5 games in: Biggest early surprises with KAT and Bridges so far

[Jeffrey]

KAT is going to be the point-of-contact that Thibs like to do with iHart. Unlike iHart, KAT really has the skillsets to do different things which I can't wait to see how this team looks when we really get going.

[Nazrmohamed]

I thought Bridges would be more aggressive on offense. Still very early with time to gel but I thought of him as our bonafide third option competing for 2nd.

[Fat Kat]

I thought Bridges would be more aggressive on offense. Still very early with time to gel but I thought of him as our bonafide third option competing for 2nd.

He’s 3rd in scoring and is the third option. You thought he would compete with KAT for 2nd?

[Moose]

Curious to see how this team is with a healthy Precious and Mitch.

It currently feels incomplete.

[robillionaire]

I don’t have any surprises really. I was worried about Bridges after he was bad in the preseason and the opener but he’s playing well. Towns started out slow but playing well now. Same with Brunson. OG is who we know he is.

Honestly if I had to come up with a surprise, it’s how well McBride has shot the ball and looks like a bonafide 6th man spark who can make an impact on the game.

I’d prefer to be 4-1, we definitely pissed away that Cavs game. But I’ll take a 3-2 start considering our new pieces who have had limited reps

[Knicks Byke]

Great stuff Wildcat and Context.

More from Thibs.....

“When we work together,” Tom Thibodeau said, “our offense is going to be really good.”

“KAT and his skill set, you have to be up on him,” Thibodeau said. “And then what it does is it opens up the cutting, and the harder we cut, the more we’re going to get easy buckets, we’re going to get open 3s. “And then his willingness to share the ball and make plays for his teammates. And with Jalen, they’re developing really good chemistry off it.”

I wasn't a Randle hater, but he usually wasn't a quick passer. Sometimes, he seemed like a reluctant passer. He'd often pass out of desperation, after he was doubled and had no shot.

I really like how KAT moves the ball.

Karl-Anthony Towns joins Patrick Ewing as the only Knicks to record 100+ PTS & 50+ REB in their first five games with the franchise."


"Most PTS in first five games as a Knick:

130 — Carmelo Anthony
111 — Karl-Anthony Towns"


Towns is now averaging 22.2 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest while shooting 54.9% from the field and 64.7% from the three-point range in five games with the Knicks.

Thanks bro...appreciate the great stuff from you!
I heard Thibs say that yesterday and seeing you post it brings these thoughts to mind...
Every single starter has a history of big shots- big moments. None of these players have a "Big" ego either. Yes Brunson and Kat
can be ball dominant but it's not to the point where they wont share the ball. I just think they have the potential to be the BEST
TEAM because of their unique balance of so many skills and tangibles. I can't wait for game 10 and game 20...Thats when you will see my Knick Bravado rise

That is really it right here. There is really nothing this team is missing except for the times a matchup will call for elite rim protection more often. However even that should be mitigated by the return of Mitch Rob and Precious (or a trade).

I am not being a homer when I say this but I do believe this team NOW has the talent (and eventual team chemistry) to be the best team in the NBA and yes better than the Celtics.

I can agree with this but we def need to upgrade the bench a bit too before we can be considered that, imo.

[KnixinSix]

Thanks bro...appreciate the great stuff from you!
I heard Thibs say that yesterday and seeing you post it brings these thoughts to mind...
Every single starter has a history of big shots- big moments. None of these players have a "Big" ego either. Yes Brunson and Kat
can be ball dominant but it's not to the point where they wont share the ball. I just think they have the potential to be the BEST
TEAM because of their unique balance of so many skills and tangibles. I can't wait for game 10 and game 20...Thats when you will see my Knick Bravado rise

That is really it right here. There is really nothing this team is missing except for the times a matchup will call for elite rim protection more often. However even that should be mitigated by the return of Mitch Rob and Precious (or a trade).

I am not being a homer when I say this but I do believe this team NOW has the talent (and eventual team chemistry) to be the best team in the NBA and yes better than the Celtics.

I can agree with this but we def need to upgrade the bench a bit too before we can be considered that, imo.

With Achiuwa and Robinson (if he can stay) healthy its pretty good. However trading Robinson + for another more reliable big might make it even better

[NoDopeOnSundays]

That is really it right here. There is really nothing this team is missing except for the times a matchup will call for elite rim protection more often. However even that should be mitigated by the return of Mitch Rob and Precious (or a trade).

I am not being a homer when I say this but I do believe this team NOW has the talent (and eventual team chemistry) to be the best team in the NBA and yes better than the Celtics.

I can agree with this but we def need to upgrade the bench a bit too before we can be considered that, imo.

With Achiuwa and Robinson (if he can stay) healthy its pretty good. However trading Robinson + for another more reliable big might make it even better

We need another wing more than we need another big.

[Guano]

This I still don't undersrand this part of the story.



Also kat is a monster on the glass. He is the best rebounder we've had since David Lee.

[Guano]

I can agree with this but we def need to upgrade the bench a bit too before we can be considered that, imo.

With Achiuwa and Robinson (if he can stay) healthy its pretty good. However trading Robinson + for another more reliable big might make it even better

We need another wing more than we need another big.

Who can we get that would contribute with Mitchs contract. Or is it too early to speculate on that. Need to see the season play out more.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

With Achiuwa and Robinson (if he can stay) healthy its pretty good. However trading Robinson + for another more reliable big might make it even better

We need another wing more than we need another big.

Who can we get that would contribute with Mitchs contract. Or is it too early to speculate on that. Need to see the season play out more.

I think it's too early to say who, since everybody still has hope. But, I would think if they trade Mitch / Precious it'll be to add depth, so no matter what it would be a 1 for 2, or a 2 for 3.

[Guano]

We need another wing more than we need another big.

Who can we get that would contribute with Mitchs contract. Or is it too early to speculate on that. Need to see the season play out more.

I think it's too early to say who, since everybody still has hope. But, I would think if they trade Mitch / Precious it'll be to add depth, so no matter what it would be a 1 for 2, or a 2 for 3.

makes sense.
i'd like to keep precious for this run. but I really want a wing if we're not going to let 3pac get any run.

[thebuzzardman]

Read on Twitter

By playing defense

[thebuzzardman]

KAT is going to be the point-of-contact that Thibs like to do with iHart. Unlike iHart, KAT really has the skillsets to do different things which I can't wait to see how this team looks when we really get going.

Thibs has been jonesing for a Noah/iShart who can actually make a jumper his whole career; he just had to wait 8 years for KAT to grow a set defensively. Not even a large set, just enough of a set to care sometimes.

[8516knicks]

KAT is going to be the point-of-contact that Thibs like to do with iHart. Unlike iHart, KAT really has the skillsets to do different things which I can't wait to see how this team looks when we really get going.

Thibs has been jonesing for a Noah/iShart who can actually make a jumper his whole career; he just had to wait 8 years for KAT to grow a set defensively. Not even a large set, just enough of a set to care sometimes.

So that's where his hair went.

[Wildcat]

I thought Bridges would be more aggressive on offense. Still very early with time to gel but I thought of him as our bonafide third option competing for 2nd.

That's an incredibly odd take when your 1st and 2nd scoring options are JB and KAT. Even if Randle was still here, Bridges would be the third option.

[Spree2Houston]

I can agree with this but we def need to upgrade the bench a bit too before we can be considered that, imo.

With Achiuwa and Robinson (if he can stay) healthy its pretty good. However trading Robinson + for another more reliable big might make it even better

We need another wing more than we need another big.

I agree with you. It’s going to be a wing. Hukporti is being groomed to become the backup center

[KnixinSix]

With Achiuwa and Robinson (if he can stay) healthy its pretty good. However trading Robinson + for another more reliable big might make it even better

We need another wing more than we need another big.

I agree with you. It’s going to be a wing. Hukporti is being groomed to become the backup center

I think the true backup C like Poetl allows us to switch between the '5 OUT' look and the 'TWIN TOWERS ' look.

Depending on matchups and how is hot or cold that day we can play:

5 OUT

KAT
OG
Bridges
McBride/Hart
Brunson

Or an entirely different look and one that we played more like last year in .......

Robinson (or Poetl)
KAT
OG
Bridges
Brunson/McBride

Poetl is a very interesting option. He has more NBA experience than Kessler and played under the best NBA coach in Popovich. He matches up well in trade value with Mitchell where you would only have a 5M dollar difference to salary match. He is cost controlled for 2 years.

[Nazrmohamed]

I thought Bridges would be more aggressive on offense. Still very early with time to gel but I thought of him as our bonafide third option competing for 2nd.

He’s 3rd in scoring and is the third option. You thought he would compete with KAT for 2nd?

I'm just saying it should be his mentality. Dude was a 26ppg scorer once and if you think this team is a title contender he's gotta be aggressive enough that on any night Brunson or KAT don't have it, he could step right up. Why should we expect a lesser role than someone like Chris Middleton for the Bucks? I'm sure we didn't trade 5 picks to watch Jalen and KAT play two man basketball with Bridges joining OG at the role players table. Or it was a disaster of a trade. We wouldn't give up that many picks for Donovan Mitchell. Why give that much for Bridges if you're happy watching him score 15pts and play defense.

[Nazrmohamed]

I thought Bridges would be more aggressive on offense. Still very early with time to gel but I thought of him as our bonafide third option competing for 2nd.

That's an incredibly odd take when your 1st and 2nd scoring options are JB and KAT. Even if Randle was still here, Bridges would be the third option.

Yeah well I think of him and what we gave up to get him higher than your typical 90s two stars system with your third option being at the Detlef Shremp level. He was Brooklyns best player. Id like to imagine he has it in him that we could classify it a big 3. He had a 26ppg season. That's really what I'm saying. And either this offense ain't finding him or he himself is resigned to act like he's the same player from Phoenix. But 5 draft picks sortve dictate we need more from him