The Knicks… are not too smart

[bronxknicksfan1]

Knicks are 20-3 with OG in the lineup. 8-1 since he’s come back from injury.

They’ve been an elite team when they’ve been healthy and have every right to be confident that they can take out any team in the East.

[Chuck Everett]

I don't get this. The Knicks believe they're capable of making it to the EC Finals. Why would they be tanking? Now all of a sudden, you got people talking like Miami and Philadelphia are unbeatable. This isn't the same New York team as a season ago.

[kuclas]

Wasn't it really a mess where they could finish between 2nd and 5th? How do they know where everyone else will finish and what the possibilities where before the game even starts? I don; think it was easy just to decide before the game to finish 3rd exactly was it?

It was between 2nd and 4th but, yes, you are correct. Milwaukee, New York and Cleveland could all finish anywhere from 2nd and 4th depending on the results of the day. Similarly, Orlando, Indiana, Philly and Miami could all finish anywhere from 5th to 8th.

It really wasn't a scenario where a team could just target they match-up they wanted, even if they actually wanted to do that. Way too many variables.

Bucks and pacers controlled everything in the east today.

Once the pacers were winning big. It has trickle down effect. That’s when u saw Cleveland and bucks flat out stop trying

[Bank Shot]

I'd call it a wash. They're more likely to get Ko'd in R1 now, but they are also more likely to get through R2.

[durden_tyler]

Wasn't it really a mess where they could finish between 2nd and 5th? How do they know where everyone else will finish and what the possibilities where before the game even starts? I don; think it was easy just to decide before the game to finish 3rd exactly was it?

It was between 2nd and 4th but, yes, you are correct. Milwaukee, New York and Cleveland could all finish anywhere from 2nd and 4th depending on the results of the day. Similarly, Orlando, Indiana, Philly and Miami could all finish anywhere from 5th to 8th.

It really wasn't a scenario where a team could just target they match-up they wanted, even if they actually wanted to do that. Way too many variables.

Their game vs the Bulls went to OT…

Unless there was no internet in the building so they did not know? LOL

[Im Coming Home]

Wasn't it really a mess where they could finish between 2nd and 5th? How do they know where everyone else will finish and what the possibilities where before the game even starts? I don; think it was easy just to decide before the game to finish 3rd exactly was it?

At the beginning of the day yes, but the Knicks game was over after the other games were decided(even before it went to OT) so in theory they could've took out their guys and tanked it to get 3rd and knew they'd be playing the Pacers by then.

But I disagree with doing it personally though, and you'll never catch Thibs or Brunson or any of the Nova guys do that.

[Nuntius]

Wasn't it really a mess where they could finish between 2nd and 5th? How do they know where everyone else will finish and what the possibilities where before the game even starts? I don; think it was easy just to decide before the game to finish 3rd exactly was it?

It was between 2nd and 4th but, yes, you are correct. Milwaukee, New York and Cleveland could all finish anywhere from 2nd and 4th depending on the results of the day. Similarly, Orlando, Indiana, Philly and Miami could all finish anywhere from 5th to 8th.

It really wasn't a scenario where a team could just target they match-up they wanted, even if they actually wanted to do that. Way too many variables.

Bucks and pacers controlled everything in the east today.

Once the pacers were winning big. It has trickle down effect. That’s when u saw Cleveland and bucks flat out stop trying

I don't know about the Bucks and the 2-3-4 part of the standings but the Pacers and Magic did control everything indeed. For both teams it was "win and get in". Once they started running away, there was nothing that Philly and Miami could have done.

[Nuntius]

Wasn't it really a mess where they could finish between 2nd and 5th? How do they know where everyone else will finish and what the possibilities where before the game even starts? I don; think it was easy just to decide before the game to finish 3rd exactly was it?

It was between 2nd and 4th but, yes, you are correct. Milwaukee, New York and Cleveland could all finish anywhere from 2nd and 4th depending on the results of the day. Similarly, Orlando, Indiana, Philly and Miami could all finish anywhere from 5th to 8th.

It really wasn't a scenario where a team could just target they match-up they wanted, even if they actually wanted to do that. Way too many variables.

Their game vs the Bulls went to OT…

Unless there was no internet in the building so they did not know? LOL

I am aware. But the way that teams throw games usually are by resting starters and they couldn't really do that after the game was already underway, especially after it went to OT.

Plus, you know, it would be a pretty bad idea to throw that game regardless. Why would they throw the game?

[nbafan38]

The knicks want to make the ECF not avoid losing in the first round. Who cares if you lose 1st round vs 2nd round? The knicks haven't been to the conference finals since 2000.

[kuclas]

It was between 2nd and 4th but, yes, you are correct. Milwaukee, New York and Cleveland could all finish anywhere from 2nd and 4th depending on the results of the day. Similarly, Orlando, Indiana, Philly and Miami could all finish anywhere from 5th to 8th.

It really wasn't a scenario where a team could just target they match-up they wanted, even if they actually wanted to do that. Way too many variables.

Bucks and pacers controlled everything in the east today.

Once the pacers were winning big. It has trickle down effect. That’s when u saw Cleveland and bucks flat out stop trying

I don't know about the Bucks and the 2-3-4 part of the standings but the Pacers and Magic did control everything indeed. For both teams it was "win and get in". Once they started running away, there was nothing that Philly and Miami could have done.

For sure magic were fighting for their lives. But if u really think the bucks were really trying after the mid 3rd quarter knowing the pacers hawks game status. Than u don’t know about a thing called quiet quitting. It’s like they were playing but not really competing.

It is what it is.

[KyRo23]

I love how everyone is so for competitive nature all season, but all I'm seeing right now are people calling for teams to tank to avoid matchups. What do people really want? Yall want NY to tank, Lakers to tank to avoid Denver...

[Oscirus]

Also, it would be one thing if the difference was between 3 and 4 but 2 and 3, duck the sixers so the knicks can catch this "scary" team in the second round? People don't remember whether a team goes out the first round or the second round

[offense]

as a knicks fan i am not scared of any team. miami or philly, dont matter to me. pacers are a good team btw, you're overlooking them.

[Nuntius]

Bucks and pacers controlled everything in the east today.

Once the pacers were winning big. It has trickle down effect. That’s when u saw Cleveland and bucks flat out stop trying

I don't know about the Bucks and the 2-3-4 part of the standings but the Pacers and Magic did control everything indeed. For both teams it was "win and get in". Once they started running away, there was nothing that Philly and Miami could have done.

For sure magic were fighting for their lives. But if u really think the bucks were really trying after the mid 3rd quarter knowing the pacers hawks game status. Than u don’t know about a thing called quiet quitting. It’s like they were playing but not really competing.

It is what it is.

I didn't watch the Bucks-Magic game since I was watching the Pacers one. It is entirely possible that the Bucks quit on the game.

But I do believe that their chances of winning that game were pretty low from the get go. No Giannis and Orlando being hungry to secure that they don't fall in the play-in made that a very tough game to win.

[KamikazeK]

nah I wouldn't play the ducking game. Just get the best record you can and then beat whoever they put in front of you.

[kodo]

Maybe another coach, but Thibs will never lose a game on purpose even if means they'll draw the Wizards as a playoff matchup.

Why the Bulls wanted to win this game who knows. We already DNP'd all the starters except White last game already. But nobody knows what the Bulls org is doing in general.

[Stannis]

Win every game is why the Knicks are here. They don't do "strategic losses".

[celtxman]

didn't everyone on this board claim the Bucks were dodging the year they won?

It was actually the 2022 Bucks who tanked the last game to avoid the Nets in the 1st round. By doing that they gave up home court to Boston in the 2nd round and Boston won Game 7 at home

oh you mean when Middleton didn't play a game in the series?

how'd it go for Boston when Jaylen Brown didn't play?

Here we go with Middleton again. The gift that keeps on giving. But the subject was tanking and it was costly for the Bucks. They could have beaten the Celtics without Middleton,and homecourt but they chose to avoid the Nets.

[Last Guardian]

Normally I would not agree with losing talk. But Miami and Philly are unusually strong low seeds. Miami somehow gets deep in the playoffs most of the time, and Philly is basically 50+ win team if they are healthy. I do think the Knicks would have been smarter to play the Pacers, an untested team with terrible defense, but I don't knock them for playing to win either and not caring who they face.

[Jasen777]

You don't. Especially in the NBA you play to win the title.

That being said, I wouldn't be sure if losing was the right move there.