PG: Knicks lose to Pacers - Thibs is a Terrorist

[nykballa2k4]

Thibs only plays you consistently if he trusts you ON DEFENSE. You can shoot 45% and pass like Magic Johnson but if your name is not Brunson/Towns you need to be able to defend. While I don’t agree with Thibs and don’t think he’s a great coach this is who he’s been and the FO continues to give him players that don’t fit this mindset.

the so called players he trusts on defense don't seem to be defending very well so it may be time for him to think of something else

I mean they are burnt out thats why. It’s a byproduct of the FO drafting and signing players that don’t defend. There are coaches that can mix and match but Thibs isn’t like that. He benched Fournier, Kemba, Bogey, Obi, etc. he will bench anyone that can’t defend and I don’t get why the FO keeps bringing him players that are good offensively but are spectators on defense.

It's also a situation where he needs to build trust slowly in a player.

Most programs will say "okay next man up, sink or swim" and that is how you build that trust.
Thibs... gives you like 60 seconds of game time before he gives up and just overplays the guys he does trust.

Better to sacrifice some early games to develop your talent than it is to just see your chess pieces taken off the board one by one...

[MrDollarBills]

Using a 6 man rotation in November is coaching malpractice. Not much else i can say.

[R-DAWG]

Read on Twitter

The thing about the "is early, this team had elite talent, we'll be fine" argument is that it's true.

But, the worrying thing is that, just because this team will eventually get it together, it doesn't mean that many of the reasons things look like they do now aren't HIGHLY troubling and indicative of a major flaw in this organization.

Having one of the better shooting teams in the league and taking half the 3s of your opponent in 2024? Playing a 6 man rotation in November? Running a defense that gives up open threes 97% of the time?

None of this is a matter of it just being viewed the wrong way or in the wrong context - there's absolutely no way to defend the choices that led to these results.

There can be issues of under performance, injury, or cohesiveness, but the primary problems with this team have nothing to do with players being new, not playing up to standard, or depth. This is about coaching choices.

This is a great point. This is a top heavy team without elite talent. To be successful with a top heavy team you need a top 7 player and top-15 player along with a top-30 player. Weather its Lebron/Wade/Bosh - which started as 2 top-5 players plus a top-20 player, or Tatum/Brown/Holiday - which is a fringe top-5, fringe top-12, fringe top-30. Right now the Knicks have a fringe top-10 in Brunson and a fringe top-25 in KAT. Bridges/Anunoby are fringe top-40 guys.

We can complain about the Bridges trade all we want, but the biggest mistake might be going all in around a fringe top-10 guy instead of trying to incrementally improve around him while remaining flexible.

[whocares1]

I’m all for covering weaknesses when it’s possible but that is not Thibs. What’s an indictment of the FO is stocking on offensive players that can’t defend knowing the coach they just gave an extension can’t put these players to use.

So it's not a Thibs problem that he can't adapt, everyone else needs to conform to him?

It is a Thibs problem but it’s like wanting your girl to change after you just got married to her lol. FO knows how Thibs operates. They saw how he handled Fournier, Kemba, the first pick they ever made (Obi). If they had a problem with his philosophy why did they sign him to an extension?

[ctorres]

I feel like the issue with minutes might be overblown

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2025_per_game.html

Brunson ranks 33rd in mpg while Towns ranks 47th

However, Bridges ranks 6th, Hart ranks 12th, and OG ranks 18th

OG is the 31st highest paid player in the NBA, so he is getting paid to play a lot of minutes. His money goes up every year. He'll be getting paid like an all-star next season.

Bridges is supposed to be one of the most in-shape players in the NBA and never misses games. Next year is his last year making just starter-level money. In 2 years, he'll be getting paid like an all-star as long as he earns it with his play and doesn't regress.

Hart gets paid starter money at $20 million a year and he doesn't get paid to score. So he gets paid to withstand big minutes and do everything else other than score.

Also, our top 6 guys' numbers are all pretty inflated right now. One of the ways to ensure that everyone is getting plenty of touches is to play them a ton of minutes.

They can't all be all-stars, but pretty much all 6 of them will be eligible for end of season awards at this rate. Beyond winning a championship, I think they all want individual recognition too.

Brunson
34.6 mpg
25.0 ppg on 48/42/81 shooting splits
6.6 apg (ranks 16th in the league)

Towns
32.9 mpg
24.9 ppg on 53/54/88 shooting splits
12.3 rpg (ranks 5th in the league)
0.9 bpg

Anunoby
36.0 mpg
15.6 ppg on 47/41/83 shooting splits
4.4 rpg
2.7 apg
1.7 spg (ranks 12th in the league)

Hart
36.7 mpg
13.8 ppg on 57/29/84 shooting splits
9.0 ppg
5.0 apg
1.1 spg

McBride
26.8 mpg
11.2 ppg on 44/40/80 shooting splits
2.7 apg
1.1 spg

Bridges
37.8 mpg
15.3 ppg
31.7% 3pt fg's on 7.0 3pa/g (most 3pt attempts on the team, 33rd in the NBA)
3.6 rpg
3.4 apg
1.2 spg

Bridges has been the weak link on the offensive end. He has to knock down his shots if he's gonna shoot the most threes on the team.

I don't think Hart will improve much from 29% from three, but if he contributes in other areas it kind of balances out with him.

Also want to note. Every single player on the team is averaging below 2 turnovers a game. So at least they're taking care of the ball.

[mpharris36]

I’m all for covering weaknesses when it’s possible but that is not Thibs. What’s an indictment of the FO is stocking on offensive players that can’t defend knowing the coach they just gave an extension can’t put these players to use.

So it's not a Thibs problem that he can't adapt, everyone else needs to conform to him?

It is a Thibs problem but it’s like wanting your girl to change after you just got married to her lol. FO knows how Thibs operates. They saw how he handled Fournier, Kemba, the first pick they ever made (Obi). If they had a problem with his philosophy why did they sign him to an extension?

the only non defender we acquired was KAT...and we are replacing him with arguably just as bad if not worse defender in Randle?

What legit changed?

Ihart left
Mitch hurt
Precious hurt

those were our bigs that defended and thibs doesn't have any of them right now but instead of adapting the defense...sort of like Udoka has done in HOU with a non rim protecting center...he continues to run the same defensive scheme as if he had ihart and MItch still.

That is 100% coaching.

[Gravy]

Back to back on Tues and Wed, its gonna get nuts!

[thebuzzardman]

Back to back on Tues and Wed, its gonna get nuts!

Two losses coming up!

I wonder which month Thibs gets fired in

[Iron Mantis]

Back to back on Tues and Wed, its gonna get nuts!

Whose obituary are we writing up next? OG or KAT?

[RHODEY]

As per daily news article
INDIANAPOLIS — Karl-Anthony Towns sat at his locker, legs submerged in an ice bath, his expression as cold as the tub.

The Knicks had just dropped their third game in four outings, outscored 40-27 in the fourth quarter of a 132-121 loss to the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday. For Towns, these early-season losses weren’t easy to shrug off.

The Knicks’ All-Star center is a 10-year NBA veteran who last season helped lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals. This loss — all of them, for that matter — stung because he’d learned during last year’s deep playoff run just how critical every game is, even those early in the season that — on the surface — might seem inconsequential.

“I know when we were in Game 80, 81, 82 last season against the [Phoenix] Suns, we looked back at Game 1, Game 4—you looked back at the ones you gave away,” Towns said. “It could have put you in a better position for the No. 1 seed, No. 2 seed, No. 3 seed, or to give us a chance to choose our destiny. That’s why I’m disappointed. Experience has taught me a lot. This is just as important as Game 82. And we didn’t come out with a win, and that’s what’s so disappointing to me.”

Yea… f*** you thibs, you got the players, you dont know how to manage the game
You f***in suck

Bridges needs to be cursed out too, because as far as I'm concerned this loses rests equally on his shoulders.

100% facts, His vaunted defense has been a$$, been playing like hot dog sh** since he got here. 8 points in 42 minutes. F***en trash player since he got here. If he can’t shoot because he decided to change his shot on the eve of getting here, at least play your damn defense. WTF is wrong with that guy man. Only players worth a damn are KAT, and OG. Hart some games too

JB and Mikal are on Mars rn and need a swift kick to their a$$ for their embarrassing play

Wont go so far as to cal him trash...just his effort level and focus has been trash. When zeroed in he's very good, but he aint zeroed in. I know he's a slightly build dude , but that never stopped a guy like Reggie Miller from being aggressive. Simply put...he just needs to do better.

[Wildcat]

This lost is still pissing me off.

[thebuzzardman]

Back to back on Tues and Wed, its gonna get nuts!

Whose obituary are we writing up next? OG or KAT?

OG. He's about ready for his annual stretch of missing 30 games.

[sol537]

Thibs ain’t it, folks. I was a fan of his previously because he was setting our culture for a bubble team. Now that we’re a potential contender, we need an elite modern coach. It may be time to turn the game (see Jackson to Kerr in GSW)

[Wildcat]

Thibs ain’t it, folks. I was a fan of his previously because he was setting our culture for a bubble team. Now that we’re a potential contender, we need an elite modern coach. It may be time to turn the game (see Jackson to Kerr in GSW)

I'm starting feel this way. But who?

[KnixinSix]

Thibs ain’t it, folks. I was a fan of his previously because he was setting our culture for a bubble team. Now that we’re a potential contender, we need an elite modern coach. It may be time to turn the game (see Jackson to Kerr in GSW)

I'm starting feel this way. But who?

Hes going to get more time to figure all this out folks.

We live into microwave society. Fact is, we have 4 out of 5 new starters.And Thibs has to totally revamp his defensive philosophy using Kat at the five. Whether you think it's reasonable or not, this stuff sometimes can take twenty to thirty games.

If buy 30 games in Tibs has not made the proper adjustments by then.Then now you may have to think okay, Maybe Thibs is not a fit for this team.

At that point let's bring back johnny bryant lol

[TheGreenArrow]

Read on Twitter

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[sol537]

Thibs ain’t it, folks. I was a fan of his previously because he was setting our culture for a bubble team. Now that we’re a potential contender, we need an elite modern coach. It may be time to turn the game (see Jackson to Kerr in GSW)

I'm starting feel this way. But who?

Dan Hurley and Jay Wright make some sense. I'm sure there are other worthy candidates out there. BOS, OKC, PHX, and CLE all found top-tier coaches in recent years.

[Jstock12]

Thibs ain’t it, folks. I was a fan of his previously because he was setting our culture for a bubble team. Now that we’re a potential contender, we need an elite modern coach. It may be time to turn the game (see Jackson to Kerr in GSW)

I'm starting feel this way. But who?

Watch on YouTube

[Besart19]

poor coaching and poor execution from our players

no adjustments and a lot of rigid plays... its getting worrisome

I should have taken the bet with you

the 40 pts allowed in the 4th quarter was a shameful act, but its also on us who root for a bunch of losers and fake hustlers

[Wildcat]

Thibs ain’t it, folks. I was a fan of his previously because he was setting our culture for a bubble team. Now that we’re a potential contender, we need an elite modern coach. It may be time to turn the game (see Jackson to Kerr in GSW)

I'm starting feel this way. But who?

Hes going to get more time to figure all this out folks.

We live into microwave society. Fact is, we have 4 out of 5 new starters.And Thibs has to totally revamp his defensive philosophy using Kat at the five. Whether you think it's reasonable or not, this stuff sometimes can take twenty to thirty games.

If buy 30 games in Tibs has not made the proper adjustments by then.Then now you may have to think okay, Maybe Thibs is not a fit for this team.

At that point let's bring back johnny bryant lol

That sounds good on paper, but then I look at Cleveland with the same roster, different coach, and that's leaving me legitimately wondering if the same success can be found here.