PG: Knicks lose to Thunder

[RHODEY]

Thunder have a better defense and a better offense and people are shocked the Knicks lost? Lolz.

Not shocked but losing a 14 point lead is disappointing

We were up 14 and should have had the last shot before the half potential to go up 16-17. shot the ball too early because we play stupidly, SGA scored at the other end to cut it to 12. We come out of halftime with a stupid turnover, thunder immediately hit a 3. Really felt like that was the swinging sequences of the game imo

They were...but how long they they been playing together versus us? We'll learn.

[Clyde_Style]

Once OG got hurt, he started going up weak and getting blocked. Then started getting a lil tentative. Team kinda lost some intensity and then the offense stopped running cohesively.

OG hurt? Shocking development

He took a scary fall. It would have knocked your feathers clean off

[Fat Kat]

Yeah, he falls right into the trap, and then he decides not to post KAT when they don't have a center on the floor


We lost this game almost exactly the same way we lost the Rockets game, same strategy by them and then we just eventually run out of gas.

Yeah, you gotta feed the KAT down low. Especially since he's such a good passer out of the post.

It's odd too, because Thibs used Noah as his point center while having Rose who was sort of like Brunson in temperament.

You'd think Thibs would recognize the value of running more plays through KAT

They were essentially doubling KAT by having IShart sink in the paint vs. Josh. We just have to hit shots to defeat that offense. That and run PnR with Josh and KAT.

[TKKnicks1]

OKC developed their bench.

NYK have not developed their bench.

4th quarter it became iso hero ball.

We built the lead on unselfish team basketball.

OKC has a better benck because they have had a zillion 1st round picks. That's talent.

Knicks bench is all 2nd rounders, NBA castoffs and projects.

Ajay Mitchell played 13 minutes for them, he was the 38th pick by us


Their bench is castaways, Isaiah Joe was cut by the Sixers and Wiggins the guy that lit us up was the 55th pick.

Not sure why this is so alarming to understand. Coaches get paid to get the best out of every one of their players, not just the starting five. Coaches get paid to execute in game and put the best 5 players out there, not just the starting five.

Mark has understood the assignment. Tom is sleeping in the back of the classroom.

[stuporman]

OKC developed their bench.

NYK have not developed their bench.

4th quarter it became iso hero ball.

We built the lead on unselfish team basketball.

OKC has a better benck because they have had a zillion 1st round picks. That's talent.

Knicks bench is all 2nd rounders, NBA castoffs and projects.

Look at their bench players draft spots...mostly second rounders and a UFA.

They just know how to pick 'em.

[Guano]

Overall though, it was a good game. On to the next. Hope this was a turning point and we learn from this.

You're concerns are valid about thibs. These mins are concerning real concerning

[louisorr]

The bad news...we lost.

The good news.... OKC doesn't scare me anymore. As I was watching this game especially in the 1st half I was like ...they cant defend us. Ofcourse things changed later in the game but I attribute that more to attrition, the refs, and home crowd advantage.

Our bench was vapor thin. Brunson - who I initially thought would be fine- was still visibly bothered by that calf . They had no answer for towns or OG inside. Bridges was amazing on defense and unguardable in that first half. Og too.

We are right there... We just a need deeper bench and we need Thibs to utilize that bench so our guys are not running on vapor late in games. But yeah our starting unit is most definitely the most unguaudable in the league imo.

Great positive post.

But your line, "we just need a deeper bench and we need Thibs to utilize that bench..." . Neither thing feels like something we can expect to happen.

Just adding Mitch and Deuce to our Bench tonight wins this game. And we may be able to add TJ Warren in February so I think well be fine eventually. Thibs already trusts Mitch and Deuce so theres that.

if they were additions then yeah, I agree. But adding Mitch and Duce would mean Precious and Cam get DNPs. It's a Thibs thing.

[Clyde_Style]

If only Thibs played Sims, Hukporti, Dadiet and Kolek, Knicks would have dominated

Maybe give them minutes when we're up 30 against bad teams, or play 1 or 2 of them meaningful minutes with 3-4 starters at a time so they aren't just out there playing as a 5 man bench unit getting stomped out.


We have the least played bench the NBA has seen in 20 years.

The bench kind of sucks. Knick homerism aside

I'm blue in the face already from saying Kolek is the prize hidden on the bench. He could have been enough to keep Brunson from having to play drunk tired at the end. Kolek is the baller we need

[KnickLeDime]

This team is close to a championship contender but not with that bench. Good news is we have a half a decade window here but today was a glaring example of what else Leon has to do. Foundation is strong and there but have to bolster the bench. As soon as Mitch gets healthy trade him for the best wing or big you can get that can stay healthy.

[G_K_F]

Overall though, it was a good game. On to the next. Hope this was a turning point and we learn from this.

You're concerns are valid about thibs. These mins are concerning real concerning

Extremely concerning.

Nobody is talking about it because we’re winning (albeit beating up mostly wack squads) but it’s a major, major issue.

[Fat Kat]

Read on Twitter

[Clyde_Style]

Yeah, you gotta feed the KAT down low. Especially since he's such a good passer out of the post.

It's odd too, because Thibs used Noah as his point center while having Rose who was sort of like Brunson in temperament.

You'd think Thibs would recognize the value of running more plays through KAT

They were essentially doubling KAT by having IShart sink in the paint vs. Josh. We just have to hit shots to defeat that offense. That and run PnR with Josh and KAT.

The whole thing with no threes for KAT is a part of this. That stretches their offense instead of letting them pack in defenders waiting to double KAT

We just had an opposing coach we beat recently said that KAT's threes is a kind of nightmare for defenses

[sol537]

Haven’t been able to beat the top teams yet but we’re getting better.

I still think moving Hart to the bench and starting Precious is the way to go.

[TKKnicks1]

Cam had no business being out there tonight. He brought nothing. Kolek would have at least kept the offense looking in motion. We missed Deuce tonight big time. We had nothing off the bench.

[thebuzzardman]

Brunson getting healthy will help a lot too

I can't be mad about that game. It's clear we can hang with anyone. We looked crazy good in that 2nd. I feel better about the team tonight than I did before the game.

Last year's Knicks had to play pretty perfectly to win. Especially two years ago Knicks.

This team can lapse against bad teams and win.

When they face the truly good top 3 or 4 teams and they aren't functioning at close to 100%, they lose.

Knicks aren't a top playoff team. They'll need luck. That's the bitter truth.

They need a bench buzz, what i saw from precious was atrocious. I would trade him right now for Jonas, with second rounders. Then roll the dice with him, Payne, deuce, Mitch

Precious nothing special. He's shorter Mitch with a tiny bit more offense. There's a reason the Raptors gave him away.

[Clyde_Style]

Clarkson

Are we playing Geography?

Niagra Falls

[Red Vines]

You make your bench better by putting them in the fire before the playoffs, it's not rocket science. No reason a supposedly great coach can't find a way to get his starters some rest during the game. This has gotten so old.

[The KnicksFix]

Haven’t been able to beat the top teams yet but we’re getting better.

I still think moving Hart to the bench and starting Precious is the way to go.

I’ve given that up. Precious is absolute ASS out there. Clanged a shot off the side of the backboard wide open. I’d trade him for anyone at the deadline. The precious ship has sailed man

[KnickLeDime]

You make your bench better by putting them in the fire before the playoffs, it's not rocket science. No reason a supposedly great coach can't find a way to get his starters some rest during the game. This has gotten so old.

Agreed, tons of **** teams last few weeks and he won't run Dadiet and Kolek out there for 10min a game.

[thebuzzardman]

Thunder have a better defense and a better offense and people are shocked the Knicks lost? Lolz.

Not shocked but losing a 14 point lead is disappointing

Yeah, but some of the bellyaching is over the top. Some folks are happy that the loss gives credence to their complaints. OKC is the best team in the league and they’re at home. Nothing that happened tonight is a referendum on the state of the team.

Yes it is Knicks got punked in the 4th.