PG: fake contenders

[spree2kawhi]

Because somehow, there are people who feel we lost against the Cavs is mainly because we traded for KAT and Mikal

That somehow had we not made those trades, we would have beat the Cavs

Even if we don’t beat the Cavs, we would at least still have our assets to trade for a true difference maker. That’s the issue here

KAT and Mikal are both assets

Our top players are all assets

We are very close to having the 4th best record in all of the NBA and even without Brunson we are still winning more games than we lose

Mikal and KAT can win games for us without Brunson having to play. We went from being fully co-dependent on Brunson to now being able to be competitive without him. Mikal and KAT are difference makers for the simple fact that the Knicks have won games without Brunson.

Exactly. We haven’t really lost assets. And these two have been balling. One other player has dropped off big time though.

[3toheadmelo]

Because somehow, there are people who feel we lost against the Cavs is mainly because we traded for KAT and Mikal

That somehow had we not made those trades, we would have beat the Cavs

Even if we don’t beat the Cavs, we would at least still have our assets to trade for a true difference maker. That’s the issue here

KAT and Mikal are both assets

Our top players are all assets

We are very close to having the 4th best record in all of the NBA and even without Brunson we are still winning more games than we lose

Mikal and KAT can win games for us without Brunson having to play. We went from being fully co-dependent on Brunson to now being able to be competitive without him. Mikal and KAT are difference makers for the simple fact that the Knicks have won games without Brunson.

We’re 0-8 against OKC, Cleveland and Boston. Those guys aren’t difference makers against the elite teams. They beat up on trash teams. What is your goal here? To win a championship or be a fake contender?

[GONYK]

It's Mikal. He doesn't actually contribute anything as a starter. With JB back he would be the 4th option in the offence and if he isn't getting the ball he soesn't do anything at all. He soesn't rebound, he doesn't playmake, he doesn't get to the line. If you keot him in the SL with Deuce who also needs shots how does that work? Hart doean't need shots.

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I disagree that he contributes nothing. When we had Deuce guarding the POA, Mikal was playing pretty great defense as a wing patroller. He also provides spacing, shooting from the corners, and a tertiary playmaker.

The question is if that outweighs what Josh brings. Josh brings a ton of value and versatility, some of which overlap with Mikal, but he prevents you from playing 5 out.

Josh and Mikal are essentially playing different flavors of the same role and that may be preventing us from maximizing both.

Deuce mostly scores off spot ups. He gets shots without needing the ball and he guards the POA better than anyone else on the team. He slides Mikal back into his more natural defensive role. He's just small.

The lineup would be KAT, OG, Bridges, Deuce, JB. Deuce defends POA. Functions an an off ball shooter. JB is forst or second option on offence, handles the ball, gets hidden on weakest ofdensive guard. OG becomes the power forward. Defends best scorer. Demands shots. KAT is the first/second option. Rebounder and shootee. What is Mikal.left to do? He doesn't get to the line. He doesn't rebound. He qon't have the ball in his hand and he ia competing dor shots with Deuce.

Hart will defend, rebound, drice the ball in transition and doesn't need shots to contribute.

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Mikal allows us to actually play 5 out and can be the secondary ballhandler. He will have the ball in his hands a lot, the same way Josh does when paired with JB.

This roster was put together on the notion that the offensive output will overwhelm most defenses and make up for weak rim protection. The wings were supposed to make sure nobody really pressured the rim all game.

We haven't experimented with doing what it takes to fully validate that theory.

[spree2kawhi]

Even if we don’t beat the Cavs, we would at least still have our assets to trade for a true difference maker. That’s the issue here

KAT and Mikal are both assets

Our top players are all assets

We are very close to having the 4th best record in all of the NBA and even without Brunson we are still winning more games than we lose

Mikal and KAT can win games for us without Brunson having to play. We went from being fully co-dependent on Brunson to now being able to be competitive without him. Mikal and KAT are difference makers for the simple fact that the Knicks have won games without Brunson.

We’re 0-8 against OKC, Cleveland and Boston. Those guys aren’t difference makers against the elite teams. They beat up on trash teams. What is your goal here? To win a championship or be a fake contender?

As always, that’s just the easy thing to say after a loss. Let me ask you: Which true difference maker could we have realistically added instead, where results would’ve certainly been better than Boston’s and Cleveland’s right away? What is your goal here? It’s safe to say your hero was even worse this year than he had been with us already (and that really says something given the pathetic effort and decision making he had displayed or the historically bad playoff resume to go with that), so keeping that bum around certainly wouldn’t have helped edge those teams. Assuming we still had them, what would you do specifically with those five picks that could move us past Cleveland or Boston right away? What is your goal here?

I say the front office absolutely seized and maximized our opportunity and we can still get to the top simply by staying on track. This team is now loaded with talent, and you have to be a real hater to disregard what Bridges and OG have shown or how Towns has outplayed his predecessor this year.
Meanwhile all you have in store is Giannis this, Durant that yada yada yada. That’s just bush league posting to me. Please stop crying after every loss, it’s annoying af. This is a process and we’re only in year one.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

Spoiler:

???????? Randle ????? Defense???????

?????

It's funnier now that the Wolves have a worse record than they did last year, and it's not like Ant has missed a month of basketball like Brunson has.

And last year’s Knicks team has a better net rating than this Knicks team, better defensive rating, able to beat contenders. List goes on

Of course you didn’t mention that Randle was injured for a month and the Timberwolves went 5-8 without him. Since he came back they are 13-3.

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Why is a Wolves h0mer telling me about Randle on a Knicks board, take it to the Ex thread or the Wolves board. They're WORSE than last year, they had a better net rating last season, they won more games last season with KAT.

You can't even help yourself

[FrozenEnvelope]

People are really upset about this game and thought we had a chance to win?

[spree2kawhi]

Spoiler:

It's funnier now that the Wolves have a worse record than they did last year, and it's not like Ant has missed a month of basketball like Brunson has.

And last year’s Knicks team has a better net rating than this Knicks team, better defensive rating, able to beat contenders. List goes on

Of course you didn’t mention that Randle was injured for a month and the Timberwolves went 5-8 without him. Since he came back they are 13-3.

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Why is a Wolves h0mer telling me about Randle on a Knicks board, take it to the Ex thread or the Wolves board. They're WORSE than last year, they had a better net rating last season, they won more games last season with KAT.

You can't even help yourself

[FrozenEnvelope]

You guys do know and understand that when it's Game 1 at Cleveland, that none of these regular season games will matter, right?

And I'm saying it now if JB and Mitch are healthy, we will win that series.

[spree2kawhi]

People are really upset about this game and thought we had a chance to win?

Some Knicks fans are really going to feel bad about our playoff wins. I’m not even saying there will be many wins, but they (?) will feel bad every time. Their time is when we lose

[spree2kawhi]

You guys do know and understand that when it's Game 1 at Cleveland, that none of these regular season games will matter, right?

And I'm saying it now if JB and Mitch are healthy, we will win that series.

I’ve been saying that all year. They’re hot (and impressive), but they aren’t more talented than we are at full strength. Someone won’t be invited to the after party though…

[shmeakone]

Time to trade for Joel Embiid.

[shmeakone]

You guys do know and understand that when it's Game 1 at Cleveland, that none of these regular season games will matter, right?

And I'm saying it now if JB and Mitch are healthy, we will win that series.

Too bad that we're not seeing them unless we get past the Celtics, because I do believe as well we beat them.

[thebuzzardman]

Thibs is the Suckosaurus

[LFGK]

You guys do know and understand that when it's Game 1 at Cleveland, that none of these regular season games will matter, right?

And I'm saying it now if JB and Mitch are healthy, we will win that series.

but ppl will only talk about being 0-8 against the top 3, no need to even play the playoffs . Yes i don't think we have seen the final form of this years squad yet because we have yet to have 1-8. The offense might not be as great as its been all season but the defense will be better, Especially since things get tighter come playoff time. The knicks healthy can beat anyone this season, 0-8 means absolutely nothing come game 1 of the playoffs.( Just ask the Patriots when they beat the jets 45-3 in week 13 and lost to them in the Divisional round). Regular season numbers and records mean nothing

[thebuzzardman]

Knicks aren’t getting out of the first round

[prophet_of_rage]

I disagree that he contributes nothing. When we had Deuce guarding the POA, Mikal was playing pretty great defense as a wing patroller. He also provides spacing, shooting from the corners, and a tertiary playmaker.

The question is if that outweighs what Josh brings. Josh brings a ton of value and versatility, some of which overlap with Mikal, but he prevents you from playing 5 out.

Josh and Mikal are essentially playing different flavors of the same role and that may be preventing us from maximizing both.

Deuce mostly scores off spot ups. He gets shots without needing the ball and he guards the POA better than anyone else on the team. He slides Mikal back into his more natural defensive role. He's just small.

The lineup would be KAT, OG, Bridges, Deuce, JB. Deuce defends POA. Functions an an off ball shooter. JB is forst or second option on offence, handles the ball, gets hidden on weakest ofdensive guard. OG becomes the power forward. Defends best scorer. Demands shots. KAT is the first/second option. Rebounder and shootee. What is Mikal.left to do? He doesn't get to the line. He doesn't rebound. He qon't have the ball in his hand and he ia competing dor shots with Deuce.

Hart will defend, rebound, drice the ball in transition and doesn't need shots to contribute.

Sent from my SM-S9080 using RealGM mobile app

Mikal allows us to actually play 5 out and can be the secondary ballhandler. He will have the ball in his hands a lot, the same way Josh does when paired with JB.

This roster was put together on the notion that the offensive output will overwhelm most defenses and make up for weak rim protection. The wings were supposed to make sure nobody really pressured the rim all game.

We haven't experimented with doing what it takes to fully validate that theory.

Then what does Deuce do? Deuce will handle the ball more than Mikal. And you can play 5 out with Hart. It isn't just stand and sling 3s. Deuce and Mikal aren't particular spectqcular at that.

You have no dirty work guy or sacrifice guy with that lineup. Mikal.is better as captiqn of the second unit like RJ.

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[GONYK]

The lineup would be KAT, OG, Bridges, Deuce, JB. Deuce defends POA. Functions an an off ball shooter. JB is forst or second option on offence, handles the ball, gets hidden on weakest ofdensive guard. OG becomes the power forward. Defends best scorer. Demands shots. KAT is the first/second option. Rebounder and shootee. What is Mikal.left to do? He doesn't get to the line. He doesn't rebound. He qon't have the ball in his hand and he ia competing dor shots with Deuce.

Hart will defend, rebound, drice the ball in transition and doesn't need shots to contribute.

Sent from my SM-S9080 using RealGM mobile app

Mikal allows us to actually play 5 out and can be the secondary ballhandler. He will have the ball in his hands a lot, the same way Josh does when paired with JB.

This roster was put together on the notion that the offensive output will overwhelm most defenses and make up for weak rim protection. The wings were supposed to make sure nobody really pressured the rim all game.

We haven't experimented with doing what it takes to fully validate that theory.

Then what does Deuce do? Deuce will handle the ball more than Mikal. And you can play 5 out with Hart. It isn't just stand and sling 3s. Deuce and Mikal aren't particular spectqcular at that.

You have no dirty work guy or sacrifice guy with that lineup. Mikal.is better as captiqn of the second unit like RJ.

Sent from my SM-S9080 using RealGM mobile app

You can't play 5 out with Hart. Nobody guards Hart on the perimeter and we shouldn't be catering our entire offense around getting Hart into the action in order to get his man away from the rim.

Deuce becomes the sacrifice guy. He doesn't bring the rebounding and transition play, but he doesn't bring much better defense, shooting and
overall team spacing.

This debate is pointless because it is theoretical. No matter where you stand, we should have had the answer to this question one way or another by now.

[Spree2Houston]

You guys do know and understand that when it's Game 1 at Cleveland, that none of these regular season games will matter, right?

And I'm saying it now if JB and Mitch are healthy, we will win that series.

We’re beating Boston ?

[thebuzzardman]

Mikal allows us to actually play 5 out and can be the secondary ballhandler. He will have the ball in his hands a lot, the same way Josh does when paired with JB.

This roster was put together on the notion that the offensive output will overwhelm most defenses and make up for weak rim protection. The wings were supposed to make sure nobody really pressured the rim all game.

We haven't experimented with doing what it takes to fully validate that theory.

Then what does Deuce do? Deuce will handle the ball more than Mikal. And you can play 5 out with Hart. It isn't just stand and sling 3s. Deuce and Mikal aren't particular spectqcular at that.

You have no dirty work guy or sacrifice guy with that lineup. Mikal.is better as captiqn of the second unit like RJ.

Sent from my SM-S9080 using RealGM mobile app

You can't play 5 out with Hart. Nobody guards Hart on the perimeter and we shouldn't be catering our entire offense around getting Hart into the action in order to get his man away from the rim.

Deuce becomes the sacrifice guy. He doesn't bring the rebounding and transition play, but he doesn't bring much better defense, shooting and
overall team spacing.

This debate is pointless because it is theoretical. No matter where you stand, we should have had the answer to this question one way or another by now.

Thibs never adjusts so there is no point in arguing. I'd certainly bench Hart for Deuce, in a second.

He can join the all Afraid or Bad To Shoot lineup of the 2nd unit:

Wright
Shamet
Hart
Precious
Mitch

[TheGreenArrow]

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