PG: Knicks vs Indy: Game 1 ECF

[The KnicksFix]

Our starters were not ready defensively for that game
They came out guns blazing and yet we were in the game
That won’t happen in the next game

[snadler]

The one play that is literally keeping me awake, knicks up 123-118 with the ball, 2 possession game under 30 seconds, Brunson has the ball, first and foremost, the idea is NOT TO SCORE, it’s to run out the clock. Brunson is your best free throw shooter first why is he giving up the ball? Why is he throwing that pass to OG who has horrible hands. Of course the officials overturn the call because they always do vs the Knicks, you don’t let the officials decide the outcome. I know some are saying the knicks dominated for 45 minutes, which should give us hope, BUT remember, the c’s were in the same boat and lost the series.

Another stupid play yeah. 0g is bad, he just is. Brunson also threw it away to Josh but luckily he got it — was another asinine decision by Thibs, JB throwing it in lol

Brunson is overused by the clown coach. No creativity in how he uses Brunson or KAT and 0g is a weak as hell poor finisher

Thibs did this against Detroit at MSG, so it’s just happening a lot - he’s making inexcusable mistakes and needs to be removed

How do you take the players messing up and spinning it as the coach’s fault? Brunson had a career high 7 turnovers and the team missed 12 free throws along with countless defensive lapses.. this is 100% on the players and the players themselves

[2020]

I don't give a $hit how many Brunson had but the minute he left we were up 16. The minute he came back we lost the lead. F that ISO $hit and F Thibs for going away from what was working in the 4th.

This is the reason why I like Poppovich - if the lineup is working, he won't change it (rewards the players) and if it's not working, he'll bench a star player if he has to.

During the run I was thinking "I am surprised he didn't put Brunson back in" and then Brunson comes in (not saying it was the wrong move, give the Pacers their credit for the unbelievable comback).

Our guys went on a great run and increase the lead to 15, maybe he should have let them close the game out. Sometimes you have to have a feel for the game and not just sub/bench a player just because they are a star or expected to get minutes.

[The KnicksFix]

The one play that is literally keeping me awake, knicks up 123-118 with the ball, 2 possession game under 30 seconds, Brunson has the ball, first and foremost, the idea is NOT TO SCORE, it’s to run out the clock. Brunson is your best free throw shooter first why is he giving up the ball? Why is he throwing that pass to OG who has horrible hands. Of course the officials overturn the call because they always do vs the Knicks, you don’t let the officials decide the outcome. I know some are saying the knicks dominated for 45 minutes, which should give us hope, BUT remember, the c’s were in the same boat and lost the series.

Another stupid play yeah. 0g is bad, he just is. Brunson also threw it away to Josh but luckily he got it — was another asinine decision by Thibs, JB throwing it in lol

Brunson is overused by the clown coach. No creativity in how he uses Brunson or KAT and 0g is a weak as hell poor finisher

Thibs did this against Detroit at MSG, so it’s just happening a lot - he’s making inexcusable mistakes and needs to be removed

How do you take the players messing up and spinning it as the coach’s fault? Brunson had a career high 7 turnovers and the team missed 12 free throws along with countless defensive lapses.. this is 100% on the players and the players themselves

That same player. Brunson. Had 5 fouls.
Deuce and Mitch brought the team to a 16 point lead and went on a 10-0 run when Brunson was relegated to the bench
Yet he inexplicably subbed Brunson back in at the 5 minute mark when that lineup was absolutely demolishing them. Brunson had five fouls and couldn’t D up the way he wanted to. That’s why you milk the clock for as much as you can until it’s absolutely necessary to bring him back. You can’t defend that from Thibs anymore. Period.

[2020]

KAT was 11-17. Can't ignore him for long stretches just b/c we have a clutch closer. IND still moved the ball

yeah, I'm not sure when's the last time i saw this team run a play

Why don't we run more screen plays for Mikal, similar to what Golden State did for Klay?

Do we weven runs plays for MIkal or Kat?

Do we even run plays?

[LethalRangee]

Why is Josh Hart tripping like 10 times a game? Does he need new shoes?

[snadler]

Another stupid play yeah. 0g is bad, he just is. Brunson also threw it away to Josh but luckily he got it — was another asinine decision by Thibs, JB throwing it in lol

Brunson is overused by the clown coach. No creativity in how he uses Brunson or KAT and 0g is a weak as hell poor finisher

Thibs did this against Detroit at MSG, so it’s just happening a lot - he’s making inexcusable mistakes and needs to be removed

How do you take the players messing up and spinning it as the coach’s fault? Brunson had a career high 7 turnovers and the team missed 12 free throws along with countless defensive lapses.. this is 100% on the players and the players themselves

That same player. Brunson. Had 5 fouls.
Deuce and Mitch brought the team to a 16 point lead and went on a 10-0 run when Brunson was relegated to the bench
Yet he inexplicably subbed Brunson back in at the 5 minute mark when that lineup was absolutely demolishing them. Brunson had five fouls and couldn’t D up the way he wanted to. That’s why you milk the clock for as much as you can until it’s absolutely necessary to bring him back. You can’t defend that from Thibs anymore. Period.

Do you read your own posts? Inexplicably putting back in your best player? Come on dude, thats not even a questionable decision.. literally winner of the clutchest player of the year award

[snadler]

KAT was 11-17. Can't ignore him for long stretches just b/c we have a clutch closer. IND still moved the ball

yeah, I'm not sure when's the last time i saw this team run a play

Why don't we run more screen plays for Mikal, similar to what Golden State did for Klay?

Do we weven runs plays for MIkal or Kat?

Do we even run plays?

They scored 136 points, the offense was tremendous tonight. The defense on the other hand

[The KnicksFix]

If you want to enjoy the wins, you gotta be able to take the losses too. Man up. On to game 2

Nesmith knocking down threes like it's NBA Jam.

We had two chances at winning it with both Brunson and KAT getting threes in the final possession. They didn't go down this time.

This isn’t a regular loss where they got outplayed.

It was a full meltdown, and it’s beyond awful and demoralizing.

This dude keeps writing the same ****.

It’s a demoralizing loss that gives the Pacers supreme confidence.

Has dude played a sport before?

We’re done. It’s over. Cooked. Call in the reinforcements. Pacers in 5.

It pains me. But I’ve watched and played ball for 25-30 years. There’s no coming back from this. An epic choke and failure. Get me Giannis.

Championship teams are made from an iron will. We won’t lead every series. You have to be able to take the losses. Learn from them. And be better. Yes we won. But the Knicks know they can beat that team know. They know they can close the series if they focus. The Knicks will win this series.

[The KnicksFix]

if this is your first time you're lucky. reggie. the ewing missed finger roll. charles smith missing layup after layup. john starks keeps missing in game 7 of the finals. you merely adopted the dark, i was born in it. lol

1000% this
We let the game slip. We didn’t lose in some heartbreaking fashion.
This team has what it takes to win
They will sack up and be laser focused now

[The KnicksFix]

get your feelings out ya'll. i'm not scared of these mfs. we got 4 wins to get

Facts. I ain’t duckin no smoke. The Knicks will hold a players only meeting and you know what’s coming there lol

[2020]

Another stupid play yeah. 0g is bad, he just is. Brunson also threw it away to Josh but luckily he got it — was another asinine decision by Thibs, JB throwing it in lol

Brunson is overused by the clown coach. No creativity in how he uses Brunson or KAT and 0g is a weak as hell poor finisher

Thibs did this against Detroit at MSG, so it’s just happening a lot - he’s making inexcusable mistakes and needs to be removed

How do you take the players messing up and spinning it as the coach’s fault? Brunson had a career high 7 turnovers and the team missed 12 free throws along with countless defensive lapses.. this is 100% on the players and the players themselves

That same player. Brunson. Had 5 fouls.
Deuce and Mitch brought the team to a 16 point lead and went on a 10-0 run when Brunson was relegated to the bench
Yet he inexplicably subbed Brunson back in at the 5 minute mark when that lineup was absolutely demolishing them. Brunson had five fouls and couldn’t D up the way he wanted to. That’s why you milk the clock for as much as you can until it’s absolutely necessary to bring him back. You can’t defend that from Thibs anymore. Period.

I agree, it makes very little to absolutely no sense. Why bring back Brunson? For offense? (we didn't need it at the time). For defense? He was a liability due to being in foul trouble. Why not just let the guys who build the lead finish the game (arent' they doing something right? don't they deserve it?).

I think the guys would have appreciated it and played just as hard if not harder if they were allowed to close the game.

AT THE VERY LEAST LET THE GUYS PLAY AND IF INDY GOES ON A RUN, CALL A TIMEOUT AND BRING BRUNSON IN TO SCORE. THIS WOULD HAVE MILKED THE CLOCK LIKE YOU SAID AND MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR INDY TO SCORE

[2020]

The defensive lineup was killing the Pacers and Thibs went away from Deuce and Mitch

[Worst_to_First]

Another stupid play yeah. 0g is bad, he just is. Brunson also threw it away to Josh but luckily he got it — was another asinine decision by Thibs, JB throwing it in lol

Brunson is overused by the clown coach. No creativity in how he uses Brunson or KAT and 0g is a weak as hell poor finisher

Thibs did this against Detroit at MSG, so it’s just happening a lot - he’s making inexcusable mistakes and needs to be removed

How do you take the players messing up and spinning it as the coach’s fault? Brunson had a career high 7 turnovers and the team missed 12 free throws along with countless defensive lapses.. this is 100% on the players and the players themselves

That same player. Brunson. Had 5 fouls.
Deuce and Mitch brought the team to a 16 point lead and went on a 10-0 run when Brunson was relegated to the bench
Yet he inexplicably subbed Brunson back in at the 5 minute mark when that lineup was absolutely demolishing them. Brunson had five fouls and couldn’t D up the way he wanted to. That’s why you milk the clock for as much as you can until it’s absolutely necessary to bring him back. You can’t defend that from Thibs anymore. Period.

At the 5 minute mark I would have waited for two more possessions in which we could not score and in which we could not stop them for scoring, before bringing JB back in the game.

[The KnicksFix]

How do you take the players messing up and spinning it as the coach’s fault? Brunson had a career high 7 turnovers and the team missed 12 free throws along with countless defensive lapses.. this is 100% on the players and the players themselves

That same player. Brunson. Had 5 fouls.
Deuce and Mitch brought the team to a 16 point lead and went on a 10-0 run when Brunson was relegated to the bench
Yet he inexplicably subbed Brunson back in at the 5 minute mark when that lineup was absolutely demolishing them. Brunson had five fouls and couldn’t D up the way he wanted to. That’s why you milk the clock for as much as you can until it’s absolutely necessary to bring him back. You can’t defend that from Thibs anymore. Period.

I agree, it makes very little to absolutely no sense. Why bring back Brunson? For offense? (we didn't need it at the time). For defense? He was a liability due to being in foul trouble. Why not just let the guys who build the lead finish the game (arent' they doing something right? don't they deserve it?).

I think the guys would have appreciated it and played just as hard if not harder if they were allowed to close the game.

AT THE VERY LEAST LET THE GUYS PLAY AND IF INDY GOES ON A RUN, CALL A TIMEOUT AND BRING BRUNSON IN TO SCORE. THIS WOULD HAVE MILKED THE CLOCK LIKE YOU SAID AND MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR INDY TO SCORE

Thibs is. And always will be the stupidest most scared coach in the league. But one thing that man does. Is adjust AFTER the game is done. So good luck to the pacers cause that dood isn’t gonna sleep for 48 straight hours

[Chanel Bomber]

I hate fouling up 3. Uncharacteristic of Thibs, and a terrible decision in this context when we had some shaky shooters on the court.

We should've milked the clock more in the last 5 minutes.

We couldn't defend with Brunson on the court. They're getting anything they want. The size disadvantage is really noticeable against the Pacers.

Just a complete meltdown but to be fair Indiana made some incredible shots down the stretch. They're a formidable 3-point shooting team, but this was a once in 100 type of plot twist, yet one I feared was coming.

A waste of good scoring performances by KAT and Brunson.

[Chanel Bomber]

OG and Mikal once more with the worst +/- on the team.

They have the worst net rating among rotation players in the playoffs - the only two in the red, and by a pretty wide margin.

We need more from them, period.

[Worst_to_First]

I hate fouling up 3. Uncharacteristic of Thibs, and a terrible decision in this context when we had some shaky shooters on the court.

We should've milked the clock more in the last 5 minutes.

We couldn't defend with Brunson on the court. They're getting anything they want. The size disadvantage is really noticeable against the Pacers.

Just a complete meltdown but to be fair Indiana made some incredible shots down the stretch. They're a formidable 3-point shooting team, but this was a once in 100 type of plot twist, yet one I feared was coming.

A waste of good scoring performances by KAT and Brunson.

Nice to see you here Chanel! The run we had with KAT in the fourth was very telling.

Your thread regarding the exaggeration of KAT as “THE defensive liability” of our team is a must read.

[ctorres]

This dude keeps writing the same ****.

It’s a demoralizing loss that gives the Pacers supreme confidence.

Has dude played a sport before?

We’re done. It’s over. Cooked. Call in the reinforcements. Pacers in 5.

It pains me. But I’ve watched and played ball for 25-30 years. There’s no coming back from this. An epic choke and failure. Get me Giannis.

Hey man, I haven't played ball for 25-30 years. I was a role player on my intramural fraternity teams. Was not good by any means. Had a few good games where I hit big shots. Almost hit a game winner in my biggest game that ended in a tie and did not go to overtime because overtime games in intramurals only happened during the playoffs.

Got blown out, lost close games, won a few games.

If Pacers win the series in 5, so be it. You'll have been right about everything. We have two different mindsets. I should have been more respectful of yours from the beginning and not called it out like I did. I apologize for having done so.

Been a devoted Knicks fan since '04. This is the first playoff run I've gotten to enjoy where it feels we have a legitimate shot at a championship with the roster that we have. Even the losses have been enjoyable to watch. Every game we have gotten has been meaningful and I'm not taking any of them for granted.

[The KnicksFix]

I moved to this country when I was a kid, spent time evicted when we couldn’t afford rent and slept in an aunt’s car from the ages of 8-10. The only thing I had that kept me going as a kid in the late 90s was stealing the newspaper from The corner store that left the NY daily news out on a rack everyday. I would thumb to the Knicks article written by Mike Lupica and savor over every detail in the article recapping the previous night’s game. When I learned what channel the Knicks were on in AM radio, my mom would let me tune to the game in the car we slept in. I would close my eyes and imagine the game in front of me. All from the radio. I’d see spree slashing. I’d see Houston with a silky smooth jumper. I’d see ward playing tough nosed defense. I’d see LJ hitting hit free throws with the patented pause at the top of his arc at the free throw line. I’d see Ewing working the post. I felt heartbreak then as a child.

I don’t feel it now. Im 36 this year. I feel confidence. I feel the will in this team to get better and bounce back from mistakes. I feel it. Being a Knick fan isn’t a fandom. Being a Knick fan isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s a religion. It’s a way of life. I still feel we win this series.