PG: Knicks vs. Celtics: At least that 3rd quarter was encouraging...

[spree2kawhi]

bontempts destroying kat's defense on the hoop collective this morning. wow. brutal. sad.

Literally Bargnani bad. Just sad. Mind blowing that people won’t acknowledge how garbage he’s been on defense. But let’s blame OG and Thibs instead.

Going back to those games against top-10 offenses, Towns has allowed opponents in those games to shoot 63% from the field -- ranking 346th out of 346 players to contest at least 50 shots against those teams, per ESPN Research.

On layups and dunks in those games, Towns is allowing 70% shooting -- and opponents are shooting 60% overall on layups and dunks against him, which is the worst mark of any player to contest at least 300 of them.

Thibs has a role in all this for his stubbornness to keep KAT at the 5, so yeah, we got to blame Thibs, too. As much as I love Hart, OG isn't a 4, and Hart should be off the bench. When this trade went down and it was announced Mitch was going to be out longer than reported, my concern with OG being the 4 was immediate. Precious getting hate so early on threw out any sort of lineup variation. Considering how weak Deuce has been as the 6th man, it just makes all the sense in the world to me to have Hart be that spark plug we need, and go a different route with the starting lineup. Personally, I wanted a Precious/KAT/OG/Bridges/JB lineup.

This is very true. Hart off the bench, Mitch or Precious in the s5. That doesn’t make us champions, but it’ll help. There’s nothing wrong with the idea behind this team.

[Gant]

bontempts destroying kat's defense on the hoop collective this morning. wow. brutal. sad.

Literally Bargnani bad. Just sad. Mind blowing that people won’t acknowledge how garbage he’s been on defense. But let’s blame OG and Thibs instead.

Going back to those games against top-10 offenses, Towns has allowed opponents in those games to shoot 63% from the field -- ranking 346th out of 346 players to contest at least 50 shots against those teams, per ESPN Research.

On layups and dunks in those games, Towns is allowing 70% shooting -- and opponents are shooting 60% overall on layups and dunks against him, which is the worst mark of any player to contest at least 300 of them.

Thibs has a role in all this for his stubbornness to keep KAT at the 5, so yeah, we got to blame Thibs, too. As much as I love Hart, OG isn't a 4, and Hart should be off the bench. When this trade went down and it was announced Mitch was going to be out longer than reported, my concern with OG being the 4 was immediate. Precious getting hate so early on threw out any sort of lineup variation. Considering how weak Deuce has been as the 6th man, it just makes all the sense in the world to me to have Hart be that spark plug we need, and go a different route with the starting lineup. Personally, I wanted a Precious/KAT/OG/Bridges/JB lineup.

Switching up rotations can only go so far.

The Knicks can put five scorers on the floor, and can put five defenders on the floor. The problem is, those are not the same guys. Every lineup change leaves a different gap on one end. Even fully healthy this remains an issue.

Meanwhile OKC and Boston can put five guys out there that can do everything, then put in a few subs and still maintain that. Cleveland is closer to be able to as well.

This is why the Knicks don't do well vs top teams.

[Gravy]

Rim protection is looked down on around here but the Cavs have the best record in the league with two 7 footers in the SL and OKC had the 2nd best record with our former rim protector starting for them. KAT also never made it to the wcf until he was next to Gobert.

[spree2kawhi]

Literally Bargnani bad. Just sad. Mind blowing that people won’t acknowledge how garbage he’s been on defense. But let’s blame OG and Thibs instead.

Thibs has a role in all this for his stubbornness to keep KAT at the 5, so yeah, we got to blame Thibs, too. As much as I love Hart, OG isn't a 4, and Hart should be off the bench. When this trade went down and it was announced Mitch was going to be out longer than reported, my concern with OG being the 4 was immediate. Precious getting hate so early on threw out any sort of lineup variation. Considering how weak Deuce has been as the 6th man, it just makes all the sense in the world to me to have Hart be that spark plug we need, and go a different route with the starting lineup. Personally, I wanted a Precious/KAT/OG/Bridges/JB lineup.

Switching up rotations can only go so far.

The Knicks can put five scorers on the floor, and can put five defenders on the floor. The problem is, those are not the same guys. Every lineup change leaves a different gap on one end. Even fully healthy this remains an issue.

Meanwhile OKC and Boston can put five guys out there that can do everything, then put in a few subs and still maintain that. Cleveland is closer to be able to as well.

This is why the Knicks don't do well vs top teams.

I think you are now overrating these teams and even though we clearly aren’t on their level yet, they cannot do close to what you claim here. Boston may appear close to this sometimes, but it definitively isn’t true for Cleveland or OKC.

[HEZI]

Read on Twitter

[3toheadmelo]

bontempts destroying kat's defense on the hoop collective this morning. wow. brutal. sad.

Literally Bargnani bad. Just sad. Mind blowing that people won’t acknowledge how garbage he’s been on defense. But let’s blame OG and Thibs instead.

Going back to those games against top-10 offenses, Towns has allowed opponents in those games to shoot 63% from the field -- ranking 346th out of 346 players to contest at least 50 shots against those teams, per ESPN Research.

On layups and dunks in those games, Towns is allowing 70% shooting -- and opponents are shooting 60% overall on layups and dunks against him, which is the worst mark of any player to contest at least 300 of them.

Thibs has a role in all this for his stubbornness to keep KAT at the 5, so yeah, we got to blame Thibs, too. As much as I love Hart, OG isn't a 4, and Hart should be off the bench. When this trade went down and it was announced Mitch was going to be out longer than reported, my concern with OG being the 4 was immediate. Precious getting hate so early on threw out any sort of lineup variation. Considering how weak Deuce has been as the 6th man, it just makes all the sense in the world to me to have Hart be that spark plug we need, and go a different route with the starting lineup. Personally, I wanted a Precious/KAT/OG/Bridges/JB lineup.

I hear you, but I’m not really sure what Thibs can do. The Knicks fked up going all in on Mikal cause we’re very limited in our assets to get a rim protector next to KAT. That’s on the front office.

[3toheadmelo]

Rim protection is looked down on around here but the Cavs have the best record in the league with two 7 footers in the SL and OKC had the 2nd best record with our former rim protector starting for them. KAT also never made it to the wcf until he was next to Gobert.

Just look at his defensive numbers against the top 10 offenses in the league. It is literally impossible to win with him at the 5.

Going back to those games against top-10 offenses, Towns has allowed opponents in those games to shoot 63% from the field -- ranking 346th out of 346 players to contest at least 50 shots against those teams, per ESPN Research.

On layups and dunks in those games, Towns is allowing 70% shooting -- and opponents are shooting 60% overall on layups and dunks against him, which is the worst mark of any player to contest at least 300 of them.

[DOT]

Read on Twitter

So this is specifically against the Celtics

Fun fact

We're one of the worst teams in the league when it comes to guarding the ball handler off the PnR. We give up .94 ppp to ball handlers (tied for 2nd worst in the league), and teams run it the most in the league against us

We're also one of the worst teams in the league when it comes to defending spot ups, as we give up 1.11 ppp (tied for worst in the league), though to be fair on that front, we have the 3rd-least amount of spot ups shot against us

However, I would like to point out those two combine for 40% of shots taken against us

We can't defend the PnR. And I know the cult of Thibs will say it's because KAT sucks, but we haven't been above average at defending it since 2022

It's a scheme problem more than a player problem. You need all 5 guys to be in sync to defend the PnR, but Thibs still thinks it's 2008 and you only need 2 or 3 players on the same page for PnRs.

[Fury]

It's funny how we're now using the Cavs as the standard for what to strive towards, when a year ago, they were a soft overrated team. It goes to show what a coaching change, with basically the exact same roster can do. I don't think we need a coaching change, but a major adjustment is necessary and can make a huge difference.

[dakomish23]

It's funny how we're now using the Cavs as the standard for what to strive towards, when a year ago, they were a soft overrated team. It goes to show what a coaching change, with basically the exact same roster can do. I don't think we need a coaching change, but a major adjustment is necessary and can make a huge difference.

They're literally giving the ammo to prove how much coaching matters w/ the CLE comparison

[thebuzzardman]

The roster is poorly constructed and Thibs is ass as a coach. The end.

F*ck you all and see you next year.

[god shammgod]

The Cavs were kids 2 years ago. There was some improvement that obviously had nothing to do with coaching.

[Fury]

The Cavs were kids 2 years ago. There was some improvement that obviously had nothing to do with coaching.

Like what

[god shammgod]

The Cavs were kids 2 years ago. There was some improvement that obviously had nothing to do with coaching.

Like what

Like their young players got better obviously

[2010]

At this point, I’m just waiting for Mitch to be cleared to return. Whether you like him or not, it’s undeniable he’ll bring a dimension to this team that’s sorely missing:

• Size
• Offensive rebounding
• Rim protection
• Defensive help rotation after breakdowns

[NoStatsGuy]

im afraid we wont ever be in the mix with Brunson and KAT in the "best" lineup.

brunson is smart, takes charges and does what he can with his physical limitations and KAT on D, especially in drop is really hard to watch. i dont see a world where 3 players can cover and play defense for 5 people. Mitch is not gonna save us, Mikal cant guard his own and brunsons man.

we need a dpoy caliber rimprotector, that can stay on the court and be the backbone for mikal and OG

because we all know jamal Murray and jokic were defensive juggernauts in 2023

this narrative that there's something wrong with our roster or players only serves to protect the incompetent coach we have running things

because we all know the mimi heat in the finals were such an offensive juggernaut, that you need to defend like the cavs, okc or celtics.

this narrative that everythings fine with our roster or players not being able to play 37 minutes is there to bash thibs.

[Spree2Houston]

The Cavs were kids 2 years ago. There was some improvement that obviously had nothing to do with coaching.

Like what

Like their young players got better obviously

Yup Mobley was 21 and Garland was 23. Now both are all-stars.

[Fury]

The Cavs were kids 2 years ago. There was some improvement that obviously had nothing to do with coaching.

Like what

Like their young players got better obviously

The only real young player they have on the team is Evan Mobley. Everyone else is pretty much established.

Like Garland is playing like he always has, just has a coach who allows him to play just as effective with Donovan as without him.

[DOT]

Yup Mobley was 21 and Garland was 23. Now both are all-stars.

Garland made an all star team at 22. Also Mobley was 3rd in DPOY voting in 2023.

[HopelessKnick]

It's funny how we're now using the Cavs as the standard for what to strive towards, when a year ago, they were a soft overrated team. It goes to show what a coaching change, with basically the exact same roster can do. I don't think we need a coaching change, but a major adjustment is necessary and can make a huge difference.

But wouldn't it then be kind of infuriating that despite the extremely poor results against the top teams the coach has been unwilling to adjust or try something different?

Either way it does not reflect well on Thibs.....