GT: Knicks @ Celtics , Game 1 Monday 7:00pm ET

[robillionaire]

Good news!

We already had a top 5 record. But the rockets who were ahead of us lost in the first round, proving they were frauds. So we are now a top 4 team. But then it gets better, because Cleveland lost game 1 at home to the Pacers(who we had a better record than) and is down 0-1 showing that they were also frauds. So that means we’re top 3 and if we win tonight we move into top 2 status in the power rankings. Orange and blue skies, see you at the parade

[H_20]

If the knicks can steal 1 on the road ,that will change everything. Gives the knicks confidence they can defeat the defending champions. Pacers just won on the road, I think we can as well.

[Jalen Bluntson]

If the knicks can steal 1 on the road ,that will change everything. Gives the knicks confidence they can defeat the defending champions. Pacers just won on the road, I think we can as well.

The only thing I am holding on to is that we were never at full strength against them. Outside of that, I see no way we win this series or even a game or two. Thibs really needs to expand the rotation and we have no reason to believe he will. None. We will not win playing 6-7 man rotations. Thibs is the biggest obstacle we have. That gives me very little confidence moving forward.

[CyKnickal]

On defense, unless Thibs changes what he's done all year, the Celtics will continue to shoot those step in threes on picks because we don't switch everything. Bombs away. Simple offensive game plan that will continue to annihilate us because this guy won't change his defensive scheme against them. I hope he does. SWITCH EVERYTHING. Or else we'll see Tatum drop 40 on side step threes.

On offense, Josh Hart will be their demise. Boston will park Porzingis on him and they'll dare him to shoot or make the play, keep it out of the hands of others. It's going to be a very ugly offense, complete hell for Kat and Brunson because they will be shaded everytime they run offense by Porzingis, who will camp in the lane and play free safety because he's not worried about Josh, making it impossible to get to the hoop.

But this is the trial Baby Jesus has to go through, carry the cross of Thibs this series, I don't expect Thibs to do anything different. We will see him die this series, and next year I expect a resurrection without Satan at the helm.

Speaking of Judas, I know I **** on Hart a lot, but he said something that proved what I was seeing, something that made me lose all hope and confirmed I wasn't making things up in my head. "Other teams give me a lot of space to shoot, but Boston doesn't even look at me like, will literally have their backs to me.....hAhAAHaHA!!!"

During training camp interviews, Jalen Brown explained what their defensive plan was going to be Vs teams all season. Pick one guy on the floor at all times and let him be. Dare him to drop 40, put role players in positions to make decisions and lock up the head of the snake. Make a wall, make them make hard twos, and spam threes on the other end. He jokingly explained that this is a tactic they would've used on the 73 Warriors, let Iguoudala be the hero. And we fall right into their trap with a similar player.

Josh Hart found their defensive game plan funny. I hope he gets serious.

[Red Vines]

In my upset scenario I have Mikal as the x-factor, he's the key to getting out on the break & ball moving. Limited iso ball means Celtics can't rest on defense & legs are tired in the 4th which = missed 3s. Also have to play aggressive defense, Thibs can't play guys whole quarters and expect the effort that's needed--find guys time to rest during the game. Overall we need to be the aggressors.

[CyKnickal]

Read on Twitter

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OHh, there we go, so I'm not stupid.

So there it is, simple fix. Bench Hart, put Mitch in there and play bully ball. Slow, painful, iso death, no chance to jack up threes in transition for them with the threat of two 7 footers there to grab offensive rebounds.

OOORRR...put Duece in there and give Kat and Brunson the space to operate, play true 5 out run and gun small ball and bomb away. Let one of the best three point shooters, not just the best shooting big man in the league ,take more than 4 three pointers. Use him for the reason you got him, not to just role play out there as Joikim Noah.

PICK A **** LANE.

This moron puts a 5 out lineup out there with Kat at center and throws a monkey wrench in there who is scared to shoot. He has a better rebounder and a better shooter sitting on the bench but he has a dude in there because he runs around and hustles, someone who would actually work off the bench because he plays best in transition, running around and hustling.

It's like we're living in **** upside down land.

[Context]

Pacers are gelling at the right time this year. Playing solid ball on both ends. They play 10-11 deep most nights so gives them a clear advantage to win games. I wouldn't be surprised if they make it back to the conference finals this year.

This is undervalued HEAVY in this forum. Our lack of depth is our #1 obstacle! Lack of offensive strategy for our group #2.
Our will is the only chance we got!

So, basically our roster sucks and our coach sucks.

Knicks season ends in 4 games.

May the offseason arguments begin!

I still think we had a very good season. This is part of the process/journey...Hopefully, either Thibs gets the offensive coaching help he needs or he's replaced with a young bright mind who has some experience.
This season has taught me that we have the fire power to be the best offense and an elite defensive team IF we have the right leadership. For me,
this will be the year "The Don" shows me what type of a GM he is...
As far as the Boston series...I never doubt the will of the human spirit. So we're going to find out Buzz-how far their "will" can take them...

[LFGK]

It's all gonna be good, they gonna try everything early on but I think we will weather the storm. Everything is 0-0 tonight and I feel we will come Away up 1-0 after tonight

[Jeff Van Gully]

Smell like bdussy in here. Again.

Close your legs.

nice to see you around.

[Buttah304]

Over the last 4 seasons, Precious has held KP to 4/15 FG shooting. This shouldn’t really surprise people, for all of his flaws/weaknesses he does have the footwork/lateral ability to stay in front of his man and use his wingspan properly.

Incoming every starter at 43min per game

[Jeff Van Gully]

I’m looking at KAT most of all. We brought him here for series like these and he has the talent to dominate. We need that KAT.

Game 1 KAT's D with Game 3 KAT's O is my ideal situation.

you've been heard.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJRwD_sxJKg

[Jeff Van Gully]

playoff energy

Watch on YouTube

soldiers only right now.

as established:

Watch on YouTube

correction: WE have been heard.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJRwD_sxJKg

cuz all WE got iz US!

[thebuzzardman]

This is undervalued HEAVY in this forum. Our lack of depth is our #1 obstacle! Lack of offensive strategy for our group #2.
Our will is the only chance we got!

So, basically our roster sucks and our coach sucks.

Knicks season ends in 4 games.

May the offseason arguments begin!

I still think we had a very good season. This is part of the process/journey...Hopefully, either Thibs gets the offensive coaching help he needs or he's replaced with a young bright mind who has some experience.
This season has taught me that we have the fire power to be the best offense and an elite defensive team IF we have the right leadership. For me,
this will be the year "The Don" shows me what type of a GM he is...
As far as the Boston series...I never doubt the will of the human spirit. So we're going to find out Buzz-how far their "will" can take them...

It's going to take them to a 30 point loss tonight

[Jeff Van Gully]

peace, brothers and sisters.



brother jeff understands the uneasiness and will be on this corner all week if you need to vent.

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=2452669&start=260#p118037629

also, the bodega deserves better.

[Guano]

if mikal finally arrived then the celtics have never played this knicks team

Oh were crazy talking ourself into this sht.

LFG!!!

[TheGreenArrow]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

[3toheadmelo]

my point is you take away KP and White with switches and you keep yourself from overhelping.

If Tatum goes for 50 every night so be it. But we simply can't out gun them if they have there secondary and support players raining 3's. Make them a Tatum ISO team and he will beat us a lot but I will live with that over trying to scramble and rotate out to there shooters.

Idk fam.. that’s basically what we did against them for every game we played them and they beat us with ease. I’d rather just blitz him. I think it makes more sense to try something different. But what sucks against Boston cause if we blitz him like Dallas did they’re gonna rain 3s. It’s a tough situation cause we’re kinda fked in both scenarios.

look nothing we do defensively is going to take away from the fact is they have the ability to bring KAT or Brunson into the action and simply we don't have a great counter for that.

What we can't do and why the ORL/BOS series was somewhat close (even though ORL can shoot) in terms of the score was because ORL switched all the KP action. KP murdered us this year and ORL held KP in check. Derrick White murdered us this year and outside of Game 1 vs ORL they held him in check as well. They both shot the sh*t out of the ball because we gave them wide open C&S 3's.

Tatum is going to score whatever we do against him...what we can't allow is for KP and White to get hot from 3. If they do we have no chance.

No solution is going to work...and ultimately it will be our offense that needs to carry us in this series...we can't have stretches of stagnant offense.

We don't have the size and speed on defense to blitz the screens and recover to there shooters. We don't have a bunch of long twitchy athletes to blitz and recover to there shooters they will just move the ball around enough and find an open shooter.

Just live with the Tatum ISO...if he beats us he beats us.

KP shot 45.5 from 3 on 11 attempts
White shot 54.3 from 3 on 8.8 attempts

we can't allow that...the series will be over before we can even play a game in NY.

Tatum is going to score and we are just going to have to live with that.

I'm not saying it’s a great solution I'm saying it’s the best we have for what we can run out there. If you blitz Tatum and make him into a winning passer and there secondary players hit a bunch of open 3's and get into rhythm we have absolutely no chance.

I don’t disagree, but I still think we should try blitzing him. Guarding him 1 v 1 allowed him to put up insane numbers against us this year and it gave us no shot. I rather limit him and let guys like white beat us. If we lose to Derrick white then it is what it is.

I guess we’ll see what happens

[Context]

So, basically our roster sucks and our coach sucks.

Knicks season ends in 4 games.

May the offseason arguments begin!

I still think we had a very good season. This is part of the process/journey...Hopefully, either Thibs gets the offensive coaching help he needs or he's replaced with a young bright mind who has some experience.
This season has taught me that we have the fire power to be the best offense and an elite defensive team IF we have the right leadership. For me,
this will be the year "The Don" shows me what type of a GM he is...
As far as the Boston series...I never doubt the will of the human spirit. So we're going to find out Buzz-how far their "will" can take them...

It's going to take them to a 30 point loss tonight

My position is- I have no idea...I should put $1000 on the Knicks to upset the series because even though I think its highly unlikely- Brunson and this core could surprise us just on sheer will...I'm sure the betting odds are good...

[Jalen Bluntson]

Smell like bdussy in here. Again.

Close your legs.

nice to see you around.

Why wouldn't I be? I took game 6 off like I said I would. Saw the replay of the Brunson game winning shot and that was all I needed to see. Thibs still sucks. I have no confidence in what is about to happen tonight. Hope I am absolutely dead wrong about everything. I have to try to watch at least game one to find out.

[mpharris36]

Idk fam.. that’s basically what we did against them for every game we played them and they beat us with ease. I’d rather just blitz him. I think it makes more sense to try something different. But what sucks against Boston cause if we blitz him like Dallas did they’re gonna rain 3s. It’s a tough situation cause we’re kinda fked in both scenarios.

look nothing we do defensively is going to take away from the fact is they have the ability to bring KAT or Brunson into the action and simply we don't have a great counter for that.

What we can't do and why the ORL/BOS series was somewhat close (even though ORL can shoot) in terms of the score was because ORL switched all the KP action. KP murdered us this year and ORL held KP in check. Derrick White murdered us this year and outside of Game 1 vs ORL they held him in check as well. They both shot the sh*t out of the ball because we gave them wide open C&S 3's.

Tatum is going to score whatever we do against him...what we can't allow is for KP and White to get hot from 3. If they do we have no chance.

No solution is going to work...and ultimately it will be our offense that needs to carry us in this series...we can't have stretches of stagnant offense.

We don't have the size and speed on defense to blitz the screens and recover to there shooters. We don't have a bunch of long twitchy athletes to blitz and recover to there shooters they will just move the ball around enough and find an open shooter.

Just live with the Tatum ISO...if he beats us he beats us.

KP shot 45.5 from 3 on 11 attempts
White shot 54.3 from 3 on 8.8 attempts

we can't allow that...the series will be over before we can even play a game in NY.

Tatum is going to score and we are just going to have to live with that.

I'm not saying it’s a great solution I'm saying it’s the best we have for what we can run out there. If you blitz Tatum and make him into a winning passer and there secondary players hit a bunch of open 3's and get into rhythm we have absolutely no chance.

I don’t disagree, but I still think we should try blitzing him. Guarding him 1 v 1 allowed him to put up insane numbers against us this year and it gave us no shot. I rather limit him and let guys like white beat us. If we lose to Derrick white then it is what it is.

I guess we’ll see what happens

I think Tatum is at his best when he's getting 7-10 assists like he was when BOS was making that there run to winning the finals.

If we blitz with KAT to get the ball our of Tatums hands its going to be shooting practice for one of the best high volume shooting 3 pt teams in the NBA. Tatum is so big he can make nearly every pass out of a blitz like Luka can. PPP would say blitzing a big wing that can pass usually is a nightmare for the defense.

We need to copy what ORL did and basically switch everything. Yes that means leaving a WCjr on Tatum (who Tatum did a great job against) and probably will do a similar job vs KAT. But ORL was able to keep BOS in the 100-105 pt range for the majority of the series...if we can do that we have a shot even if Tatum scores big.

We should certainly switch our defense up against them to keep them from just pre-determining reads. But I believe our best bet is to switch nearly everything outside of Brunson...you can't switch Brunson onto Tatum because the height will be too much to overcome...but Brunson can hopefully show and recover back to Jrue or Pritchard like we were doing with THjr and Beasley.

We both know our odds of defending them will be challenging whichever route we go so I don't want to sit here and say its going to work because Tatum might just kill us on every switch...but I can' play drop against him...and blitzing has value I just don't think we rotate well enough (especially KAT) to know when to get back and find his guy. Rather just say hey KAT if KP sets a screen you switch...and just do your best to keep Tatum in front of you. He's actually not half bad sliding his feet...its all the other stuff KAT is a disaster in when trying to guarding in space.