PG: Knicks vs. Bucks: We eatin' Venison tonight!

[stuporman]

People making grandiose statements after less than 10 games into a season are doing it for attention or are getting paid to make statements that get attention.

Even last season Brunson started kinda slow but how did that turn out? In the 7th game of last season dude had a 7 point game, sure it was one game after a 45 point game but it still was only 7 points in the 7th game of the season. He only shot over 45% from the field in 3 of the first 10 games of the season. Then finished the season shooting 47%fg and 40%3pt so please spare me the agonizing over the first 8 games of this season.

Last year was a team filled with mostly returning players compared to this year's team of mostly new ones. I understand talking about what needs to be improved both the player and team but just get over it.

[Clyde_Style]

People making grandiose statements after less than 10 games into a season are doing it for attention or are getting paid to make statements that get attention.

Even last season Brunson started kinda slow but how did that turn out? In the 7th game of last season dude had a 7 point game, sure it was one game after a 45 point game but it still was only 7 points in the 7th game of the season. He only shot over 45% from the field in 3 of the first 10 games of the season. Then finished the season shooting 47%fg and 40%3pt so please spare me the agonizing over the first 8 games of this season.

Last year was a team filled with mostly returning players compared to this year's team of mostly new ones. I understand talking about what needs to be improved both the player and team but just get over it.

Brunson had more than one stretch last season where he struggled a bit and bounced back with a vengeance.

He was forcing it to start the season and he will need to adjust as he started to do in the last game. Even a player as good as Brunson can fall into mental ruts and become easier to game plan against which is what appears to have happened. But he is not someone to worry about. He'll figure it out.

[KnixinSix]

People making grandiose statements after less than 10 games into a season are doing it for attention or are getting paid to make statements that get attention.

Even last season Brunson started kinda slow but how did that turn out? In the 7th game of last season dude had a 7 point game, sure it was one game after a 45 point game but it still was only 7 points in the 7th game of the season. He only shot over 45% from the field in 3 of the first 10 games of the season. Then finished the season shooting 47%fg and 40%3pt so please spare me the agonizing over the first 8 games of this season.

Last year was a team filled with mostly returning players compared to this year's team of mostly new ones. I understand talking about what needs to be improved both the player and team but just get over it.

Perspective.

[KnixinSix]

After last night, KAT is now shooting 40% from 3.




For his career.

995 makes in 2488 attempts. This side is a corny, foul prone, defensive liability, injury risk who also produces an unfathomable quality of offense. You almost have to be wilfully ignorant or actively trying to screw things up for it not to work.

The discussion around "the best shooting big man alive" statement has polluted the broader discussion about KAT a bit.

It's almost as if, just because he's not Dirk, then the discussion is irrelevant and should be entirely dismissed.

But the reality is that he is one of best shooting bigs in basketball history. And having that kind of player is a luxury.

As you said, Thibs now has a Ferrari in his offense.

melo's concerns about KAT's lack of rim protection are warranted. NoDope's take on the defensive schemes around KAT is also pertinent, and there are precedents to instill some confidence that they could potentially build a contender without solid rim protection. The Knicks will need time to test out various tactics to see how far this lineup can take them.

Worst-case scenario, they can bring back Precious and then Mitch at the 5. But they owe it to themselves to try it with KAT for a meaningful period, especially now that they theoretically have elite wing defenders with length to mitigate the negative effects.

It really should be the perfect storm for a defensive minded coach.

"Look, KAT at the 5 is an offensive cheat code - with the right supporting cast it will be nearly impossible to fully stop an offense with his skills and production. He's also a terrible defender at the 5. If we give you elite defensive pieces around him, do you think you can devise a system that minimizes his negative impact defensively so we can fully capitalize on dismantling opponents offensively with him at the 5?"

Defensive genius coaches should be able to get there in my opinion. I'm not talking about making him a plus defender at this point, I'm talking about scheming to cover his flaws.

I feel like solutions like "just move him to the 4" or "hope his offense this night exceeds what his defense concedes" are lazy or last measure. First order should be CREATIVE, cook up some isht, be the first to solve this specific conundrum - it's all on the table now that KAT is no longer tethered by anyone, including himself, to the idea that he needs to be a do-everything franchise savior, cornerstone, name on the marquis guy.

I feel like Thibs can absolutely do this - it should be an exciting challenge for the right guy. I just really hope he doesn't approach this from the standpoint of needing to make KAT "a better defender so he can fit into the pre-existing defensive philosophy and schemes in place before he arrived".

This is 100% true and what Thibs has been trying to do. The fallback is to play him at the 4 at least some minutes but the ideal is to come up with a scheme where we are still at least half decent defensively (especially rim protecting) while not having to have another 7 footer out there.

[NiceLikeChrist]

Garbage time was a little depressing seeing our rookies scared to shoot or try anything because they still have that “one mistake and I’m pulled” mindset

Thibs always great at killing a young players confidence

[Fat Kat]

Garbage time was a little depressing seeing our rookies scared to shoot or try anything because they still have that “one mistake and I’m pulled” mindset

Thibs always great at killing a young players confidence

Thibs has done well developing young players on this team.

[knicksNOTslick]

It should be Brunson if we’re being honest here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But this board isn’t ready for that conversation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bucks aren't taking on Brunson especially with Lillard there.

Also I doubt Leon trades him so I think he's untouchable unless there's a regime change or JB personally asks out.

We have 0 shot at Giannis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I don’t even want him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m just saying Giannis and Kat Fit wayyyyy better than Brunson and Giannis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agreed but I'm saying we're not trading Brunson at all so no need to even mention it.

Either way, neither one (KAT or Brunson) is going in a trade for Giannis. And we have 0 chance at him so there is no need to entertain it.

[stuporman]

Garbage time was a little depressing seeing our rookies scared to shoot or try anything because they still have that “one mistake and I’m pulled” mindset

Thibs always great at killing a young players confidence

Thibs has done well developing young players on this team.

Not just young players but young vets and journeymen often have their best years under Thibs.

We just watched a guy go from being on 3-4 different teams as a backup to signing for $30million a year in the middle of his 20s with Thibs.

Let's not dismiss a player turning into a multi allstar and all NBA player under Thibs. Another getting MVP votes after barely given a chance to start with their original team.

There are some players that don't thrive under his tutelage but there are plenty of them from rookies to vets that do blossom under it.

People always great at running with bullisht narratives

[koogiking]

Brunson needs to be a 16/9 type of guy and the offense would run through KAT. That's the Knicks path to being an elite team

And on nights where the Knicks need an offensive push, Brunson can turn it up to 25-30+ and also selectively hit couch shots within the offense

Basically we have to share the ball but make sure KAT always gets going in the offense

[NoDopeOnSundays]

Brunson needs to be a 16/9 type of guy and the offense would run through KAT. That's the Knicks path to being an elite team

And on nights where the Knicks need an offensive push, Brunson can turn it up to 25-30+ and also selectively hit couch shots within the offense

Basically we have to share the ball but make sure KAT always gets going in the offense

We won't go far if Brunson isn't a 20+PPG scorer, we need his aggression as a scorer since he's the only elite creator on the team. KAT is a finisher, you cannot make him the backbone of the offense because he needs someone else to play off of.

What we need is just more screens from KAT so he's an outlet for multiple players, but we're only going to go as far as Jalen takes us.

[gavran]

Garbage time was a little depressing seeing our rookies scared to shoot or try anything because they still have that “one mistake and I’m pulled” mindset

Thibs always great at killing a young players confidence

Yes, they more mortified, that Thibs would put in the starters.

[Context]

People making grandiose statements after less than 10 games into a season are doing it for attention or are getting paid to make statements that get attention.

Even last season Brunson started kinda slow but how did that turn out? In the 7th game of last season dude had a 7 point game, sure it was one game after a 45 point game but it still was only 7 points in the 7th game of the season. He only shot over 45% from the field in 3 of the first 10 games of the season. Then finished the season shooting 47%fg and 40%3pt so please spare me the agonizing over the first 8 games of this season.

Last year was a team filled with mostly returning players compared to this year's team of mostly new ones. I understand talking about what needs to be improved both the player and team but just get over it.

Exactly...

[thebuzzardman]

People blaming the fact that Dadiet and Hukpootie aren't that talented on Thibs.

[robillionaire]

People blaming the fact that Dadiet and Hukpootie aren't that talented on Thibs.

Tale as old as time. Goes back to the frank days

[thebuzzardman]

People blaming the fact that Dadiet and Hukpootie aren't that talented on Thibs.

Tale as old as time. Goes back to the frank days

Kolek isn't afraid to shoot when he's out there, because he's actually decent.

Pretty wild the Knicks decided to burn two picks on a totally raw French player and another guy who apparently won't play any basketball this year, all the while planning to reduce their depth as they trade for KAT.

Solid plan. Now they have a thin bench and are about to play Indiana with 5 starters, one decent rookie, completely ass Sims, and scrubs and raw talent to make up the rest of bench.

Oh well. Positivity was running rampant based on this one win against a now completely mediocre Bucks team.

It'll be back to the negativity I love so when the Pacers blow out a depleted Knicks team

[KnixinSix]

Bucks aren't taking on Brunson especially with Lillard there.

Also I doubt Leon trades him so I think he's untouchable unless there's a regime change or JB personally asks out.

We have 0 shot at Giannis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I don’t even want him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m just saying Giannis and Kat Fit wayyyyy better than Brunson and Giannis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agreed but I'm saying we're not trading Brunson at all so no need to even mention it.

Either way, neither one (KAT or Brunson) is going in a trade for Giannis. And we have 0 chance at him so there is no need to entertain it.

If he demands Knicks with his no trade clause and we give them Mitch, OG ++ who knows? Not saying a high probability but not necessarily 0 either.

Rose has proved he is a wheeler dealer with OG Bridges and now KAT in last year

[KnixinSix]

People blaming the fact that Dadiet and Hukpootie aren't that talented on Thibs.

Tale as old as time. Goes back to the frank days

Kolek isn't afraid to shoot when he's out there, because he's actually decent.

Pretty wild the Knicks decided to burn two picks on a totally raw French player and another guy who apparently won't play any basketball this year, all the while planning to reduce their depth as they trade for KAT.

Solid plan. Now they have a thin bench and are about to play Indiana with 5 starters, one decent rookie, completely ass Sims, and scrubs and raw talent to make up the rest of bench.

Oh well. Positivity was running rampant based on this one win against a now completely mediocre Bucks team.

It'll be back to the negativity I love so when the Pacers blow out a depleted Knicks team

3 of our top 8 or 9 are out. Precious Mitch and Payne. We will be fine

[sol537]

Brunson needs to be a 16/9 type of guy and the offense would run through KAT. That's the Knicks path to being an elite team

And on nights where the Knicks need an offensive push, Brunson can turn it up to 25-30+ and also selectively hit couch shots within the offense

Basically we have to share the ball but make sure KAT always gets going in the offense

We won't go far if Brunson isn't a 20+PPG scorer, we need his aggression as a scorer since he's the only elite creator on the team. KAT is a finisher, you cannot make him the backbone of the offense because he needs someone else to play off of.

What we need is just more screens from KAT so he's an outlet for multiple players, but we're only going to go as far as Jalen takes us.

"I'll give you 20 and 10" -Derick Coleman

We need Brunson to be a 20 and 10 (assist) guy. Maestro. General. Conductor.

Get KAT, Mikal, and OG going early and often. Find Deuce in his spots. Hit Precious/Hart in their rolls to the rim. When the ball is moving, it's contagious and defenses can't hone in on Brunson with 2-3 guys at a time. You have to give to get. I'm sure Brunson will find the right balance.

[Guano]

People blaming the fact that Dadiet and Hukpootie aren't that talented on Thibs.

Tale as old as time. Goes back to the frank days

EXACTLY!!!!

the knicks constantly misuse French excellence

#free3pac

[NoDopeOnSundays]

Brunson needs to be a 16/9 type of guy and the offense would run through KAT. That's the Knicks path to being an elite team

And on nights where the Knicks need an offensive push, Brunson can turn it up to 25-30+ and also selectively hit couch shots within the offense

Basically we have to share the ball but make sure KAT always gets going in the offense

We won't go far if Brunson isn't a 20+PPG scorer, we need his aggression as a scorer since he's the only elite creator on the team. KAT is a finisher, you cannot make him the backbone of the offense because he needs someone else to play off of.

What we need is just more screens from KAT so he's an outlet for multiple players, but we're only going to go as far as Jalen takes us.

"I'll give you 20 and 10" -Derick Coleman

We need Brunson to be a 20 and 10 (assist) guy. Maestro. General. Conductor.

Get KAT, Mikal, and OG going early and often. Find Deuce in his spots. Hit Precious/Hart in their rolls to the rim. When the ball is moving, it's contagious and defenses can't hone in on Brunson with 2-3 guys at a time. You have to give to get. I'm sure Brunson will find the right balance.

20/10 guys don't win anything, your primary ball handler has to be able to blackout score. 28/7 is better than 20/10.