PG: KNICKS 'Maul' The Grizzlies: Brunson/OG/Mitch Edition

[Jalen Bluntson]

It is especially if he’s going 0-5 from 3. He has no handle and can’t dribble without looking like he’s about to lose the ball so most times when he attempts to and the defense applies even a little pressure he has to pick up his dribble and pass. He’s very weak and doesn’t attack the rim with the ball at all whatsoever. Certain things he tries to do offensively just annoy me

He is shooting well above league average at the rim, in the midrange and on the corner three. The only place he is struggling is the above the break three. He is also doing that while being the primary point of attack defender against everyone from Morant to Tatum for 38 minutes per game while being surrounded by weak defenders like Brunson, KAT and whatever it is that Hart does defensively.

Do people think we traded for Mikal Bridges or a version of prime Kawhi Leonard that never misses games while also leading the league in minutes? What more should be expected from the 3rd option in a Thibs offense? His defense could be better at times but what lockdown defenders are playing point of attack defense for the majority of their 38 minutes per game and giving you good offense too?

In the same way some folks feel the criticisms of Thibs are too much, I often feel the same way about Mikal. I do believe he is a good player among multiple good players on this team. He has been erratic enough to be concerned at times, but I think he will be alright. I also believe at some point the general consensus about him will be more appreciative, but that may not be this season.

I do think most already agree having Mitch will benefit Bridges and OG in particular so they can focus on defending outside the paint when Mitch is on the floor.

We're winning. That's all I care about. I'm over Thibs. I'm over the picks for Mikal. I'm over the game to game reactions. We are top 4 team in the league and we have earned it. The LA Lukas are an interesting equation in this second tier of teams now but, we deserve to be where we are. Mitch may have a domino effect and we kick it up a notch down the stretch. As much as my faith in a sneak run took a hit losing to CLE/BOS we are still a good team and this is a fun ride. Last night had a little all grit no quit feel to it honestly. That was an ugly win.

[KnixinSix]

He is shooting well above league average at the rim, in the midrange and on the corner three. The only place he is struggling is the above the break three. He is also doing that while being the primary point of attack defender against everyone from Morant to Tatum for 38 minutes per game while being surrounded by weak defenders like Brunson, KAT and whatever it is that Hart does defensively.

Do people think we traded for Mikal Bridges or a version of prime Kawhi Leonard that never misses games while also leading the league in minutes? What more should be expected from the 3rd option in a Thibs offense? His defense could be better at times but what lockdown defenders are playing point of attack defense for the majority of their 38 minutes per game and giving you good offense too?

In the same way some folks feel the criticisms of Thibs are too much, I often feel the same way about Mikal. I do believe he is a good player among multiple good players on this team. He has been erratic enough to be concerned at times, but I think he will be alright. I also believe at some point the general consensus about him will be more appreciative, but that may not be this season.

I do think most already agree having Mitch will benefit Bridges and OG in particular so they can focus on defending outside the paint when Mitch is on the floor.

We're winning. That's all I care about. I'm over Thibs. I'm over the picks for Mikal. I'm over the game to game reactions. We are top 4 team in the league and we have earned it. The LA Lukas are an interesting equation in this second tier of teams now but, we deserve to be where we are. Mitch may have a domino effect and we kick it up a notch down the stretch. As much as my faith in a sneak run took a hit losing to CLE/BOS we are still a good team and this is a fun ride. Last night had a little all grit no quit feel to it honestly. That was an ugly win.

I feel the team make up without the elite rim protector could most definitely be coached up better by a coach other than Thibs. But give Thibs Mitch back and we have a chance to be dominant again.

It was his first game back and we saw glimpses of what his impact will be (just like in past years)

[HerSports85]

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[Jalen Bluntson]

In the same way some folks feel the criticisms of Thibs are too much, I often feel the same way about Mikal. I do believe he is a good player among multiple good players on this team. He has been erratic enough to be concerned at times, but I think he will be alright. I also believe at some point the general consensus about him will be more appreciative, but that may not be this season.

I do think most already agree having Mitch will benefit Bridges and OG in particular so they can focus on defending outside the paint when Mitch is on the floor.

We're winning. That's all I care about. I'm over Thibs. I'm over the picks for Mikal. I'm over the game to game reactions. We are top 4 team in the league and we have earned it. The LA Lukas are an interesting equation in this second tier of teams now but, we deserve to be where we are. Mitch may have a domino effect and we kick it up a notch down the stretch. As much as my faith in a sneak run took a hit losing to CLE/BOS we are still a good team and this is a fun ride. Last night had a little all grit no quit feel to it honestly. That was an ugly win.

I feel the team make up without the elite rim protector could most definitely be coached up better by a coach other than Thibs. But give Thibs Mitch back and we have a chance to be dominant again.

It was his first game back and we saw glimpses of what his impact will be (just like in past years)

It's a high risk high reward move if he can stay healthy. The impact remains to be seen but, it looks good getting his feet wet.

[spree2kawhi]

We're winning. That's all I care about. I'm over Thibs. I'm over the picks for Mikal. I'm over the game to game reactions. We are top 4 team in the league and we have earned it. The LA Lukas are an interesting equation in this second tier of teams now but, we deserve to be where we are. Mitch may have a domino effect and we kick it up a notch down the stretch. As much as my faith in a sneak run took a hit losing to CLE/BOS we are still a good team and this is a fun ride. Last night had a little all grit no quit feel to it honestly. That was an ugly win.

I feel the team make up without the elite rim protector could most definitely be coached up better by a coach other than Thibs. But give Thibs Mitch back and we have a chance to be dominant again.

It was his first game back and we saw glimpses of what his impact will be (just like in past years)

It's a high risk high reward move if he can stay healthy. The impact remains to be seen but, it looks good getting his feet wet.

This is a different team with him and when healthy, he is more imposing than a Kessler or Richards. I’ll gladly take the physicality and offensive rebounding too and would love to see him next to Towns some.

To me, this season has to be graded incomplete up to this point, and we’ll see now how the pieces fall into place. I’m still very optimistic about this roster.

[G_K_F]

Maybe this game will be the conduit towards better performances but the 56 points in the paint or whatever was terrible.

Hopefully Robinson can stay healthy longer than a month to help with the defense down low. He will certainly make a difference when healthy.

Bridges is still ass.

Anyone else bought out besides PJ Tucker?

[3toheadmelo]

Sham won

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[Guano]

OG showing more emotion here than when he hit the game winner in the bubble. Love to see it.

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[WaltFrazier]

I don't like that Achiuwa only played 4 minutes. Thibs should be more adaptable to find him minutes playing some 4 and small ball 5.

That was disappointing but it’s tough to play Precious and Mitch together

I know. I like Precious as a sub for OG because he gives good D but yeah as a 4 he has to play with KAT. I missed the first quarter maybe that's how Precious 4 minutes were used. I don't think I saw him in 2nd half.

[Jalen Bluntson]

The Mikal slander is ridiculous. How many game saving/winning blocks does he have this year? He helped seal that win last night and several others.

[rajajackal]

mitchell robinson restored my interest in this season at its most dire low point so kind of yes

Same here lol. I am not even that much of a fan of Mitch but his defense is game changing compared to KAT. Seems like Mitch even got Mikal to look better on defense too.

i know how you feel about kat at center and our defense - i think you've been largely vindicated about that tbh. there are still advantages to kat logging minutes at center whether it's the starting minutes or in the 3rd rotation. i'm ready to see him sharing a lot of time with mitch in any case. i think it might need to be with the starting lineup though cause mitch is most needed when kat and jb are sharing the floor

side note the true mitch island was the ones holding it down when this whole forum became schoolgirls for "isaiah hartenstein"

[3toheadmelo]

mitchell robinson restored my interest in this season at its most dire low point so kind of yes

Same here lol. I am not even that much of a fan of Mitch but his defense is game changing compared to KAT. Seems like Mitch even got Mikal to look better on defense too.

i know how you feel about kat at center and our defense - i think you've been largely vindicated about that tbh. there are still advantages to kat logging minutes at center whether it's the starting minutes or in the 3rd rotation. i'm ready to see him sharing a lot of time with mitch in any case. i think it might need to be with the starting lineup though cause mitch is most needed when kat and jb are sharing the floor

side note the true mitch island was the ones holding it down when this whole forum became schoolgirls for "isaiah hartenstein"

There are advantages of KAT at C but I just don't think it's good enough to make up for his lack of defense unfortuantely. Maybe in small stints you can get away with it but not at full time. We def need to start Mitch next to him.

Tbf Hartenstein was solid for us and he was somewhat of an offensive threat which we haven't had from a C in a min. Sucks he left but it is what it is. I'm team mitch now lol

[rajajackal]

Same here lol. I am not even that much of a fan of Mitch but his defense is game changing compared to KAT. Seems like Mitch even got Mikal to look better on defense too.

i know how you feel about kat at center and our defense - i think you've been largely vindicated about that tbh. there are still advantages to kat logging minutes at center whether it's the starting minutes or in the 3rd rotation. i'm ready to see him sharing a lot of time with mitch in any case. i think it might need to be with the starting lineup though cause mitch is most needed when kat and jb are sharing the floor

side note the true mitch island was the ones holding it down when this whole forum became schoolgirls for "isaiah hartenstein"

There are advantages of KAT at C but I just don't think it's good enough to make up for his lack of defense unfortuantely. Maybe in small stints you can get away with it but not at full time. We def need to start Mitch next to him.

Tbf Hartenstein was solid for us and he was somewhat of an offensive threat which we haven't had from a C in a min. Sucks he left but it is what it is. I'm team mitch now lol

i liked hartenstein too but i always felt what he contributed was more replaceable than the sort of freak of nature presence and quick instinct mitch has. people were wyling on here last year acting like mitch was disposable and like we should have made more cap space for "isaiah hartenstein"

[spree2kawhi]

The Mikal slander is ridiculous. How many game saving/winning blocks does he have this year? He helped seal that win last night and several others.

The wildest instance was after he blocked Vucevic to save the day. This board is laughable.

[Guano]

Tism vs adhd

[Gravy]

Mitch is back one game and makes an immediate positive impact. Really shows the disparity with and without a shot blocker.

Knicks fans very very slowly learning that having good defensive players makes the defense good.

[rajajackal]

Mitch is back one game and makes an immediate positive impact. Really show the disparity with and without a shot blocker.

Knicks fans very very slowly learning that having good defensive players makes the defense good.

if you think about it we've lacked muscle without mitch and/or randle (before this stirs undue conversation i am a proponent of the kat trade and am way more excited about mitch/kat than i was hartenstein/randle)

we got a bruiser back let's go to work

[Clyde_Style]

i know how you feel about kat at center and our defense - i think you've been largely vindicated about that tbh. there are still advantages to kat logging minutes at center whether it's the starting minutes or in the 3rd rotation. i'm ready to see him sharing a lot of time with mitch in any case. i think it might need to be with the starting lineup though cause mitch is most needed when kat and jb are sharing the floor

side note the true mitch island was the ones holding it down when this whole forum became schoolgirls for "isaiah hartenstein"

There are advantages of KAT at C but I just don't think it's good enough to make up for his lack of defense unfortuantely. Maybe in small stints you can get away with it but not at full time. We def need to start Mitch next to him.

Tbf Hartenstein was solid for us and he was somewhat of an offensive threat which we haven't had from a C in a min. Sucks he left but it is what it is. I'm team mitch now lol

i liked hartenstein too but i always felt what he contributed was more replaceable than the sort of freak of nature presence and quick instinct mitch has. people were wyling on here last year acting like mitch was disposable and like we should have made more cap space for "isaiah hartenstein"

Both iHart and Mitch are good players with different skill sets, but when it comes to controlling the paint, Mitch is on another level.

iHart's skill set would be nice, but Mitch's strengths are more critical to balance out this year's squad.

If Mitch is healthy for real his impact on this year's roster will be dramatic.

Mitch gives them a chance to contend. Without Mitch they will not contend. It really is that simple.

Thibs has a Mitch poster inside his locker door.

[RHODEY]

It is especially if he’s going 0-5 from 3. He has no handle and can’t dribble without looking like he’s about to lose the ball so most times when he attempts to and the defense applies even a little pressure he has to pick up his dribble and pass. He’s very weak and doesn’t attack the rim with the ball at all whatsoever. Certain things he tries to do offensively just annoy me

If he's at 50 percent overall and playing elite defense versus Jah Morant as your 3rd option ...trash is way too strong of a word.

His offense has been trash. 15 points on 14 shot attempts. If you look at the whole month it’s pretty much been that way. He’s averaging 15 points on 13.5 shots and only shooting 32% from 3. As the schedule has gotten tougher his production has fallen off

Show me how ma y other "4th options" are doing better? And the previous game he gave us
28 Points, 2 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 2 Steals, 1 Block, 1 Personal Foul, 1 Turnover, 12-18 FG (66.7%), 3-5 3PT (60%), 1-2 FT (50%), +1 in 41 minutes

How many can do this to Ja Morant?

And keep in mind he saved the game last night because of another stellar defensive play versus Morant..

So if you focus on the OVERALL package I think you are being way too critical.

[Gravy]

Mitch is back one game and makes an immediate positive impact. Really show the disparity with and without a shot blocker.

Knicks fans very very slowly learning that having good defensive players makes the defense good.

if you think about it we've lacked muscle without mitch and/or randle (before this stirs undue conversation i am a proponent of the kat trade and am way more excited about mitch/kat than i was hartenstein/randle)

we got a bruiser back let's go to work

Randle was averaging 10 rebounds a game here at pf which people dismissed. Our current power forward OG is at 4.6 rebounds, Josh Hart is at 9.7 which is why Thibs had to put him back in the game. We got out rebounded 58-35 and that almost cost us. The team has missed the size and muscle from last season.