player, and he's a small guard. After him, the Knicks are several high ceiling role players.

They're obviously going to be good, and great defensively. But I don't think the Bridges trade really moved the needle for them.

[meekrab]

The Knicks need a point forward instead of Randle chucking. The team has a good 7 man unit but they need a better coach.

??? Thibs was one of the best coaches among the HCA teams.

[YogurtProducer]

knicks were 20-3 with OG playing in the regular season....add Mikal on top of that I think they're more than capable of being a 60 win team.

I don't think they should go all out in the regular season though, 60 win shouldn't be the goal....it should be for Thibs not to overplay his players.

Fair enough - but how much of that was a mid-season surge of WOW BIG TRADE while other teams are coasting in February?

I would be surprised if the Knicks surpassed Boston this year.

Sure Celtics still probably finish 1st...but OG and Mikal are a great defensive combo to put up against Tatum/Brown come playoff time. The Mavs didn't have that defense which is a big reason why they fell short.

Celtics still have the two best players IMO in Tatum/Brown. They also have Jrue who is about the best Brunson defender you could ask for (and OG/Bridges is the best for Tatum/Brown to I understand).

Both teams have Anunoby/Kristaps who probably get hurt and dont play in the playoffs anyways

[LoveMyRaps]

Celtics are still better.

[fuller4379]

They are in the East. That helps a lot.

[Domz]

Assuming NYK retains OG and Hartenstein, absolutely they're contenders. I still say the defending champs are the class of the East, but I believe the Knicks have the best chance of knocking them off. I could see this potential playoff series going 6 or 7 with most of the games being close.

[aj174]

Legit? No, they can max out at the ecf with a competitive series, but they need a legit 2nd star

They have option 1, they have even option 3-6, they NEED option 2 to win

I don't think Brunson and OG can stay healthy enough