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

[TheGreenArrow]

I don't know man!!!!!!!!!!!!

It looks bad!!!!!!!!!!!

I just tell it like it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peep what Thibs said. “Our starting center”. Hopefully Mitch is in shape and ready to go. He is basically our savior lol

Read on Twitter

Thibs really is ready to die on Mitch Hill.

I think his job depends on it tbh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mpharris36]

Our 2nd round matchup is likely vs the celtics how in the world is Mitch going to help in that series?

Mitch guards KP?

And KAT guards who?

I have no problem with Mitch playing a lot vs CLE that is a good matchup for him. But we still need to adjust our play style and scheme vs BOS regardless if Mitch is considered the starting center.

[Gravy]

Are you willing to give this team another shot with added depth and a new HC????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Or is it is what it is and we can’t win a championship with Brunson&Kat Duo??????????????????????????????

I don't know man!!!!!!!!!!!!

It looks bad!!!!!!!!!!!

I just tell it like it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peep what Thibs said. “Our starting center”. Hopefully Mitch is in shape and ready to go. He is basically our savior lol

Read on Twitter

He's telling us all the things KAT cant do, defend pick & roll, rim protect, etc. Said we have been playing the season without a center

[TheGreenArrow]

Our 2nd round matchup is likely vs the celtics how in the world is Mitch going to help in that series?

Mitch guards KP?

And KAT guards who?

I have no problem with Mitch playing a lot vs CLE that is a good matchup for him. But we still need to adjust our play style and scheme vs BOS regardless if Mitch is considered the starting center.

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

[mpharris36]

Our 2nd round matchup is likely vs the celtics how in the world is Mitch going to help in that series?

Mitch guards KP?

And KAT guards who?

I have no problem with Mitch playing a lot vs CLE that is a good matchup for him. But we still need to adjust our play style and scheme vs BOS regardless if Mitch is considered the starting center.

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

KAT was always going to play minutes with Mitch...I just think its crazy to think Mitch is being banked on to play 30ish minutes a night as a starter...if thats the case.

[3toheadmelo]

I don't know man!!!!!!!!!!!!

It looks bad!!!!!!!!!!!

I just tell it like it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peep what Thibs said. “Our starting center”. Hopefully Mitch is in shape and ready to go. He is basically our savior lol

Read on Twitter

He's telling us all the things KAT cant do, defend pick & roll, rim protect, etc. Said we have been playing the season without a center

Yep. I’m glad that Thibs is committed to starting Mitch. We just have to hope Mitch is in shape and can stay healthy.

[GONYK]

I get what your saying but you don't consider that damning on the coach?

It certainly will be if it doesn't work.

Your basically saying he has be intentionally hurting our defense for over 4 months now because he is waiting on one injury prone player to return and hopefully change our defense. Which most recent metrics suggest Mitch will help nominally but not overhaul our defense either. He also is going to be handled with kid cloves probably...do you ever see mitch playing over 20 minutes in a game this year? Probably not.

That's not exactly what I'm saying. I'm saying his defensive system is what it is and he doesn't really want to have to half-ass one version of it for 70% of the season when he had a good feeling he was getting his defensive anchor back and will want to play a certain way in the playoffs.

The argument that he's hurting our defense or overall performance is speculative, at best, given our record.

I don't know that is like saying an NFL drafted a top mobile QB and a coach is so stubborn he refuses to adapt and run more RPO's and bootlegs to get him outside the pocket. Top tier coaches adj there scheme to there personnel.

Is this hypothetical coach producing a top 5 team in the league?

And we are top 5 in the league simply because of our talent. We are 20th in DEF which is pretty damning if you ask me. Especially if he knows KAT isn't good at drop but continues to run it because he hopes that Mitch will come back after over 4 months off and save the day?

This remains to be seen. Like I said, it's the bet he wants to make. What is clear is that he has no interest in optimizing for the regular season. He wants to optimize for what he wants to do in the playoffs.

I guess my overall response to your responses is you are satisfied where we are at. I think the record is good but overall the disappointing performances against the top teams is the cloud over the season right now. Because at the end of the day...the moves we made weren't made to win a round in the playoffs...I guess so projection is involved with my concern because we will have to play CLE or BOS in round 2 if we make it that far...and if we have a poor showing (like in the regular season) do you think they move off him. I'm not even saying we have to beat CLE or BOS in a series...this is the first year but we need to be way more competitive in a series. If we aren't...I don't see anyway you can bring him back especially if we continue to get exposed on the defensive end and don't try to adj the scheme.

Well, there's sort of three questions/inferences here. I'll answer them as I see them:

1. Am I satisfied with this season?: Overall yes, but I wasn't expecting a title this year. I saw this year as information gathering now that we went from a Volvo to a Jaguar. I think the feedback is pretty clear where we stand.

2. Does the gap between us and the top 3 teams in the league concern me?: For this season...no. But I do think seeing what we're capable of with Mitch is important because, sink or swim, a playing Mitch is our most tradeable asset. We need to know if we keep him, need to trade for a younger/healthier version of him, or if we don't need him at all and should reinvest his salary slot into a different archetype of player. It's all part of the process.

3. Do I think Thibs should and will be fired if we get blown out by CLE/BOS in the 2nd round?: Depends. If we play Mitch and play his defense at full strength and still get crushed, then yes, he should be fired. Mainly because that proves that we need to maximize KAT at the 5 and need to get a coach who can do that.

Will he get fired? I don't know. They may give him a chance into the new season to see if he can adapt. Depends on who is available, TBH.

[Capn'O]

I just did a little lineup snooping. Interestingly, our best lineups this year all have Deuce in them.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/2025/lineups/

[NoDopeOnSundays]

Our 2nd round matchup is likely vs the celtics how in the world is Mitch going to help in that series?

Mitch guards KP?

And KAT guards who?

I have no problem with Mitch playing a lot vs CLE that is a good matchup for him. But we still need to adjust our play style and scheme vs BOS regardless if Mitch is considered the starting center.

Last season when it was Randle and Mitch, we guarded Jaylen Brown with Randle and KP with Mitch, so probably expect the same thing with KAT on Brown. We had no success last season, Kristaps shot 50% from three in games Mitch played, and made 3.3 threes per game.

If you're going to play them, you put KAT on Jrue and have him help off, if Jrue makes threes and beats us so be it. But, we're probably not going to do that.

[TheGreenArrow]

Our 2nd round matchup is likely vs the celtics how in the world is Mitch going to help in that series?

Mitch guards KP?

And KAT guards who?

I have no problem with Mitch playing a lot vs CLE that is a good matchup for him. But we still need to adjust our play style and scheme vs BOS regardless if Mitch is considered the starting center.

Last season when it was Randle and Mitch, we guarded Jaylen Brown with Randle and KP with Mitch, so probably expect the same thing with KAT on Brown. We had no success last season, Kristaps shot 50% from three in games Mitch played, and made 3.3 threes per game.

If you're going to play them, you put KAT on Jrue and have him help off, if Jrue makes threes and beats us so be it. But, we're probably not going to do that.

If we put Kat on Jrue then who does Brunson guard????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mpharris36]

It certainly will be if it doesn't work.


That's not exactly what I'm saying. I'm saying his defensive system is what it is and he doesn't really want to have to half-ass one version of it for 70% of the season when he had a good feeling he was getting his defensive anchor back and will want to play a certain way in the playoffs.

The argument that he's hurting our defense or overall performance is speculative, at best, given our record.



Is this hypothetical coach producing a top 5 team in the league?



This remains to be seen. Like I said, it's the bet he wants to make. What is clear is that he has no interest in optimizing for the regular season. He wants to optimize for what he wants to do in the playoffs.

I guess my overall response to your responses is you are satisfied where we are at. I think the record is good but overall the disappointing performances against the top teams is the cloud over the season right now. Because at the end of the day...the moves we made weren't made to win a round in the playoffs...I guess so projection is involved with my concern because we will have to play CLE or BOS in round 2 if we make it that far...and if we have a poor showing (like in the regular season) do you think they move off him. I'm not even saying we have to beat CLE or BOS in a series...this is the first year but we need to be way more competitive in a series. If we aren't...I don't see anyway you can bring him back especially if we continue to get exposed on the defensive end and don't try to adj the scheme.

Well, there's sort of three questions/inferences here. I'll answer them as I see them:

1. Am I satisfied with this season?: Overall yes, but I wasn't expecting a title this year. I saw this year as information gathering now that we went from a Volvo to a Jaguar. I think the feedback is pretty clear where we stand.

2. Does the gap between us and the top 3 teams in the league concern me?: For this season...no. But I do think seeing what we're capable of with Mitch is important because, sink or swim, a playing Mitch is our most tradeable asset. We need to know if we keep him, need to trade for a younger/healthier version of him, or if we don't need him at all and should reinvest his salary slot into a different archetype of player. It's all part of the process.

3. Do I think Thibs should and will be fired if we get blown out by CLE/BOS in the 2nd round?: Depends. If we play Mitch and play his defense at full strength and still get crushed, then yes, he should be fired. Mainly because that proves that we need to maximize KAT at the 5 and need to get a coach who can do that.

Will he get fired? I don't know. They may give him a chance into the new season to see if he can adapt. Depends on who is available, TBH.

I agree with pretty much everything.

1. Am I satisfied where we are at? Yes for the most part outside of not being uncompetitive vs the best teams I think its hard to complain about top 5 record 1st year after late in the offseason massive trade.

2. Thats mostly where we differ. I am concerned about the gap between us and the top 3 teams...because I don't think its necessarily a talent gap..I think its a coaching/schematical gap.

3. I think we are severely underutilizing a player like Mikal bridges in our offense...due to thibs read and react offense that basically is feed Brunson and KAT.

4. I think we are aligned...I think we need to at least have a a decent showing in the 2nd round for me to be happy where we are at with Thibs. I'm not saying its beat the celtics or bust...but its gotta be a competitive series. Otherwise what are we doing here...

[mpharris36]

Our 2nd round matchup is likely vs the celtics how in the world is Mitch going to help in that series?

Mitch guards KP?

And KAT guards who?

I have no problem with Mitch playing a lot vs CLE that is a good matchup for him. But we still need to adjust our play style and scheme vs BOS regardless if Mitch is considered the starting center.

Last season when it was Randle and Mitch, we guarded Jaylen Brown with Randle and KP with Mitch, so probably expect the same thing with KAT on Brown. We had no success last season, Kristaps shot 50% from three in games Mitch played, and made 3.3 threes per game.

If you're going to play them, you put KAT on Jrue and have him help off, if Jrue makes threes and beats us so be it. But, we're probably not going to do that.

If we put Kat on Jrue then who does Brunson guard????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that was suppose to be the value of our roster...we can change depending on who we face.

Mitch starting vs CLE I can totally see...you can run drop coverage vs them because they have 1 big that can't shoot and the other while improved is still a dicey shooter.

Celtics you need to go small and switch everything...less mitch and more lineups with Deuce in it. Force them into contested 1 on 1 ISO's...KP smoked us last year with Mitch dropping or Ihart dropping...that ultimately isn't going to change. KAT can/should play some 5 vs certain teams.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

Our 2nd round matchup is likely vs the celtics how in the world is Mitch going to help in that series?

Mitch guards KP?

And KAT guards who?

I have no problem with Mitch playing a lot vs CLE that is a good matchup for him. But we still need to adjust our play style and scheme vs BOS regardless if Mitch is considered the starting center.

Last season when it was Randle and Mitch, we guarded Jaylen Brown with Randle and KP with Mitch, so probably expect the same thing with KAT on Brown. We had no success last season, Kristaps shot 50% from three in games Mitch played, and made 3.3 threes per game.

If you're going to play them, you put KAT on Jrue and have him help off, if Jrue makes threes and beats us so be it. But, we're probably not going to do that.

If we put Kat on Jrue then who does Brunson guard????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

White - Brunson
Jrue - KAT
Brown - Mikal
Tatum - OG
KP - Mitch


Or, you get even funkier with the matchups.


White - Brunson
Jrue - Mitch
Brown - Mikal
Tatum - OG
KP - KAT

We're not going to do any of this though, it'll be standard because Tom wants to take away post ups and will pray to God they miss threes on kickouts. The Celtics offense is basically all about getting your bigs in rotation and then catching your guards on switchs to post them up, you can't take away everything. You take your big out of rotation by putting him on the worst shooter in the lineup, and when they run action for KP/Tatum you tell OG and KAT to switch whenever the screen comes, don't try and fight over it, switch and live with the iso from Tatum or post up from KP, with Mitch helping off Jrue.


The Grizz played the Celtics earlier this season, they put Jackson on Jrue and dared him to shoot, he went 4-17 from three and Celtics lost at full strength.

[mpharris36]

I just did a little lineup snooping. Interestingly, our best lineups this year all have Deuce in them.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/2025/lineups/

not surprising Jeremy Cohen on KFS pod said we are way down in 3 pt attempts this year...the loss of Donte in that role has hurt. As much as Mikal takes some 3's...he not the high volume 3 pt shooter that donte is especially the Above the break 3's.

The CHI game Deuce started we took 46 3's

The 2 games vs BOS and CLE combined we shot 56 3's

our 3 pt attempt rate is near the bottom of the league.

[Capn'O]

I just did a little lineup snooping. Interestingly, our best lineups this year all have Deuce in them.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/2025/lineups/

not surprising Jeremy Cohen on KFS pod said we are way down in 3 pt attempts this year...the loss of Donte in that role has hurt. As much as Mikal takes some 3's...he not the high volume 3 pt shooter that donte is especially the Above the break 3's.

The CHI game Deuce started we took 46 3's

The 2 games vs BOS and CLE combined we shot 56 3's

our 3 pt attempt rate is near the bottom of the league.

He's also very strong defensively. He changes our look.

[GONYK]

I guess my overall response to your responses is you are satisfied where we are at. I think the record is good but overall the disappointing performances against the top teams is the cloud over the season right now. Because at the end of the day...the moves we made weren't made to win a round in the playoffs...I guess so projection is involved with my concern because we will have to play CLE or BOS in round 2 if we make it that far...and if we have a poor showing (like in the regular season) do you think they move off him. I'm not even saying we have to beat CLE or BOS in a series...this is the first year but we need to be way more competitive in a series. If we aren't...I don't see anyway you can bring him back especially if we continue to get exposed on the defensive end and don't try to adj the scheme.

Well, there's sort of three questions/inferences here. I'll answer them as I see them:

1. Am I satisfied with this season?: Overall yes, but I wasn't expecting a title this year. I saw this year as information gathering now that we went from a Volvo to a Jaguar. I think the feedback is pretty clear where we stand.

2. Does the gap between us and the top 3 teams in the league concern me?: For this season...no. But I do think seeing what we're capable of with Mitch is important because, sink or swim, a playing Mitch is our most tradeable asset. We need to know if we keep him, need to trade for a younger/healthier version of him, or if we don't need him at all and should reinvest his salary slot into a different archetype of player. It's all part of the process.

3. Do I think Thibs should and will be fired if we get blown out by CLE/BOS in the 2nd round?: Depends. If we play Mitch and play his defense at full strength and still get crushed, then yes, he should be fired. Mainly because that proves that we need to maximize KAT at the 5 and need to get a coach who can do that.

Will he get fired? I don't know. They may give him a chance into the new season to see if he can adapt. Depends on who is available, TBH.

I agree with pretty much everything.

1. Am I satisfied where we are at? Yes for the most part outside of not being uncompetitive vs the best teams I think its hard to complain about top 5 record 1st year after late in the offseason massive trade.

2. Thats mostly where we differ. I am concerned about the gap between us and the top 3 teams...because I don't think its necessarily a talent gap..I think its a coaching/schematical gap.

3. I think we are severely underutilizing a player like Mikal bridges in our offense...due to thibs read and react offense that basically is feed Brunson and KAT.

4. I think we are aligned...I think we need to at least have a a decent showing in the 2nd round for me to be happy where we are at with Thibs. I'm not saying its beat the celtics or bust...but its gotta be a competitive series. Otherwise what are we doing here...

Yea, we're mostly on the same page. I think I just know we're not 30 points worse than the 3 teams, but we'd still lose a 7 game series to all of them. So I don't really care about how Thibs chooses to lose as long as I think he's trying to work towards something bigger. I think he is, so I'm content to see how his gamble pays off.

[GONYK]

I just did a little lineup snooping. Interestingly, our best lineups this year all have Deuce in them.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/2025/lineups/

not surprising Jeremy Cohen on KFS pod said we are way down in 3 pt attempts this year...the loss of Donte in that role has hurt. As much as Mikal takes some 3's...he not the high volume 3 pt shooter that donte is especially the Above the break 3's.

The CHI game Deuce started we took 46 3's

The 2 games vs BOS and CLE combined we shot 56 3's

our 3 pt attempt rate is near the bottom of the league.

I really don't understand the notion of a "high volume 3 pt shooter". Melo wasn't one either when we got him and the he fired away as a Knick.

I think everyone involved (Jalen, Josh, KAT, Mikal, Thibs...) needs to get over themselves and just f*cking let them fly.

We don't need to play like the Bulls, but I see 10-15 attempts a game that we're leaving on the table.

[mpharris36]

I just did a little lineup snooping. Interestingly, our best lineups this year all have Deuce in them.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/2025/lineups/

not surprising Jeremy Cohen on KFS pod said we are way down in 3 pt attempts this year...the loss of Donte in that role has hurt. As much as Mikal takes some 3's...he not the high volume 3 pt shooter that donte is especially the Above the break 3's.

The CHI game Deuce started we took 46 3's

The 2 games vs BOS and CLE combined we shot 56 3's

our 3 pt attempt rate is near the bottom of the league.

I really don't understand the notion of a "high volume 3 pt shooter". Melo wasn't one either when we got him and the he fired away as a Knick.

I think everyone involved (Jalen, Josh, KAT, Mikal, Thibs...) needs to get over themselves and just f*cking let them fly.

We don't need to play like the Bulls, but I see 10-15 attempts a game that we're leaving on the table.

Agreed, some is system driven...we are read and react and Brunson naturally wants to get in the paint and KAT is our most EFF but he likes to drive as well.

Mikal and OG really only attempt them from the corners in high volume. And Hart is so in his head during pts of the season its tough to gauge him. If Mitch is starting I don't see our 3pt attempt rate going up at all though. And we struggle when team just switch or put a smaller defender on KAT...we just result in deep KAT post ups.

We gotta get KAT lower on those post ups...so its forces help and then more 3 pt shots will come out of that...if he starts too far out when we post him up...I think teams will live with KAT trying to create from the perimeter.

[robillionaire]

Our 2nd round matchup is likely vs the celtics how in the world is Mitch going to help in that series?

Mitch guards KP?

And KAT guards who?

I have no problem with Mitch playing a lot vs CLE that is a good matchup for him. But we still need to adjust our play style and scheme vs BOS regardless if Mitch is considered the starting center.

I don’t even think we should be looking past any first round matchup honestly

[NoDopeOnSundays]

I just did a little lineup snooping. Interestingly, our best lineups this year all have Deuce in them.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/2025/lineups/

not surprising Jeremy Cohen on KFS pod said we are way down in 3 pt attempts this year...the loss of Donte in that role has hurt. As much as Mikal takes some 3's...he not the high volume 3 pt shooter that donte is especially the Above the break 3's.

The CHI game Deuce started we took 46 3's

The 2 games vs BOS and CLE combined we shot 56 3's

our 3 pt attempt rate is near the bottom of the league.

We fall into the same trap over and over against the elite teams, they start hunting post ups. We did it against the Cavs in the first game of the season, trying to go at Garland with Mikal in the post, the problem is that Mobley was helping off Hart so there was no option to attack out of the post.

We see Jrue (Williams / Dort as well) on KAT and just start throwing the ball into the post, and that's exactly what the Celtics want, because KP will just help off Hart. Instead of telling Hart to just man up and shoot threes, make or miss, we go to the post and it works right into their hands.