How do we fix our defense?

[taikibansei]

1. Start Precious over Hart
2. Play Bridges and Hart under 33 mins so they can go harder on defense
3. Replace Sims with Mitch when he returns
4. Incorporate more switches on picks... way more
5. Stagger KAT and Brunson's minutes more so they play together less.

We have the talent to get into the top 12 of defense... no reason we should be this pathetic. This is mainly on Thibs.

Agree with everything except that this is mainly Thibs' fault. Two of your own solutions--which I agree with--involve incorporating now-injured players. And one of them--Mitch--was intentionally injured by Embiid (so can't blame Thibs for that). More to the point, Thibs had us as the top defense in the league with worse players just eleven months ago.

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I have to think that his plan is to do just what you describe above, or some close variation thereof, when Precious and Mitch come back. And if the defense still doesn't work, then sure, blame/get rid of Thibs.

[sol537]

I hope that's the plan (to start Precious/Mitch with KAT and move Hart to the bench) and that Thibs and co. don't try to keep this 5 out BS going because it's a horror show defensively. We also strengthen the bench by moving Hart there. A bench of Hart, Payne, Deuce and Mitch is legit. Bench play has been our 2nd biggest weakness this season after defense.

[ScienceOfLosing]

What I don’t get re Bridges is he’s alwas been slight of frame, so why is getting through/around screens now, such an issue?
I was not familiar with his game before he came here.

I am more worried about our defense as it relates to Towns. I like his offensive game, though he needs to do more inside.
On defense he is just not a presence. He ain’t terrible as he has length snd sone athleticism.
I imagine Thibs will experiment with Mitch at the 5 and Towns at the 4.
Perhaps we do make a move for Kessler due to Mitches health.

[KnixinSix]

That final judgement probably happens when both our rim protectors come back. Because Thibodeaus system has shown elite level defensive abilty when he has an elite rim protector and some strong defensive wings. Both are critical pieces of the Thibs formula.

Last year we kind of were up and down until we got OG then absolutely took off. This year we lost IHart, don’t have Mitch and then lost Precious in preseason too. Thats a huge hit to the rim protection aspect to his defense.

You can argue at this point that other coaches like the Celts coach, Houstons coach maybe even the Nets coach etc would get more out of this squad and might be right too.

However Thibs with an elite C and the strong defensive wings has proven more often than not can field an absolutely dominant defense in todays NBA.

[spree2kawhi]

Wait for the bigs or trade for Kessler+Sexton or Poeltl.

[robillionaire]

Bridges has proven to be a horrendously bad defender. Brunson is already known to be a horrendously bad defender who needs some help and their defensive box plus minus are deeply negative. So basically we need to start McBride at the 2(benching bridges) or start Precious at the 4 slide Hart and OG to the 2 and 3 and move Bridges to the bench. And no it’s not Towns fault Bridges gets targeted and cooked on every play. Hart has been our best defensive player as far as DBPM other than Hukporti on a small sample size. Hart isn’t the one who needs to be benched it’s bridges.

And no it won’t hurt the offense much because bridges is also a 30% 3pt shooter with a deeply negative offensive BPM and can’t get to the line. So McBride is also a better offensive player and Precious probably won’t be much of a drop off if any either

Basically what I’m trying to explain to you is Bridges sucks on both sides of the ball and is hurting us on both sides of the ball, backed up by his team worst offensive and defense stats

[KnixinSix]

I hope that's the plan (to start Precious/Mitch with KAT and move Hart to the bench) and that Thibs and co. don't try to keep this 5 out BS going because it's a horror show defensively. We also strengthen the bench by moving Hart there. A bench of Hart, Payne, Deuce and Mitch is legit. Bench play has been our 2nd biggest weakness this season after defense.

Mutliple line-ups will be expiremented with

[KnixinSix]

Bridges has proven to be a horrendously bad defender. Brunson is already known to be a horrendously bad defender who needs some help and their defensive box plus minus are deeply negative. So basically we need to start McBride at the 2(benching bridges) or start Precious at the 4 slide Hart and OG to the 2 and 3 and move Bridges to the bench. And no it’s not Towns fault Bridges gets targeted and cooked on every play. Hart has been our best defensive player as far as DBPM other than Hukporti on a small sample size. Hart isn’t the one who needs to be benched it’s bridges.

And no it won’t hurt the offense much because bridges is also a 30% 3pt shooter with a deeply negative offensive BPM and can’t get to the line. So McBride is also a better offensive player and Precious probably won’t be much of a drop off if any either

Basically what I’m trying to explain to you is Bridges sucks on both sides of the ball and is hurting us on both sides of the ball, backed up by his team worst offensive and defense stats

Let Bridges lead the bench unit until proven otherwise. McBride can get more minutes too

[robillionaire]

People saying bench hart consider the following

Hart has been one of our best defenders and Bridges has been one of our worst defenders. Now looking at offense, Hart has been a secondary rebounder and ball handler and passer. Bridges does very little else outside of his bricklaying. Hart is a better shooter, scorer, at the rim, you name it. I said what I said. I mean my goodness compare the BPM. Check that value over replacement player. Go look at your own advanced stats we have the worst on the team maybe one of the worst in the league and one of the best

[thebuzzardman]

Man, the Bridges trade wrecked the team and its future

Oh well. Soon we will be in familiar Knick fan territory. If not already there.

[Chanel Bomber]

People saying bench hart consider the following

Hart has been one of our best defenders and Bridges has been one of our worst defenders. Now looking at offense, Hart has been a secondary rebounder and ball handler and passer. Bridges does very little else outside of his bricklaying. Hart is a better shooter, scorer, at the rim, you name it. I said what I said. I mean my goodness compare the BPM. Check that value over replacement player. Go look at your own advanced stats we have the worst on the team maybe one of the worst in the league and one of the best

This checks out when looking at advanced metric like EPM. Hart is in the black at +0.6, while Mikal is in the red at -0.2.

It's not only a horrible return on investment, Mikal so far hasn't shown to be even just a positive for this team.

It's a disaster.

Hart has limitations but he plays hard and he brings a lot to the table even when he's not hitting shots. But Mikal is contributing close to nothing besides the odd - undeniably smooth - midrange jumper. The worst part is clearly not rolling up his sleeves to help the team defensively even as his 3-point shot eludes him.

[Context]

you dont know what the potential of your defense is 16 games in- first off and 2nd-- some of your players havent played with the new members of this team and finally- its only 16 games in.
And what do you know...Knicks are in 4th place in the east and 11th place out of 30 teams...

well what do you know...we are still 4th in the East and now were 9th place overall...

[robillionaire]

People saying bench hart consider the following

Hart has been one of our best defenders and Bridges has been one of our worst defenders. Now looking at offense, Hart has been a secondary rebounder and ball handler and passer. Bridges does very little else outside of his bricklaying. Hart is a better shooter, scorer, at the rim, you name it. I said what I said. I mean my goodness compare the BPM. Check that value over replacement player. Go look at your own advanced stats we have the worst on the team maybe one of the worst in the league and one of the best

This checks out when looking at advanced metric like EPM. Hart is in the black at +0.6, while Mikal is in the red at -0.2.

It's not only a horrible return on investment, Mikal so far hasn't shown to be even just a positive for this team.

It's a disaster.

Hart has limitations but he plays hard and he brings a lot to the table even when he's not hitting shots. But Mikal is contributing close to nothing besides the odd - undeniably smooth - midrange jumper. The worst part is clearly not rolling up his sleeves to help the team defensively even as his 3-point shot eludes him.

Well the recent 4th quarter benching didn’t go unnoticed. We are nearly 20 games in. Accountability season is arriving. The closest player comparison I can come up with to how he’s played in the first 19 games is rookie RJ.

[Chanel Bomber]

People saying bench hart consider the following

Hart has been one of our best defenders and Bridges has been one of our worst defenders. Now looking at offense, Hart has been a secondary rebounder and ball handler and passer. Bridges does very little else outside of his bricklaying. Hart is a better shooter, scorer, at the rim, you name it. I said what I said. I mean my goodness compare the BPM. Check that value over replacement player. Go look at your own advanced stats we have the worst on the team maybe one of the worst in the league and one of the best

This checks out when looking at advanced metric like EPM. Hart is in the black at +0.6, while Mikal is in the red at -0.2.

It's not only a horrible return on investment, Mikal so far hasn't shown to be even just a positive for this team.

It's a disaster.

Hart has limitations but he plays hard and he brings a lot to the table even when he's not hitting shots. But Mikal is contributing close to nothing besides the odd - undeniably smooth - midrange jumper. The worst part is clearly not rolling up his sleeves to help the team defensively even as his 3-point shot eludes him.

Well the recent 4th quarter benching didn’t go unnoticed. We are nearly 20 games in. Accountability season is arriving. The closest player comparison I can come up with to how he’s played in the first 19 games is rookie RJ.

He reminds me more of Cam Reddish.

[robillionaire]

This checks out when looking at advanced metric like EPM. Hart is in the black at +0.6, while Mikal is in the red at -0.2.

It's not only a horrible return on investment, Mikal so far hasn't shown to be even just a positive for this team.

It's a disaster.

Hart has limitations but he plays hard and he brings a lot to the table even when he's not hitting shots. But Mikal is contributing close to nothing besides the odd - undeniably smooth - midrange jumper. The worst part is clearly not rolling up his sleeves to help the team defensively even as his 3-point shot eludes him.

Well the recent 4th quarter benching didn’t go unnoticed. We are nearly 20 games in. Accountability season is arriving. The closest player comparison I can come up with to how he’s played in the first 19 games is rookie RJ.

He reminds me more of Cam Reddish.

Not a bad comparison honestly.

[Besart19]

Towns / Robinson / Huk / Sims
Achiuwa / Hart / TJW / Ryan
Anunoby / McCullar / Dadiet
McBride / Bridges / Shamet
Brunson / Payne / Kolek

[KnixinSix]

Have Mikal play that RJ Barrett role of last year. RJ was maximized in that role. Have him come off bench with 2nd unit for major minutes and incorporate McBride more with the starters.

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Right now Bridges is not a dynamic 3 ball guy for us at all. Mc Bride is and right now a clearly better defender

[knicks94]

I have Mikal Bridges at number 6 on my list of top 10 worst Knicks acquisitions of the last 20 years.

1. Chris Smith
2.Jerome James
3.Anthony Randolph
4, Darko Milicic
5.Cam Reddish.
6.Mikal Bridges
7.Eddy Curry
8.Joakim Noah
9.Elfrid Payton
10.Steve Francis

[KnixinSix]

I have Mikal Bridges at number 6 on my list of top 10 worst Knicks acquisitions of the last 20 years.

1. Chris Smith
2.Jerome James
3.Anthony Randolph
4, Darko Milicic
5.Cam Reddish.
6.Mikal Bridges
7.Eddy Curry
8.Joakim Noah
9.Elfrid Payton
10.Steve Francis

Wow only 20 games in and he is already over Eddy Curry lol

Mikals track record is way too good and he is way too young and healthy to think this is something more than just an extended acclimation period.

Of course we can not say that for 100% as nothing but Jesus is guaranteed for eternal life but man I aint ready to call him worse than Edy Curry just 20 games in either lol

[robillionaire]

I have Mikal Bridges at number 6 on my list of top 10 worst Knicks acquisitions of the last 20 years.

1. Chris Smith
2.Jerome James
3.Anthony Randolph
4, Darko Milicic
5.Cam Reddish.
6.Mikal Bridges
7.Eddy Curry
8.Joakim Noah
9.Elfrid Payton
10.Steve Francis

You have to consider what we gave up. Like with elfrid payton we just scooped him up for nothing to have a body there. If Bridges doesn’t turn a corner given the package we gave up to Brooklyn it will be the worst trade in the history of the team