are the Knicks LEGIT contenders?!

[brackdan70]

If you’re going to do this with the comparison, at least do it right. This looks bias as hell. Especially if you’re giving >>> to everyone, but only slightly for Brunson > Jrue. Brunson is way better than him rn

Brunson vs Tatum is the top end talent. Tatum is more talented, but Brunson has been the better playoff performer these last 2 years and had the better season recently. I’d call that a wash.

Randle vs Brown is next. Brown is better defensively while Randle is the better rebounder and passer. Around equal as a scorer. I’d call this a wash as well.

Mikal/OG vs White/Jrue. Mikal/OG are the more versatile defenders. White/Jrue are more capable offensive options. Depending on the build on your team is who you go with here.

Mitch vs KP. They’re a wash when it comes to durability and defense. Both elite defenders that can’t stay on the floor. KP is an elite shooter and much better offensive option. Mitch is the much better rebounder. This one should go easily to the Celtics.

Hart/Divo/McBride/iHart(?) vs Pritchard/Hauser/Horford. I’m taking the Knicks depth here pretty easily. Boston could definitely get another wing to close the gap here with their depth there, but as it stands, the Knicks bench has potential to be amongst the best in the league.

The right way --

Brunson > Jrue
Bridges < White
OG < Brown
Randle < Tatum
Mitch < KP
Bench ≈ Bench
Thibs < Mazz
Rosas < Stevens

Knicks <<< Celtics

Brunson > Jrue
Bridges > White
OG < Brown
Randle < Tatum
Mitch < KP
Knicks’ bench > Celtics bench
Thibs = Mazzulla
Rose > Stevens

How is the KNicks bench better? Looking at Hart and McBride vs Horford, Pritchard and Hauser right. Tillman possibly is back.
Is there another great Bench piece I am unaware of?

[bronxknicksfan1]

The main difference is that Brown defends his position better than randle does. Brown also steps up in the playoffs whereas historically randle has not.

Offensively, Brown is more efficient overall. Randle hasn't had a eFG% as good as brown did this past season in 5 seasons. Randle wasn't even on the knicks at the time. Brown's last five years eFG% is 55.2%. Randle's in the past five seasons is 50.5%.. Brown's TS the past five seasons is 58%, Randle's is 55%..

I'm not sure there is a GM out there that would take Randle over Brown as a second option.

The last 2 seasons have been their best seasons.

Over the past 2 seasons:
Jaylen Brown
25/6/4 on 58% TS BPM 1.0 PER 18.9

Julius Randle
25/10/4 on 58% TS BPM 3.2 PER 19.8

Brown is a better defensive player. But he’s never carried an offense the way Julius did in 2020-21. They’re a wash to me. I can understand anyone taking Brown over him, but the gap is not big between these 2, if there is one.

If the Knicks had Brown instead of Randle, they would be the favorites to win the NBA Championship

If the Celtics had Randle instead of Brown, they wouldn't be favored to win the conference.

Give Julius Randle a legit 5 out offense? No Mitch/iHart to clog the paint? He’d be feasting in Boston with that.

And if we replaced Julius with Jaylen, what we gain defensively, we’d lose in size and rebounding. Would also force OG to be the 4, which wouldn’t be beneficial to us at all.

[bronxknicksfan1]

The right way --

Brunson > Jrue
Bridges < White
OG < Brown
Randle < Tatum
Mitch < KP
Bench ≈ Bench
Thibs < Mazz
Rosas < Stevens

Knicks <<< Celtics

Brunson > Jrue
Bridges > White
OG < Brown
Randle < Tatum
Mitch < KP
Knicks’ bench > Celtics bench
Thibs = Mazzulla
Rose > Stevens

How is the KNicks bench better? Looking at Hart and McBride vs Horford, Pritchard and Hauser right. Tillman possibly is back.
Is there another great Bench piece I am unaware of?

Divincenzo and if re-signed, iHart.

[ShootersShoot]

The right way --

Brunson > Jrue
Bridges < White
OG < Brown
Randle < Tatum
Mitch < KP
Bench ≈ Bench
Thibs < Mazz
Rosas < Stevens

Knicks <<< Celtics

Brunson > Jrue
Bridges > White
OG < Brown
Randle < Tatum
Mitch < KP
Knicks’ bench > Celtics bench
Thibs = Mazzulla
Rose > Stevens

How is the KNicks bench better? Looking at Hart and McBride vs Horford, Pritchard and Hauser right. Tillman possibly is back.
Is there another great Bench piece I am unaware of?

Divincenzo would be a premium bench player

[Jabroni Lames]

Knicks are a nice collection of elite role players, but they don't have a top 10 or even top 20 player. Brunson and Randle are fool's gold. Knicks achieve their success by simply playing harder than their opponents. That's not sustainable, long term.

[50yrceltsfan]

They look tough to me. Dominant point guard, 2 legit bigs, several top wings, and Randle when he's healthy.

[R-DAWG]

Knicks are a nice collection of elite role players, but they don't have a top 10 or even top 20 player. Brunson and Randle are fool's gold. Knicks achieve their success by simply playing harder than their opponents. That's not sustainable, long term.

This isn't fair to Brunson.

He might be on the fringe of being a top-10 player depending on who is doing the rating (Bill Simmons has it as a toss up between Brunson/Steph for 6 and 7) but given how he played last season he's in that discussion.

[brackdan70]

They look tough to me. Dominant point guard, 2 legit bigs, several top wings, and Randle when he's healthy.

Who are the two legit bigs?

[bronxknicksfan1]

Knicks are a nice collection of elite role players, but they don't have a top 10 or even top 20 player. Brunson and Randle are fool's gold. Knicks achieve their success by simply playing harder than their opponents. That's not sustainable, long term.

Brunson, leading vote getter on 2nd Team All NBA, top 5 MVP candidate, isn’t a top 10 player? Or even top 20? You watch ball?

[brackdan70]

Brunson > Jrue
Bridges > White
OG < Brown
Randle < Tatum
Mitch < KP
Knicks’ bench > Celtics bench
Thibs = Mazzulla
Rose > Stevens

How is the KNicks bench better? Looking at Hart and McBride vs Horford, Pritchard and Hauser right. Tillman possibly is back.
Is there another great Bench piece I am unaware of?

Divincenzo would be a premium bench player

Ah yes right. Pretty comparable on my mind.

[Jabroni Lames]

Knicks are a nice collection of elite role players, but they don't have a top 10 or even top 20 player. Brunson and Randle are fool's gold. Knicks achieve their success by simply playing harder than their opponents. That's not sustainable, long term.

Brunson, leading vote getter on 2nd Team All NBA, top 5 MVP candidate, isn’t a top 10 player? Or even top 20? You watch ball?

I love Brunson, but I don't think his success is sustainable and only a handful of teams have won it all with 6ft PGs leading the way.

[brackdan70]

Brunson > Jrue
Bridges > White
OG < Brown
Randle < Tatum
Mitch < KP
Knicks’ bench > Celtics bench
Thibs = Mazzulla
Rose > Stevens

How is the KNicks bench better? Looking at Hart and McBride vs Horford, Pritchard and Hauser right. Tillman possibly is back.
Is there another great Bench piece I am unaware of?

Divincenzo and if re-signed, iHart.

Yes sorry I forgot Dante. IHart is gone.

[bronxknicksfan1]

Knicks are a nice collection of elite role players, but they don't have a top 10 or even top 20 player. Brunson and Randle are fool's gold. Knicks achieve their success by simply playing harder than their opponents. That's not sustainable, long term.

Brunson, leading vote getter on 2nd Team All NBA, top 5 MVP candidate, isn’t a top 10 player? Or even top 20? You watch ball?

I love Brunson, but I don't think his success is sustainable and only a handful of teams have won it all with 6ft PGs leading the way.

If you think they can’t win it all, that’s fair. Brunson’s success is sustainable though. It isn’t like his game relies on him being super athletic. And now there’s players around him that can cover for his weaknesses and complement his style of play. At the very least, this is a ECF team.

[bronxknicksfan1]

How is the KNicks bench better? Looking at Hart and McBride vs Horford, Pritchard and Hauser right. Tillman possibly is back.
Is there another great Bench piece I am unaware of?

Divincenzo and if re-signed, iHart.

Yes sorry I forgot Dante. IHart is gone.

That’s what everyone said about OG yesterday. Let’s wait and see

[omerome]

Knicks are a nice collection of elite role players, but they don't have a top 10 or even top 20 player. Brunson and Randle are fool's gold. Knicks achieve their success by simply playing harder than their opponents. That's not sustainable, long term.

Fools gold?! Wow. Maybe the other teams should start playing harder then... What a statement.

Jalen Brunson has shown plenty of times why he is great. He is definitely a top 10 player.

Don't believe me? He made second team All-NBA.

[brackdan70]

Divincenzo and if re-signed, iHart.

Yes sorry I forgot Dante. IHart is gone.

That’s what everyone said about OG yesterday. Let’s wait and see

They are hard capped at the first apron. They have about 11million to fill 5 spots. They could include McBride in the trade with Brooklyn and then be hardcapped at the second Apron, and have 21 million to fill 6 spots. I can’t see Hartenstein fitting into the first Scenario. The second is possible I suppose. He will make at least mid level money I would think.

[BowlRips]

If you’re going to do this with the comparison, at least do it right. This looks bias as hell. Especially if you’re giving >>> to everyone, but only slightly for Brunson > Jrue. Brunson is way better than him rn

Brunson vs Tatum is the top end talent. Tatum is more talented, but Brunson has been the better playoff performer these last 2 years and had the better season recently. I’d call that a wash.

Randle vs Brown is next. Brown is better defensively while Randle is the better rebounder and passer. Around equal as a scorer. I’d call this a wash as well.

Mikal/OG vs White/Jrue. Mikal/OG are the more versatile defenders. White/Jrue are more capable offensive options. Depending on the build on your team is who you go with here.

Mitch vs KP. They’re a wash when it comes to durability and defense. Both elite defenders that can’t stay on the floor. KP is an elite shooter and much better offensive option. Mitch is the much better rebounder. This one should go easily to the Celtics.

Hart/Divo/McBride/iHart(?) vs Pritchard/Hauser/Horford. I’m taking the Knicks depth here pretty easily. Boston could definitely get another wing to close the gap here with their depth there, but as it stands, the Knicks bench has potential to be amongst the best in the league.

The right way --

Brunson > Jrue
Bridges < White
OG < Brown
Randle < Tatum
Mitch < KP
Bench ≈ Bench
Thibs < Mazz
Rosas < Stevens

Knicks <<< Celtics

I don't think it's fair to say White is better than Bridges. I think it's a toss up.

Where the Celtics have the advantage is that White is the clear #4 whereas Bridges might have to be the number 2. I think the Knicks bench is better than the Celtics bench

I would break it down like this:

Tier 1: Brunson, Tatum, Brown - Brown being the clear #3 here and it's a toss up between Brunson/Tatum

Tier 2 : Holiday

Tier 3: Randle

Tier 4: OG, Bridges, White, Porzingis

Boston has a stronger top 2 and top 6, Knicks have more depth

Celtics are a better team and would be favored in the series. But NY has a real chance to beat them in a series.

I like the tiers.. my take

Tier 1: Tatum, Brunson

Tier 2: Jaylen Brown

Tier 3: Jrue, White, Mikal, OG

Tier 4: Randle

Tier 5: Porzingis, Horford, Prichard, Hart, DDV, Mitch


For the Knicks the issue is that Randle can range himself to Tier 2 (during the regular season) to Tier 6 (Disgruntled).
But they are deeper, to (on paper) compete with Boston, they'd need Randle or his replacement to join Tier 2

[brackdan70]

The right way --

Brunson > Jrue
Bridges < White
OG < Brown
Randle < Tatum
Mitch < KP
Bench ≈ Bench
Thibs < Mazz
Rosas < Stevens

Knicks <<< Celtics

I don't think it's fair to say White is better than Bridges. I think it's a toss up.

Where the Celtics have the advantage is that White is the clear #4 whereas Bridges might have to be the number 2. I think the Knicks bench is better than the Celtics bench

I would break it down like this:

Tier 1: Brunson, Tatum, Brown - Brown being the clear #3 here and it's a toss up between Brunson/Tatum

Tier 2 : Holiday

Tier 3: Randle

Tier 4: OG, Bridges, White, Porzingis

Boston has a stronger top 2 and top 6, Knicks have more depth

Celtics are a better team and would be favored in the series. But NY has a real chance to beat them in a series.

I like the tiers.. my take

Tier 1: Tatum, Brunson

Tier 2: Jaylen Brown

Tier 3: Jrue, White, Mikal, OG

Tier 4: Randle

Tier 5: Porzingis, Horford, Prichard, Hart, DDV, Mitch


For the Knicks the issue is that Randle can range himself to Tier 2 (during the regular season) to Tier 6 (Disgruntled).
But they are deeper, to (on paper) compete with Boston, they'd need Randle or his replacement to join Tier 2

Why Porzingas so low. He is easily in tier 3 .

[R-DAWG]

I don't think it's fair to say White is better than Bridges. I think it's a toss up.

Where the Celtics have the advantage is that White is the clear #4 whereas Bridges might have to be the number 2. I think the Knicks bench is better than the Celtics bench

I would break it down like this:

Tier 1: Brunson, Tatum, Brown - Brown being the clear #3 here and it's a toss up between Brunson/Tatum

Tier 2 : Holiday

Tier 3: Randle

Tier 4: OG, Bridges, White, Porzingis

Boston has a stronger top 2 and top 6, Knicks have more depth

Celtics are a better team and would be favored in the series. But NY has a real chance to beat them in a series.

I like the tiers.. my take

Tier 1: Tatum, Brunson

Tier 2: Jaylen Brown

Tier 3: Jrue, White, Mikal, OG

Tier 4: Randle

Tier 5: Porzingis, Horford, Prichard, Hart, DDV, Mitch


For the Knicks the issue is that Randle can range himself to Tier 2 (during the regular season) to Tier 6 (Disgruntled).
But they are deeper, to (on paper) compete with Boston, they'd need Randle or his replacement to join Tier 2

Why Porzingas so low. He is easily in tier 3 .

I think Porzingis/Randle are both tier 4

[bronxknicksfan1]

Yes sorry I forgot Dante. IHart is gone.

That’s what everyone said about OG yesterday. Let’s wait and see

They are hard capped at the first apron. They have about 11million to fill 5 spots. They could include McBride in the trade with Brooklyn and then be hardcapped at the second Apron, and have 21 million to fill 6 spots. I can’t see Hartenstein fitting into the first Scenario. The second is possible I suppose. He will make at least mid level money I would think.

If they become a 2nd apron team, they can take a crack at.

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