GT: @Knicks VS Celtics: Game 6: 5/16/25-FRI 8PM ET; ESPN

[Context]

I like this
and I expect this on Friday!

[Adelheid]

It's ironic because it feels that every key player on our team has been underperforming (besides Brunson and Mitch lately), yet we've never been so close to the Conference Finals or Finals in over 20 years.

I think our big acquisitions (OG, KAT and Mikal) have largely underperformed in these playoffs, but the sum of their contributions (with the others') has still made a difference in our favor. Thus far. But we need more to beat the Celtics, let alone make the Finals.

the individual talents of the knicks players are keeping them well above water and its not due to anything else, which includes coaching

[Fury]

[Obi-One]

Vegeta hit Zarbon with the MK fatality. One of the best DBZ kills

[Context]

Knicks win an easy one, the Celtics played the last one for Tatum and now ready for the offseason.

How do fans not see this? Level headed man...they threw a Hail Mary to get their guy 1, admirable but there's tape now on em w/o Tatum, this game 6 won't be close, Bill Russell won't beat the 5 for Boston Friday

That was funny

[LFGK]

Knicks win an easy one, the Celtics played the last one for Tatum and now ready for the offseason.

How do fans not see this? Level headed man...they threw a Hail Mary to get their guy 1, admirable but there's tape now on em w/o Tatum, this game 6 won't be close, Bill Russell won't beat the 5 for Boston Friday

That was funny

Be the 5* I meant.....the simple fix early on is to play small ball with OG at the 5 and have kornet roam around with him away from the paint, I would be every hair on ass game 6 is not close and we win by 15+

[mpharris36]

If slow footed Kornet is in the game why don't we spam high P&R's with whoever he is guarding. Make Kornet guard in space whether that is Brunson or Mikal going down hill. If you pick up that screen up higher that means he has more space to guard with our guys coming down hill. They just want him to sink into the paint and play drop coverage to disrupt anything near the rim...so we need to get our guys coming down hill more often to use his lack of foot speed against him.

Also we should be using some double drag screens...where Hart bring Kornet over in a screen then KAT follows up behind them to screen the screener. That will force Kornet in having to do a lot of screen manipulation where his lack of foot speed we can take advantage of.

The other solution as some have said is just go to Deuce and Mitch earlier. Those two along with some combo of Brunson/Mikal/OG/KAT seems to be our best lineup right now.

The defense was a complete sh*t show yesterday..its like they all collectively took a breathe once Tatum went down and forgot that all these guys are going to do is jack up 3's. Not being able to find there shooters especially in transition...but it wasn't just transition it was after makes where we go crossed up and mismatch and they got open shots. Unacceptable this late in the playoffs to have so many "miscommunications"/"missed assignments"

[Obi-One]

Derrick White is looking like Ray Allen here. Key AGAIN is to stick to him no matter what

[Jalen Bluntson]

They used a lot of drive and kick action against us last night. Knowing our defense will sag off the line and someone will be one pass away from being open. They did it over and over. With the refs being garbage at the same time. They hunted the switch and got them too. That lead ballooned and our guys just looked out of sync. Once the lead was established it just stayed that way basically. Poor shooting. Poor communication on defense. On our heels the entire second half. That was what I feared. Boston would play different and we wouldn't adjust in time. The refs certainly set the table for them though. Make no mistake. The coaching was just as bad.

It's in the rearview mirror. I have to hope they have enough film to study to make the adjustments to win next game. First and foremost, hit your damn shots!

[Fury]

I just got one thing to say about the last game,

how the **** does Jaylen Brown not get a flagrant foul for blatantly grabbing Josh Hart's junk

[spree8]

[kNicksGmen]

Starting Mitch is such a simple and logical adjustment. Just do it already.

Bring in Hart and Deuce 5-7 minutes into the quarter for Mitch and either Bridges or OG.

Get more minutes with the starters minus Hart and Kat also.

WAKE UP THIBS

[Chanel Bomber]

It's ironic because it feels that every key player on our team has been underperforming (besides Brunson and Mitch lately), yet we've never been so close to the Conference Finals or Finals in over 20 years.

I think our big acquisitions (OG, KAT and Mikal) have largely underperformed in these playoffs, but the sum of their contributions (with the others') has still made a difference in our favor. Thus far. But we need more to beat the Celtics, let alone make the Finals.

Other than game 4, we haven't had a "team" win in these playoffs. Out of the 3, KAT is the one that seems to be struggling the most. It's weird, because you look at his averages and can conclude that on paper, he's having a great series with 19/12. But he has more fouls than 3PTA. He has the same amount of TOs and 3PTA. He has 2 assists the entire series. This is the KAT I've been screaming from the rooftops to stay away from this team. He's just not locked in like he needs to be. And these soundbites from the locker room seem to be suggesting KAT's not following the game plan.

He has brought positives and negatives in these playoffs.

He's still an elite floor spacer, elite defensive rebounder, solid on switches, never forces it (which has both positive and negative affects), still fairly efficient as a scorer.

But his defense in drop has been awful, very little resistance at the rim, very little help, dumb fouls, passive at times on offense, low 3-point volume (though I think it's discouraged by the offense Thibs is running).

He was All-NBA in the RS but he hasn't played at an All-NBA level this postseason. He's still contributing in some ways.

Yesterday was his worst showing. His focus was lacking. Hopefully he can make it up tomorrow. We're still in a solid position.

[mpharris36]

the unfortunate part of all this is KAT does have to play better. We need him too but he's going to have to figure out how to do it by himself because he sure isn't going to get help from Thibs to scheme him better looks.

It will be the same 3 pt line face up drives or post ups along with the occasional trail 3 if BOS allows it, along with a few low block post ups with a big coming to double.

[Fury]

Would like to see some KAT and Josh Hart pick and roll action. Have we ever tried that?

[Adelheid]

alot of emphasis has been stated on how poor the knicks players have played, which is true btw - but hardly any point raised on how trashy the referees are in this game

[Wildcat]

Would like to see some KAT and Josh Hart pick and roll action. Have we ever tried that?

Problem is KAT doesn't set proper screens and picks. He either does light contact and the plays ends, rolls in the way of the dribbler. But I think it's mostly the light contact that makes it near useless.

[Wildcat]

alot of emphasis has been stated on how poor the knicks players have played, which is true btw - but hardly any point raised on how trashy the referees are in this game

Rule of thumb: Don't let expect the refs to bail you out of **** games. Knicks as a team have had **** games. Individually, we're have moments of greatness. The way OG shot the ball yesterday was awful. Easily should have been a 10 point lead if OG shot was falling.

[Fury]

Would like to see some KAT and Josh Hart pick and roll action. Have we ever tried that?

Problem is KAT doesn't set proper screens and picks. He either does light contact and the plays ends, rolls in the way of the dribbler. But I think it's mostly the light contact that makes it near useless.

I mean Josh Hart setting the screen. Since dudes are always playing off of him, that would help open up the paint or let KAT shoot the 3.

[Chanel Bomber]

the unfortunate part of all this is KAT does have to play better. We need him too but he's going to have to figure out how to do it by himself because he sure isn't going to get help from Thibs to scheme him better looks.

It will be the same 3 pt line face up drives or post ups along with the occasional trail 3 if BOS allows it, along with a few low block post ups with a big coming to double.

Putting him in the low block makes sense in theory but in reality it gets undone by the help Boston can send off of Hart.

When Hart's setting the screen to bring Kornet in the action, KAT should be at the 3-point line, not in the dunker spot.

There's no justification for such low volume of 3s. This falls on Thibs. We should see more trail 3s, and more pick-and-pop action. He's one of the best shooting bigs in the history of the game. It's silly.