2023 East Semifinals | (5) New York Knicks VS (8) Miami Heat (Series tied 1-1)

[heatlejuice]

A hobbled & depleted Miami team took 2nd seed Boston to 7 games last season & were a Butler 3 away from taking out the ECF & going back to the NBA finals. We just dismantled the #1 seed. WTF do you think Miami are going to do to the Knicks

You didnt understand their narrative. Beating the Cavs and the Regular season where they got 3 more wins than us is more validating. Brunson > Jimmy, IQ at 6'2 is a Jimmy stopper, Robinson is the 2nd coming of Rodman. They got this!

Sent from my SM-G975F using RealGM Forums mobile app

LMAO. I normally enjoy the back and forth on these game threads with opposing fans but this NY fanbase is straight up delusional lol

Can't wait for Sunday

[heatlejuice]

Unfortunately for the Heat, the Knicks are also elite perimeter defenders.

None of whom are close to as good as Jrue Holiday.

But basketball is a game of matchups. We'll see.

Not even close to as good feels like an overstatement, but yeah we don't have a Jrue.

What helps is that we've got a handful of different guys we can throw at Jimmy that are good defenders instead of relying on just one guy to do all of the work. And Thibs should be more adaptive than Bud was.

Still gotta figure Jimmy will Jimmy, but if we can make him work for it without leaving your shooters open, I'll feel a lot better about our chances

This should be a fun series either way, just hope we don't see any more injuries...both of our teams have already had enough of that noise.

You realize the Knicks are among the league worst in leaving shooters open right?

[cgf]

None of whom are close to as good as Jrue Holiday.

But basketball is a game of matchups. We'll see.

Not even close to as good feels like an overstatement, but yeah we don't have a Jrue.

What helps is that we've got a handful of different guys we can throw at Jimmy that are good defenders instead of relying on just one guy to do all of the work. And Thibs should be more adaptive than Bud was.

Still gotta figure Jimmy will Jimmy, but if we can make him work for it without leaving your shooters open, I'll feel a lot better about our chances

This should be a fun series either way, just hope we don't see any more injuries...both of our teams have already had enough of that noise.

You realize the Knicks are among the league worst in leaving shooters open right?

Yes, Thibs prioritized protecting the rim in the regular season and against Cleveland. It wasn't an absolute strategy though, Thibs prioritized plenty of shooters that he knew could burn us...but with guys that Thibs didn't mind betting against, we would show them zero respect. Happily letting them take wide-open 3s and just waiting for Mitch/IH to gobble up the rebound instead of wasting energy closing out hard.

Unfortunately (for us) Bam's the only guy in your rotation who we can ignore as a 3pt shooter, so that same strategy would be really dangerous even if our physicality got your shooters to shoot like they did in the regular season. Luckily Thibs has been adjusting well, so I'm optimistic that he won't have us cheating as far off the shooters of a team who just shot 47% in round 1, as we did against a shook cavs team.

[heatlejuice]

Not even close to as good feels like an overstatement, but yeah we don't have a Jrue.

What helps is that we've got a handful of different guys we can throw at Jimmy that are good defenders instead of relying on just one guy to do all of the work. And Thibs should be more adaptive than Bud was.

Still gotta figure Jimmy will Jimmy, but if we can make him work for it without leaving your shooters open, I'll feel a lot better about our chances

This should be a fun series either way, just hope we don't see any more injuries...both of our teams have already had enough of that noise.

You realize the Knicks are among the league worst in leaving shooters open right?

Yes, Thibs prioritized protecting the rim in the regular season and against Cleveland. It wasn't an absolute strategy though, Thibs prioritized plenty of shooters that he knew could burn us...but with guys that Thibs didn't mind betting against, we would show them zero respect. Happily letting them take wide-open 3s and just waiting for Mitch/IH to gobble up the rebound instead of wasting energy closing out hard.

Unfortunately (for us) Bam's the only guy in your rotation who we can ignore as a 3pt shooter, so that same strategy would be really dangerous even if our physicality got your shooters to shoot like they did in the regular season. Luckily Thibs has been adjusting well, so I'm optimistic that he won't have us cheating as far off the shooters of a team who just shot 47% in round 1, as we did against a shook cavs team.

Good luck to you guys but you realize it's a VERY tall order to crowd the paint against Jimmy while also defending the 3 ball at a high level? You're gonna have to pick one buddy.

Either way, it's a good matchup but some of your friends on here are straight up delusional calling Knicks in 5 lol

[cgf]

You realize the Knicks are among the league worst in leaving shooters open right?

Yes, Thibs prioritized protecting the rim in the regular season and against Cleveland. It wasn't an absolute strategy though, Thibs prioritized plenty of shooters that he knew could burn us...but with guys that Thibs didn't mind betting against, we would show them zero respect. Happily letting them take wide-open 3s and just waiting for Mitch/IH to gobble up the rebound instead of wasting energy closing out hard.

Unfortunately (for us) Bam's the only guy in your rotation who we can ignore as a 3pt shooter, so that same strategy would be really dangerous even if our physicality got your shooters to shoot like they did in the regular season. Luckily Thibs has been adjusting well, so I'm optimistic that he won't have us cheating as far off the shooters of a team who just shot 47% in round 1, as we did against a shook cavs team.

Good luck to you guys but you realize it's a VERY tall order to crowd the paint against Jimmy while also defending the 3 ball at a high level? You're gonna have to pick one buddy.

Either way, it's a good matchup but some of your friends on here are straight up delusional calling Knicks in 5 lol

Yeah, I think we'll have to pick between focusing on Jimmy and focusing on your shooters; especially if point-Bam forces us to play Hartenstein more than Robinson. I think our best bet is probably to start with your shooters and let Jimmy be Jimmy until he forces us to start throwing extra attention his way...hoping that we'll have disrupted your shooters' rhythm enough for them not to murder us when we start cheating towards Jimmy.

And it's certainly a tall order...but I won't be surprised by any results in this series, from Knicks in 5, to Heat in 5; even a sweep either way wouldn't completely shock me. I'm expecting great intensity and tough-fought games while hoping it goes 6 or 7...but a few factors going this way or that could leave us with 5 close games & a 4-1 series result (in either direction).

Some of our trollier posters have definitely been over-the-top with their optimism. But that happens with any big enough fanbase; especially with folks who have draped themselves in the nostalgia of the old rivalry...read: can't take bNo too seriously & expect to stay sane

[DBurks2818]

Unfortunately for the Heat, the Knicks are also elite perimeter defenders.

None of whom are close to as good as Jrue Holiday.

But basketball is a game of matchups. We'll see.

Not even close to as good feels like an overstatement, but yeah we don't have a Jrue.

What helps is that we've got a handful of different guys we can throw at Jimmy that are good defenders instead of relying on just one guy to do all of the work who Jimmy can just wear down, both physically & psychologically.

And Thibs should be more adaptive than Bud was. Still gotta figure Jimmy will Jimmy, but if we can make him work for it without leaving your shooters open, I'll feel a lot better about our chances

This should be a fun series either way, just hope we don't see any more injuries...both of our teams have already had enough of that noise.

Yeah, totally agreed on all points. I meant to add that defense is always more than just one guy, and you're right that the Knicks have a solid team defense (which is no surprise with a Thibs team!).

[cgf]

Read on Twitter

[Zenzibar]

A hobbled & depleted Miami team took 2nd seed Boston to 7 games last season & were a Butler 3 away from taking out the ECF & going back to the NBA finals. We just dismantled the #1 seed. WTF do you think Miami are going to do to the Knicks

You didnt understand their narrative. Beating the Cavs and the Regular season where they got 3 more wins than us is more validating. Brunson > Jimmy, IQ at 6'2 is a Jimmy stopper, Robinson is the 2nd coming of Rodman. They got this!

Sent from my SM-G975F using RealGM Forums mobile app

LMAO. I normally enjoy the back and forth on these game threads with opposing fans but this NY fanbase is straight up delusional lol

Can't wait for Sunday

Question. Miami Heat/Dolphin fan.

If Giannis was at 100% or at even 85% and Bud wasn't dealing with a sudden and unfathomable tragedy. You think the Heat win?

[KingDavid]

Read on Twitter

Good, he's close to returning either way. No more than 1 game missed hopefully. Injuries SUCK so bad.

[Grinditout]

Between Miami and NY, name your the top 6 active players from both teams combined, even the most hardcore Heat fan will concede 4 of those spots go to the Knicks(not even including Randle). Also not taking into account that Knicks have the better bench as well. The Knicks should have the edge, doesn't mean it won't be a tough series though.

[KingDavid]

You didnt understand their narrative. Beating the Cavs and the Regular season where they got 3 more wins than us is more validating. Brunson > Jimmy, IQ at 6'2 is a Jimmy stopper, Robinson is the 2nd coming of Rodman. They got this!

Sent from my SM-G975F using RealGM Forums mobile app

LMAO. I normally enjoy the back and forth on these game threads with opposing fans but this NY fanbase is straight up delusional lol

Can't wait for Sunday

Question. Miami Heat/Dolphin fan.

If Giannis was at 100% or at even 85% and Bud wasn't dealing with a sudden and unfathomable tragedy. You think the Heat win?

Heat/Dolphin fan here.

I think we'd still win, just not in 5 games. Bud doesn't seem like the best coach in close/late game situations. His blunders have cost them games in that series.

Now if the Bucks had Nurse as coach? I would not have liked our chances at all.

[RHODEY]

You realize the Knicks are among the league worst in leaving shooters open right?

Yes, Thibs prioritized protecting the rim in the regular season and against Cleveland. It wasn't an absolute strategy though, Thibs prioritized plenty of shooters that he knew could burn us...but with guys that Thibs didn't mind betting against, we would show them zero respect. Happily letting them take wide-open 3s and just waiting for Mitch/IH to gobble up the rebound instead of wasting energy closing out hard.

Unfortunately (for us) Bam's the only guy in your rotation who we can ignore as a 3pt shooter, so that same strategy would be really dangerous even if our physicality got your shooters to shoot like they did in the regular season. Luckily Thibs has been adjusting well, so I'm optimistic that he won't have us cheating as far off the shooters of a team who just shot 47% in round 1, as we did against a shook cavs team.

Good luck to you guys but you realize it's a VERY tall order to crowd the paint against Jimmy while also defending the 3 ball at a high level? You're gonna have to pick one buddy.

Either way, it's a good matchup but some of your friends on here are straight up delusional calling Knicks in 5 lol

If a poor defensive team like the Hawks could do it I'm sure the Knicks will be ok. Tell Jimmy the fishing looks good in Cancun this time of year.

[Zenzibar]

Yes, Thibs prioritized protecting the rim in the regular season and against Cleveland. It wasn't an absolute strategy though, Thibs prioritized plenty of shooters that he knew could burn us...but with guys that Thibs didn't mind betting against, we would show them zero respect. Happily letting them take wide-open 3s and just waiting for Mitch/IH to gobble up the rebound instead of wasting energy closing out hard.

Unfortunately (for us) Bam's the only guy in your rotation who we can ignore as a 3pt shooter, so that same strategy would be really dangerous even if our physicality got your shooters to shoot like they did in the regular season. Luckily Thibs has been adjusting well, so I'm optimistic that he won't have us cheating as far off the shooters of a team who just shot 47% in round 1, as we did against a shook cavs team.

Good luck to you guys but you realize it's a VERY tall order to crowd the paint against Jimmy while also defending the 3 ball at a high level? You're gonna have to pick one buddy.

Either way, it's a good matchup but some of your friends on here are straight up delusional calling Knicks in 5 lol

Yeah, I think we'll have to pick between focusing on Jimmy and focusing on your shooters; especially if point-Bam forces us to play Hartenstein more than Robinson. I think our best bet is probably to start with your shooters and let Jimmy be Jimmy until he forces us to start throwing extra attention his way...hoping that we'll have disrupted your shooters' rhythm enough for them not to murder us when we start cheating towards Jimmy.

And it's certainly a tall order...but I won't be surprised by any results in this series, from Knicks in 5, to Heat in 5; even a sweep either way wouldn't completely shock me. I'm expecting great intensity and tough-fought games while hoping it goes 6 or 7...but a few factors going this way or that could leave us with 5 close games & a 4-1 series result (in either direction).

Some of our trollier posters have definitely been over-the-top with their optimism. But that happens with any big enough fanbase; especially with folks who have draped themselves in the nostalgia of the old rivalry...read: can't take bNo too seriously & expect to stay sane

STFU already with the criticizing of NY posters.

What are you a fkn diplomat?

[KingDavid]

None of whom are close to as good as Jrue Holiday.

But basketball is a game of matchups. We'll see.

Not even close to as good feels like an overstatement, but yeah we don't have a Jrue.

What helps is that we've got a handful of different guys we can throw at Jimmy that are good defenders instead of relying on just one guy to do all of the work. And Thibs should be more adaptive than Bud was.

Still gotta figure Jimmy will Jimmy, but if we can make him work for it without leaving your shooters open, I'll feel a lot better about our chances

This should be a fun series either way, just hope we don't see any more injuries...both of our teams have already had enough of that noise.

You realize the Knicks are among the league worst in leaving shooters open right?

Was it the same case against Cleveland? They left shooters open?

[RHODEY]

A hobbled & depleted Miami team took 2nd seed Boston to 7 games last season & were a Butler 3 away from taking out the ECF & going back to the NBA finals. We just dismantled the #1 seed. WTF do you think Miami are going to do to the Knicks

A fugazy Hawks team took the healthy Heat to playin purgatory. We ain't scared if you.

[cgf]

Not even close to as good feels like an overstatement, but yeah we don't have a Jrue.

What helps is that we've got a handful of different guys we can throw at Jimmy that are good defenders instead of relying on just one guy to do all of the work. And Thibs should be more adaptive than Bud was.

Still gotta figure Jimmy will Jimmy, but if we can make him work for it without leaving your shooters open, I'll feel a lot better about our chances

This should be a fun series either way, just hope we don't see any more injuries...both of our teams have already had enough of that noise.

You realize the Knicks are among the league worst in leaving shooters open right?

Was it the same case against Cleveland? They left shooters open?

Oh yeah. We showed no respect to their shooters other than Mitchell, Garland, and LeVert. Guys like Okoro, Mobley, & Rubio were getting left wide open and encouraged to shoot.

[KingDavid]

Good luck to you guys but you realize it's a VERY tall order to crowd the paint against Jimmy while also defending the 3 ball at a high level? You're gonna have to pick one buddy.

Either way, it's a good matchup but some of your friends on here are straight up delusional calling Knicks in 5 lol

Yeah, I think we'll have to pick between focusing on Jimmy and focusing on your shooters; especially if point-Bam forces us to play Hartenstein more than Robinson. I think our best bet is probably to start with your shooters and let Jimmy be Jimmy until he forces us to start throwing extra attention his way...hoping that we'll have disrupted your shooters' rhythm enough for them not to murder us when we start cheating towards Jimmy.

And it's certainly a tall order...but I won't be surprised by any results in this series, from Knicks in 5, to Heat in 5; even a sweep either way wouldn't completely shock me. I'm expecting great intensity and tough-fought games while hoping it goes 6 or 7...but a few factors going this way or that could leave us with 5 close games & a 4-1 series result (in either direction).

Some of our trollier posters have definitely been over-the-top with their optimism. But that happens with any big enough fanbase; especially with folks who have draped themselves in the nostalgia of the old rivalry...read: can't take bNo too seriously & expect to stay sane

STFU already with the criticizing of NY posters.

What are you a fkn diplomat?

He's not wrong, we have similar trollish heat fans. I was trying to convince the heat board to come to this thread, but that might be a bad idea. It would be pandemonium in here quick.

[KingDavid]

You realize the Knicks are among the league worst in leaving shooters open right?

Was it the same case against Cleveland? They left shooters open?

Oh yeah. We showed no respect to their shooters other than Mitchell, Garland, and LeVert. Guys like Okoro, Mobley, & Rubio were getting left wide open and encouraged to shoot.

Just as I expected with Thibs. So if our roleplayers hit open shots, I like our chances. They've been uncharacteristically on point last round. But based on the reg season, ehhh...

[Zenzibar]

You realize the Knicks are among the league worst in leaving shooters open right?

Yes, Thibs prioritized protecting the rim in the regular season and against Cleveland. It wasn't an absolute strategy though, Thibs prioritized plenty of shooters that he knew could burn us...but with guys that Thibs didn't mind betting against, we would show them zero respect. Happily letting them take wide-open 3s and just waiting for Mitch/IH to gobble up the rebound instead of wasting energy closing out hard.

Unfortunately (for us) Bam's the only guy in your rotation who we can ignore as a 3pt shooter, so that same strategy would be really dangerous even if our physicality got your shooters to shoot like they did in the regular season. Luckily Thibs has been adjusting well, so I'm optimistic that he won't have us cheating as far off the shooters of a team who just shot 47% in round 1, as we did against a shook cavs team.

Good luck to you guys but you realize it's a VERY tall order to crowd the paint against Jimmy while also defending the 3 ball at a high level? You're gonna have to pick one buddy.

Either way, it's a good matchup but some of your friends on here are straight up delusional calling Knicks in 5 lol

The beauty of the Knicks team is that MitchRob is our last line of defense. We've also become much better at helping, switching and contesting the 3 ball in the final month. Or right after we picked up Josh Hart.

Regarding Butler. Our addiction of another tough defender in Josh Hart gives us JHart, Grimes and RJ to throw at him. The Bucks don't have that depth. Or ask he Cavs' backcourt how it was to play and score consistently against that high energy defense all game long.

Hero is a HUGE loss and removes from your Heats team, depth, a strength we have an abundance of.

[cgf]

Good luck to you guys but you realize it's a VERY tall order to crowd the paint against Jimmy while also defending the 3 ball at a high level? You're gonna have to pick one buddy.

Either way, it's a good matchup but some of your friends on here are straight up delusional calling Knicks in 5 lol

Yeah, I think we'll have to pick between focusing on Jimmy and focusing on your shooters; especially if point-Bam forces us to play Hartenstein more than Robinson. I think our best bet is probably to start with your shooters and let Jimmy be Jimmy until he forces us to start throwing extra attention his way...hoping that we'll have disrupted your shooters' rhythm enough for them not to murder us when we start cheating towards Jimmy.

And it's certainly a tall order...but I won't be surprised by any results in this series, from Knicks in 5, to Heat in 5; even a sweep either way wouldn't completely shock me. I'm expecting great intensity and tough-fought games while hoping it goes 6 or 7...but a few factors going this way or that could leave us with 5 close games & a 4-1 series result (in either direction).

Some of our trollier posters have definitely been over-the-top with their optimism. But that happens with any big enough fanbase; especially with folks who have draped themselves in the nostalgia of the old rivalry...read: can't take bNo too seriously & expect to stay sane

STFU already with the criticizing of NY posters.

What are you a fkn diplomat?

lol tell me bNo isn't ridiculous and try to keep a straight face. We have a lot of amazing fans...but we also have a lot of **** that take things too far. It's a common side-effect of having such a huge fanbase.

Not a diplomat lol, just wish our board weren't so annoyingly petty & senselessly aggro sometimes. This is a hugely passionate fanbase and there are a lot of knowledgeable knicks fans that it's nice to talk about basketball with, but the idiotic d*** measuring gets too much for me