PG: Knicks lose to Thunder

[stuporman]

Correct. The Knicks bench is ass.

I know you don't want to give them any excuses but to be fair, after 3 big trades in less than a year for the quality of players they acquired will deplete a bench and not leave much time to replenish it.

Not sure how the Knicks will fill it out from here on but coming into this season after all the moves made we all kinda knew the bench was going to be an issue, so being salty fans about it won't change that.

This isn't a one year window the Knicks have and after only 35 games of a newly formed starting unit this team battled the best in the league on their own floor with a historically elite defense down to the wire.

It stings to be up 8 going into the 4th and not finish the job but it is what it is, context matters though, too.

More people should realize this won't be the Knicks year, for all the reasons you stated. However, during this win streak unless less than stellar competition, there was a lot of people sniffing their own farts about the team.

They'll need another year or two to shore up the bench. This is where Leon and Rosas really prove themselves. Or not.

While I agree the window is bigger than just this season and ultimately the outcome of this season won't be the end of the story I don't agree that the proving of the FO is just in finding the final bench pieces. There has been a considerable amount of proof established in building the top of the team's rotation as it will be building the bottom.

It was quite an example of talent evaluation, trade negotiating, shrewd cap maneuvering and team building just to get the Knicks here considering their recent history of not doing any of those things very well at all. Although, I'm sure we both can agree that the last few moves to finish the job can undermine everything that has been done up until now.

We don't know if this year is or isn't 'the year' though we can discuss and explore why it may or may not be. Yet, I'm not going to deride those who are going to enjoy and celebrate the Knicks successes because it doesn't wind up in a title this season. Long suffering Knicks fans deserve to enjoy a winning team and if they are somewhat fanatical about it that's understandable, they're 'fans'.

All teams play the rest of the teams in the league and teams with the best records out of all teams beat those other teams most often. Despite the consternation some may have, the Knicks have one of the best records and they are winning games to do it, that's how it works. Very few teams have beaten the best...that's why they have the best records in the league, it's kinda self explanatory.

Just because someone is a perpetual doomer and doubts the Knicks chance to win a title doesn't mean they are 'right' because the Knicks don't win one, there's no award for being a hater other than a participation trophy. That's weak minded stuff and they rob themselves of being able to enjoy life in more ways than just fandom, it reveals a psychological bias that is a miserable way to be.

[stuporman]

It seems some of you insufferable whiners would be more happy watching the Knicks as the 5th worst team in the league hoping for ping pong balls to bounce just right and praying some imagined 18 year old is savior than watching them as the 4th best team in the league almost beat the best team in the league on their own court only 35 games into a chemistry building season.

...at least it seems that way.

Guys like you will be talking about how we only had 90 games to build chemistry so it’s fine to get bounced in the second round. Always next year

We have the roster and talent to expect to make the conference finals bare minimum

Stay bitter hater...cry more.

[stuporman]

It seems some of you insufferable whiners would be more happy watching the Knicks as the 5th worst team in the league hoping for ping pong balls to bounce just right and praying some imagined 18 year old is savior than watching them as the 4th best team in the league almost beat the best team in the league on their own court only 35 games into a chemistry building season.

...at least it seems that way.

Almost beat =/= actually beat

More important than the result itself, it's THE MANNER we lost in the 4th q... taking away the 1st 3 quarters, we got blown out by 18 pts in the 4th q. The ball stuck to JB's and Josh's hands too much... no ball movement, KAT only 1 FGA, Thibs playing all starters 40+mins and only 3 guys off the bench, with Shamet highest at 14 mins (he just frickin returned from a significant injury, literally played only a handful career games as a Knick, yet somehow got team bench high 14 mins and other guys who've been with the team longer got less or 0). Just last month, Thibs was just gushing about Sims how he's one of the best in the L at protecting the paint, got 0 mins in this game. MAKE IT MAKE SENSE.

Even to outsiders like Thunder commentators who're 0 invested in the Knicks could tell the Knicks players were fatigued and the Thunder were "fresher" in the 4th q.

I understand where you're coming from, the team showed we competed against the best team in the L, but the bad news is only FOR 3 QUARTERS. We didn't compete whatsoever in the 4th, sorry but that's not good enough, not if you're shooting for a championship.

There are 4 quarters in a game, playing just 3 quarters isn't a trait of a championship team.

It seems some of you insufferable whiners would be more happy watching the Knicks as the 5th worst team in the league hoping for ping pong balls to bounce just right and praying some imagined 18 year old is savior than watching them as the 4th best team in the league almost beat the best team in the league on their own court only 35 games into a chemistry building season.

...at least it seems that way.

Guys like you will be talking about how we only had 90 games to build chemistry so it’s fine to get bounced in the second round. Always next year

We have the roster and talent to expect to make the conference finals bare minimum

Yup 1000+

Some people love to celebrate a 2nd rd or ECF appearance or JUST TO HANG WITH THE BEST TEAM IN THE L FOR 3 QUARTERS... **** that and **** your standard... we want championships and a dynasty!!

RAISE YOUR FKIN STANDARDS !!

Join your bitter hater friend at the pity party, stay mad and cry more.

[TheGreenArrow]

I blame Thibs, too.

But also JB is 3-34 from 3 point land in 6 or so games. He's had more zero 3PT make games this season than all of last season. He frankly has to do better. If he's hurt, sit. He's doing pre-JB Randle things out there, and I hate it.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It’s what I’ve been saying all year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kind of rooting for Brunson to miss 25 games with an injury so you can see how sh*t your takes are.

Dude u can finagle it however you want!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But the facts are the Facts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brunson cost us the game in the 2nd half!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Terrible start to the 3rdqt trying to get him in rhythm and him ballhoging in the 4thq sealed the loss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Signature NYK]

Went on a date to the Knicks Hawks Cup game at the Garden
Went to a girl's place for the Knicks vs OKC
Our last two losses.
No more Knicks x chicks

As for the game itself. Tough loss. Couldn't hit shots late. Brunsons injury and iHarts familiarity seemed to really affect the game.

Brunson seemed like he had more turnovers than the 3 he was credited.. They did a better job than any team this year trapping him imo. I mentioned the ankle and iHart but OKC is schemed well to do so. He's also GOTTA hit his damn fts.

Gotta get KAT involved more in the offense late. Don't like that he took zero 3s. If Kats not gonna shoot em it takes too much away from how we typically orchestrate the offense. Kat was good today but not great. Need him or Brunson to be great in games like this to win.

Og kept attacking the rim which I like in general but cant go up with two bodies elevating to stop you like that you not Kobe or Kawhi bruh. He played good defense throughout and was matched up on SGA at time late forcing passes and missed shots.

I loved just about everything I saw from Mikal today. I know he missed a couple of 3s late and he rushed that one 3 to end the 3rd Q leading to that fastbreak bucket but overall I thought he was great defensively and offensively. Made a few big 3s hit a couple turn around jumpers in close. Drove to the basket.

Hart had some great plays and some really annoying sequences. Not a shock. He and iHart seemed to actually have some minor beef after the game was over but its prolly all love.

I know folks will complain about the minutes and I usually do a bit of harping myself. But this was as close to a playoff atmosphere/intensity you can get and the "Non-Brunson minutes" weren't fruitful at all.

I didn't mind them going for this W. With Deuce out it was gonna be an uphill battle but I liked a lot of what I saw. What hurts the most is they won this game in the style that we typically won tough games last year. Offensive rebounds and timely 3 point shooting. Not even saying we didnt get quality rebounds and second chances ourselves but this the kinda game you really do miss iHart... especially when he contributing so much on the other team. Glad he got a bag tho lol

On to the next.

[Gravy]

That was the best NBA game of the season I've watched so far. Knicks looked like contenders against a top team on the road just could not hold on at the end. JB was rough but shout out to him for playing if he's injured, he is usually great when healthy. Leon needs to get some more bench depth, 5 points from the bench is pathetic. Get better Deuce and Mitch.

[FrozenEnvelope]

Morning thoughts

1. Went to bed angry but proud and woke up angry and proud. We showed the world we can compete with a hot elite team at home.

2. Our offense the last 5 minutes was disgusting. We stopped doing what got us a lead in the first place - BALL MOVEMENT! You cannot allow a defense like OKCs to set up in the halfcourt! And going iso ball with Brunson or a high pick & roll where he's looking to split it was not working and wouldn't work against that team! Should've had Hart initiate and run Brunson off some screens.

3. Having no bench really hurts against these level of teams. It's a combo of not having the horses and Thibs not trusting the horses we have. Shamet, as an example, is a vet and has played in a lot of games and can play more then 14 minutes. Payne and Precious were bad in this game but they too have shown they can play a little more. But this is what you get with Thibs. He brings a lot as we've seen but it takes a lot for him to trust a bench in big games.

4. We need Mitch! Or a Center who can protect the rim and anchor the paint. OKC took it to the rim at will.

5. Glad OG was fine after that fall! Scared me to death! He's going to get hurt eventually but I hope it's not an elbow or knee.

6. Aaron Wiggins just killed us in the 4th. Went Reggie Miller on us.

7. Ben Johnson is a cuck. Gave Josh Hart a T for telling him to wake up. If you're that sensitive, you shouldn't be officiating NBA level games!!

[Context]

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It’s what I’ve been saying all year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kind of rooting for Brunson to miss 25 games with an injury so you can see how sh*t your takes are.

Dude u can finagle it however you want!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But the facts are the Facts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brunson cost us the game in the 2nd half!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Terrible start to the 3rdqt trying to get him in rhythm and him ballhoging in the 4thq sealed the loss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Those arent the facts Greenie...chill...

[FrozenEnvelope]

What I learned about this game is that iHart is far from the one hit wonder that I thought he was.

He's a really good player who plays like a star in his role. Got some key offensive rebounds and floaters. Good guy too who worked his ass off to get where he is coming from the GL, journey man on teams to now the starting C on the best team in the league. Sucks the rules prevented us from signing him.

[j4remi]

I put the loss on Thibs. No reason for KAT not to get every touch in the post when Jalen Williams is guarding him. No reason for Brunson and Mikal to sit simultaneously while OG's hurt and Deuce isn't available. There's damn sure no reason to stop playing through the wings in the decisive quarter.

I expect Thibodeau to have smart adjustments in the rematch. But he blew this, and now I'm nervous about Chicago because OG's lumped up, the starters played 40 mins each last night, and Cam Payne's slumping so hard that I'm PRAYING for Tyler Kolek to get an opportunity.

[louisorr]

for those of you who want to keep Thibs because we are winning...

the last 3 dynasties in the NBA came on the heels of teams firing winning coaches

Lakers fired Westhead (after winning the title!) and replaced with Riley
Bulls fired Collins (steered them to a 20 game improvement)) and replaced with Phil
Warriors fired Mark Jackson and replaced with Kerr.

It takes cohones to fire a winner, but also you got to trust what you see. and anyone can see Thibs is limited.

[Context]

I put the loss on Thibs. No reason for KAT not to get every touch in the post when Jalen Williams is guarding him. No reason for Brunson and Mikal to sit simultaneously while OG's hurt and Deuce isn't available. There's damn sure no reason to stop playing through the wings in the decisive quarter.

I expect Thibodeau to have smart adjustments in the rematch. But he blew this, and now I'm nervous about Chicago because OG's lumped up, the starters played 40 mins each last night, and Cam Payne's slumping so hard that I'm PRAYING for Tyler Kolek to get an opportunity.

Love this Remi...I agree 1000%...its on Thibs...
As far as OG...Unless OG has a hairline fracture some where- I want him in that CHI game on a personal revenge tour.
Bruises would make me go harder.

[Kampuchea]

It just sucks knowing we will only go as far as "a tough out" with Thibs. Many of you said it already, we can't compete and be great unless Thibs learns to trust and develop a deeper rotation of players. And newsflash....he won't.
So we can enjoy being good but won't ever win sheet.

So many available coaches would be an upgrade. Thanks Dolan and Rose for screwing this up.

[Context]

for those of you who want to keep Thibs because we are winning...

the last 3 dynasties in the NBA came on the heels of teams firing winning coaches

Lakers fired Westhead (after winning the title!) and replaced with Riley
Bulls fired Collins (steered them to a 20 game improvement)) and replaced with Phil
Warriors fired Mark Jackson and replaced with Kerr.

It takes cohones to fire a winner, but also you got to trust what you see. and anyone can see Thibs is limited.

I love Thibs as a professional and person. I root for him too. However, I dont like his short rotations and the fact that he hasnt developed our bench. I forgot who made the point...We dont even know if we have a bench because Thibs hasn't given the guys a real opportunity. And the argument that maybe they didn't play good in practice doesnt hold with me because there were some games where he had no choice but to play them because he had a rotation of 6 players and he didn't.

Thibs seems like he can't grow in that area and thats what makes me have thoughts about moving on from him.

[Guano]

Even with the loss, I had way more fun than in the wins against those **** teams.
Just a great game between two contenders.

The way the knicks were hooping in the 2nd was so impressive. The ball movement the defense. Elite. It's what stood out to me the most in that game.

As for Brunson I'm not worried about him. Players slump, he is clearly not right. But I trust him to get right. And fix the 4th quarter issues.

This squad is special. I'm not going to go into panic mode over a rough road loss to one of the best teams in L. Though if some are I understand. The min distribution is a real red flag.

[Wildcat]

iHart not even close to inbounds. Between this and the other call of out of bounds, they decided to overturn for no reason when the Thunder had no challenges remaining when even on replay it was super close and hard to tell for sure...

The fix was definitely in.

The refs didn't mess with JB's shot. Knicks win if he doesn't go 0-5 from 3 point range and played like the captain he's suppose to be.

[FrozenEnvelope]

We got 47 games that includes a trade deadline and 7 games against Boston, OKC and Cleveland. Plenty of opportunities to close the gap and see where we are.

Some of y'all need to calm the **** down!

[jvsimonetti0514]

Woke up feeling pretty good. We were able to execute flawlessly for 3 quarters against the best team in the west. Sometimes you get out played by one of the best teams in the league and there’s nothing to be ashamed about. I think people are forgetting we’ve got these starters locked in for years and clearly we’ve got a starting line up of a title contender. Let
Me emphasize again, we’ve got a bunch of guys in their prime for a solid 5 year window that battled the top 3 team in the league.

Last night we looked like a team that made 2 major trades in the offseason. As of right now we’ve got 3 guys in our rotation that basically have one foot out of the nba. The guy that was the best off the bench last night, shamet signed an exhibit 9 deal. We are thin and even thinner without deuce and Mitch. Payne was originally signed to be the 10th man of this team. I’m just not surprised that their minutes were a disaster against the Thunder. It’s now up to the front office to fill out the rest of the roster.

Kolek looks like he’ll be a player and it’s up to the coaching staff to develop dadiet but there’s potential there. There’s a Mitch trade still to be made and maybe you can bring over Rokas. This isn’t a one year opportunity. We’ve got way to replenish our depth.

[Clyde_Style]

I put the loss on Thibs. No reason for KAT not to get every touch in the post when Jalen Williams is guarding him. No reason for Brunson and Mikal to sit simultaneously while OG's hurt and Deuce isn't available. There's damn sure no reason to stop playing through the wings in the decisive quarter.

I expect Thibodeau to have smart adjustments in the rematch. But he blew this, and now I'm nervous about Chicago because OG's lumped up, the starters played 40 mins each last night, and Cam Payne's slumping so hard that I'm PRAYING for Tyler Kolek to get an opportunity.

Tough loss but very entertaining nonetheless

It was very winnable with those adjustments, KAT being made the end game focus instead of Brunson and some minutes for kolek who is ready for this

[FrozenEnvelope]

Woke up feeling pretty good. We were able to execute flawlessly for 3 quarters against the best team in the west. Sometimes you get out played by one of the best teams in the league and there’s nothing to be ashamed about. I think people are forgetting we’ve got these starters locked in for years and clearly we’ve got a starting line up of a title contender. Let
Me emphasize again, we’ve got a bunch of guys in their prime for a solid 5 year window that battled the top 3 team in the league.

Last night we looked like a team that made 2 major trades in the offseason. As of right now we’ve got 3 guys in our rotation that basically have one foot out of the nba. The guy that was the best off the bench last night, shamet signed an exhibit 9 deal. We are thin and even thinner without deuce and Mitch. Payne was originally signed to be the 10th man of this team. I’m just not surprised that their minutes were a disaster against the Thunder. It’s now up to the front office to fill out the rest of the roster.

Kolek looks like he’ll be a player and it’s up to the coaching staff to develop dadiet but there’s potential there. There’s a Mitch trade still to be made and maybe you can bring over Rokas. This isn’t a one year opportunity. We’ve got way to replenish our depth.

Kolek and Dadiet should be rotation players next season which will be huge. And maybe Hukporti too.