Knicks players & coaches frustrated with KAT's defense

[Indomitable]

Kat was a problem for the Pacers. Id be more concerned with Bridges and Hart.

The college teammates will not let that happen.

[Fencer reregistered]

Jeez. Coming after a guy who just had his best regular season ever. At year 1 with the Knicks.

I really don’t think he’s the problem but that’s just me.

An hour after the game ends they release a hit piece on this guy...talk about low class.

The article wasn't a hit piece. The third-party tweet was the hit job.

[TheAlchemist]

This all just means incoming Giannis three way trade for Kat + stuff.

[thamadkant]

Jeez. Coming after a guy who just had his best regular season ever. At year 1 with the Knicks.

I really don’t think he’s the problem but that’s just me.

He's part of it.

Towns was immense offensively but he also allowed the other teams easy points. Guards eyes light up when Towns switches to them. Come playoff, it's an absolutely weak point that is easy to abuse.

Mitchell Robinson defensively is just an above average center, but he looked like Ben Wallace and Mutombo next to Towns.

[pistonsbball]

They didn't know what they were getting?

[FarBeyondDriven]

These things leak for a reason and the leakers are usually from someone's camp that is trying to pass the blame off on someone else. Poverty franchise type stuff. Probably coming from Brunson or Thibs tbh.

[chilluminati]

That Knicks stereotype in action.

[moss_is_1]

One of the reasons the Wolves moved KAT. The offense is great, elite shooter, can drive, can post up. On ball defense is fine, last years WCF's run he guarded Durant, and Jokic and did a pretty good job. He cannot be your last line of defense at center. His tendency to pick up the dumbest fouls, both on offense and defense drives you nuts. Hooking guys while driving, bad screens, grabbing or pushing guys for no reason on defense, goofy awkward footwork, etc. Then the fact he's overpaid now with the new tax penalties.

[uncleoswald]

Sincere question for anyone who can answer it: why does this stuff come out after the season and not during it?

[PushDaRock]

You don't see someone like OG animated on or off the court much, but he was with Towns and his D. I think that's pretty telling.

[strokerace]

I don't have much love for KAT but his knee was obviously an issue. Brunson had just as many issues on that end of the floor if you ask me.

[PushDaRock]

Sincere question for anyone who can answer it: why does this stuff come out after the season and not during it?

seems fairly obvious to avoid an unnecessary distraction while the season is still going on

[KGDirkTD_Fan]

Tbh I thought KAT grew a ton in the playoffs this year and last year. This is the most big man game he's played that I've seen. He's basically fitting into the Thibs offense the best he could. I don't see how you can point to any one player being the core issue on that roster. They all had a stinker or bad game in the series or in the Boston one.

They got Boston Celtics issues there where they play top 5 offense for 10 minutes and then forget how to play basketball for rest of the game or are just watching Brunson iso/chuck.

[AdamSSSlither]

no sheet sherlock.
pretty sure thats why wolves traded so much for gobert....only to find out even the multi-d.p.o.y couldnt solve their problems.

[ropjhk]

KAT is who he is. He's an offensive superstar that needs a defense designed to hide his weaknesses. Unfortunately for NY, they have a hard time doing that with Brunson on the floor at the same time.

[mademan]

KAT has some serious defensive issues, but he wasnt the biggest problem. They paid an arm and a leg for Bridges and he's been invisible for most of the playoff run. OG might be overpaid, but at least he lived up to his defensive rep...Bridges was ok on that end and mostly a complete no show offensively.

[sikma42]

This is ridiculous. Overall, the team performed well. They need more talent. It’s not just KAT. Brunson couldn’t create offense and looked out of his depth. I’d be more worried about that than anything with KAT.


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[Nowascki]

Imagine this Knicks with Randle (which is basically Kat with better passing), resigning Hartenstein and with Divincenzo. They just had to try again, last year they were plagued by injuries, but nope.

[azcatz11]

KAT is who he is. He's an offensive superstar that needs a defense designed to hide his weaknesses. Unfortunately for NY, they have a hard time doing that with Brunson on the floor at the same time.

You have 3 other elite defensive players on the court with them. Mikal can’t handle physicality. He is an overrated defender. The truth is whoever pays him $40m a year will be paying for a paper tiger

[garrick]

KAT has some serious defensive issues, but he wasnt the biggest problem. They paid an arm and a leg for Bridges and he's been invisible for most of the playoff run. OG might be overpaid, but at least he lived up to his defensive rep...Bridges was ok on that end and mostly a complete no show offensively.

Bridges not playing as well as advertised is fair criticism but Kat is making almost double Mikail's salary & next year about 2.5 times at 61M!