Game Thread: Knicks at Celtics 2/23 Sun 1:00 PM (ABC ESPN+)

[BadNewsBarnes]

dSo let me start the conspiracy theory...

Mitch is ready. The Knicks don't want him to come back until near the end of the season. Why you say? Because if Mitch comes back now, teams will have scouted the Knicks on how to defend and how to attack with Mitch on the floor. If they wait, it would be the element of surprise. Just a thought...

The Knicks can't match up with the 3 higher echelon teams. We will find out if they do when Mitch is back...

Don't let that Wiretap article fool ya...they will postpone as long as it takes...

[NoDopeOnSundays]

"An open look with kat in the drop"

I'll say it again, Mitch had a 130 DRTG against the Celtics last season, playing in a drop.

[Iron Mantis]

Look how extremely difficult it is for the knicks to get quality shots.

Look at the goofy defensive strategy against a mighty 3pt shooting team.

Everyone knows it's coaching....except members of the cult of Thibodology. Even the announcers clowning our offense and the drop coverage on defense.

Knicks don't need to be up by 20 points...but they shouldn't be losing the game in the first 6 minutes with such prolific offensive weapons.

[R-DAWG]

Anyone else done with 3/5 of the starting lineup?

Anunoby and Bridges are redundant. You only need one of them.

Hart is a 25 MPG bench guy

Towns is Towns, a brilliant offensive player who lacks toughness and defensive awareness

Oh, and Jalen Brunson isn’t top player on a contender level.

But we knew all of this going into the offseason.

[Iron Mantis]

I want RJ Barrett back

[Guano]

I'm a middle aged short white guy i shouldn't even care about basketball. Smfh - Why didn't I grow up a golf fan.

Here I was thinking you were a Chris Kaman sized white guy leading a mountain militia planning to overthrow the IRS.

I don't have tall privilege - everything I've got has been earned not given.

[3toheadmelo]

Read on Twitter

[Wildcat]

I'm supposed to believe Mitch coming back is going to fix the defensive approach. It says something when I say last year's beaten down playoff Knicks could make a series out it against Boston then this team.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

Every blowout loss against good teams is 1 step closer to the ultimate goal of losing Thibs.

[3toheadmelo]

Porzingis outplaying KAT in 2025 is just depressing.

[HEZI]

Mikalikina 1-4 for
2 points
0 rebounds
0 assists
2 fouls

There are still people here that think he was worth 5 picks

He’s not being used correctly. And it’s not Thibs fault. It’s the roster constructions fault.

He needs to focus on being an elite defender and spot shooter. He is a top tier role player in that role. But as a shot creator he’s sub par and it reduces the other parts of his game. He’s also a small forward and not a shooting guard.

They are going to need to think long and hard this offseason about trading Bridges or Anunoby for a real shooting guard. Good teams will pressure Brunson and you will see what your seeing this afternoon

That’s what I’ve been saying. Look at Cleveland and look at Boston, multiple ball handlers and shot creators. We got slashers and spot up shooters but they can’t dribble or create anything off the dribble. Its easy to see how we simply don’t match up well

[NYKnickerbocker]

We were better off as the team that would junk up the game with offensive rebounds and tough D vs our current version as a “elite” offense

[Iron Mantis]

You hear Perk??

"You see the difference between a team with an actual gameplan and following it"

[Guano]

I'm a middle aged short white guy i shouldn't even care about basketball. Smfh - Why didn't I grow up a golf fan.

Pics?

Spoiler:

[NoDopeOnSundays]

I'm a middle aged short white guy i shouldn't even care about basketball. Smfh - Why didn't I grow up a golf fan.

Here I was thinking you were a Chris Kaman sized white guy leading a mountain militia planning to overthrow the IRS.

I don't have tall privilege - everything I've got has been earned not given.

You didn't deny overthrowing the IRS.

[HopelessKnick]

KAT might be the worst defender in the league. He has no idea on what to do on that side of the ball. He is constantly losing his man and double teaming when he shouldn't be.

7 feet tall and can't consistently block a shot a game. Damn I miss Hartenstein & Robinson. Hell bring back Noel

Yeah unfortunately his defense has been abysmal. With Towns and Brunson in there we just can't defend well enough to compete with the top teams. I'll already predict that if Robinson can get himself into some sort of shape for the playoffs, you'll see him play more minutes against the Celtics than Towns.

The worst possible combination is having Towns out there on defense while he does not touch the ball on offense for like 5 straight possessions. If Towns is out there, you need to have him post up, drive or shoot and have him shoot a lot to see if he can hurt the Celtics on that end. Having him get exploited on defense while playing no role on offense is terrible.

[RHODEY]

Look how extremely difficult it is for the knicks to get quality shots.

Look at the goofy defensive strategy against a mighty 3pt shooting team.

Everyone knows it's coaching....except members of the cult of Thibodology. Even the announcers clowning our offense and the drop coverage on defense.

Knicks don't need to be up by 20 points...but they shouldn't be losing the game in the first 6 minutes with such prolific offensive weapons.

Coaching, but also personnel. Our 2 best players are not 2 way players. Our team is small in key positions and lacks athleticism in key positions.In top of that we lack bench depth.

[HEZI]

I want RJ Barrett back

At least RJ could score on his own and get in the paint and the free throw line and gave Boston problems. These dudes look pathetic and weak

[Guano]

Porzingis outplaying KAT in 2025 is just depressing.

It's all depressing you guys are just nitpicking at every lil shtty detail when everything is off. Basketball sucks. Life sucks. It's all meaningless and futile.

[3toheadmelo]

All of Knicks twitter is going in on KAT for his defense. They finally came to the realization he ain’t it.