ECF Playoff Game Thread: Knicks @ Pacers, Game 3, May 25th 8pm

[god shammgod]

Get help while you can is crazy lol

[TheGreenArrow]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

[Gravy]

The problem with making a change like this now is everyone has to learn how to play a different way with new teammates and rotations and offensive sets. We also don't know if Mitch can be a full time starter again.

I doubt Mitch will be full time 48 min Thibs starter; his minutes will probably not greatly increase. But it's not forever he'd be a full time starter- at most (if we get lucky) it will be a 12 game season left.

Watching all the shows EVERYONE gets what the board gets are problems-- EXCEPT Thibs. So we'll see what happens there. We get swept by the Pacers, they probably give Thibs one more season unless they make him a deal he can't refuse to retire.

And the players will be on edge because if we get swept, especially if there are any blowouts on the way, I doubt the exact same core roster comes back intact for '26. Now if I'm making 25M to 50M a year, maybe that's not a fear. But to a player's ego, not his bank account, maybe it it.

Thibs knows all the problems with the starting lineup, there just are not any good solutions to them. Mitch was injured most of the season, Deuce has been terrible, Payne is unplayable, Shamet sucks. All that's left for fans is for Delon and the kids to save them.

[H_20]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

Well we got the extender tonight

[matchman]

If we want any ounce of chance for a comeback (or like KAT saying they are here to make a history), the time is now.

Throw the kitchen sink.
Change whatever lineup.
Unleash the secret weapon.
Or use a wizard to will them to miss 40 3s, whatever we need to win.

Let's go Knicks!

[TKKnicks1]

Thibs has stated multiple times he loves the double big lineup but hardly gave it an adequate trial run after Mitch came back. We only saw it in glimpses during this postseason as well but the numbers don't lie. Our net rating is off the charts. Thibs is like a damn tube light. Takes his brain a while to turn on and get going.

Mikal should be coming off the bench too and Deuce should be starting. Sub out Mikal at the 6 minute mark.

[R-DAWG]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

Well we got the extender tonight

Thibs going to play 8 guys tonight

Adding The Extender to the rotation

[LFGK]

Knicks win tonight, we gain some steam going into game 3, stupid as it sounds down 2-0, game 3 winner can determine the winner

[Reign23]

Let me get this right. KAT at the 5 got us the best record we've seen in decades. We dethroned the NBA champs. Got to the ECF for the first time in decades...and he's consistently been a net positive this season, and had the best All Star, All-NBA season of his career.

But because the Pacers pulled off a miracle in game 1, and we lost a very close game 2... somehow haters are high-fiving each other saying "I told you so" that KAT can't play the 5 and must be traded for the Knicks to compete??? Sad to see fans of other teams on our board actively rooting against our Knicks.

Anyway...For starters, Thibs has to try putting Deuce or Mitch in the starting lineup and let Josh be energy bench guy he's supposed to be. Deuce lets the Knicks play true 5 out with much tighter perimeter defense....while Mitch adds vertical spacing, all-around elite defense, and rebounding.

Fix the player combinations to put everyone in the best position to succeed, and take it from there.

yeah, this is really getting out of hand.
-preseason "can't win with Towns at the 5"
-51 wins
-win 2 series for the first time in forever
-down 0-2 "SEE!!!!! TOLD YOU!!!!"

[Reign23]

While it really sucks to be in this position, down 2 and on the road for game 3, its somewhat nice to be free of the anxiety of these games. We'll be able to watch this game fairly freely tonight. There isn't any pressure cause expectations have been nuked.

I'll still be here rooting and talkin sht about Hali. But im not dying on every possession.

Still, lets get this fcking W.

[Red Vines]

If Deuce and Hart come off the bench have the 2nd unit pressure the ball, increase the defensive intensity, don't let them relax with JB out.

[LFGK]

The real problem has been not taking advantage when that scrub Haliburton is on the bench, bumass mcconnell going off in those minutes, this comeback will start with defense we need Deuce heavy in the second half and KAT must play more next to Mitch it's our best shot

[Fury]

tell that to thibs. Almost everyone in this board wants Mitch to play starting C (kat as pf) but the org doesnt listen!

It took this board 7 months to realize KAT isn't a 5. Me and sham has been saying it since the trade was made that he needs to be paired with another defensive center but yall said no and kept talking about this magical 5 out offense that's supposed to outweigh his terrible defense. It never happened, like we predicted. So if anything, the organization did what you guys wanted.. and it didn't work as usual

That’s kind of misleading. KAT was never used as a stretch 5 in a 5 out offense. Nor was he used much as a screener for Brunson. Both things can be true that Towns shouldn’t spend a majority of minutes at the 5 but yet he still can be valuable there if he’s used right.

And the team success point is a joke, without context and hypocritical. Kevin Durant hasn’t won Jack **** without a super squad and yet people want him here. Donovan Mitchell hasn’t won **** and didn’t even get out of the 2nd round this year but “we should’ve traded for him.” The Timberwolves are suddenly the Spurs with their organizational moves? Give me a break. They can’t afford to keep everyone which is why they traded him for a guy with 1 year left after this year.

There’s a way you can maximize Towns and the Knicks haven’t done it yet. Can we see that before the “I told you sos?”

[LFGK]

It took this board 7 months to realize KAT isn't a 5. Me and sham has been saying it since the trade was made that he needs to be paired with another defensive center but yall said no and kept talking about this magical 5 out offense that's supposed to outweigh his terrible defense. It never happened, like we predicted. So if anything, the organization did what you guys wanted.. and it didn't work as usual

That’s kind of misleading. KAT was never used as a stretch 5 in a 5 out offense. Nor was he used much as a screener for Brunson. Both things can be true that Towns shouldn’t spend a majority of minutes at the 5 but yet he still can be valuable there if he’s used right.

And the team success point is a joke, without context and hypocritical. Kevin Durant hasn’t won Jack **** without a super squad and yet people want him here. Donovan Mitchell hasn’t won **** and didn’t even get out of the 2nd round this year but “we should’ve traded for him.” The Timberwolves are suddenly the Spurs with their organizational moves? Give me a break. They can’t afford to keep everyone which is why they traded him for a guy with 1 year left after this year.

There’s a way you can maximize Towns and the Knicks haven’t done it yet. Can we see that before the “I told you sos?”

KAT and the squad will bounce back these next 2 games, ppl just get emotional after tough games. KAT is good, really good but needs Mitch next to him...tonight's start to the game should be interesting, Pacers will get a different look, let's see.

[TheGreenArrow]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

If Jhart honestly believes he’s a starter going forward his days as a knick are numbered!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[god shammgod]

Let me get this right. KAT at the 5 got us the best record we've seen in decades. We dethroned the NBA champs. Got to the ECF for the first time in decades...and he's consistently been a net positive this season, and had the best All Star, All-NBA season of his career.

But because the Pacers pulled off a miracle in game 1, and we lost a very close game 2... somehow haters are high-fiving each other saying "I told you so" that KAT can't play the 5 and must be traded for the Knicks to compete??? Sad to see fans of other teams on our board actively rooting against our Knicks.

Anyway...For starters, Thibs has to try putting Deuce or Mitch in the starting lineup and let Josh be energy bench guy he's supposed to be. Deuce lets the Knicks play true 5 out with much tighter perimeter defense....while Mitch adds vertical spacing, all-around elite defense, and rebounding.

Fix the player combinations to put everyone in the best position to succeed, and take it from there.

yeah, this is really getting out of hand.
-preseason "can't win with Towns at the 5"
-51 wins
-win 2 series for the first time in forever
-down 0-2 "SEE!!!!! TOLD YOU!!!!"

The starting lineup has a negative net rating since December and it continued into the playoffs. We couldn’t beat any good teams all year and our defense was terrible and y’all are still in here like nuh uh. It’s a joke.

[3toheadmelo]

Let me get this right. KAT at the 5 got us the best record we've seen in decades. We dethroned the NBA champs. Got to the ECF for the first time in decades...and he's consistently been a net positive this season, and had the best All Star, All-NBA season of his career.

But because the Pacers pulled off a miracle in game 1, and we lost a very close game 2... somehow haters are high-fiving each other saying "I told you so" that KAT can't play the 5 and must be traded for the Knicks to compete??? Sad to see fans of other teams on our board actively rooting against our Knicks.

Anyway...For starters, Thibs has to try putting Deuce or Mitch in the starting lineup and let Josh be energy bench guy he's supposed to be. Deuce lets the Knicks play true 5 out with much tighter perimeter defense....while Mitch adds vertical spacing, all-around elite defense, and rebounding.

Fix the player combinations to put everyone in the best position to succeed, and take it from there.

yeah, this is really getting out of hand.
-preseason "can't win with Towns at the 5"
-51 wins
-win 2 series for the first time in forever
-down 0-2 "SEE!!!!! TOLD YOU!!!!"

The starting lineup has a negative net rating since December and it continued into the playoffs. We couldn’t beat any good teams all year and our defense was terrible and y’all are still in here like nuh uh. It’s a joke.

Lmao they can never admit when they were wrong. Pathetic.

[Deeeez Knicks]

KAT should play minutes at C but just depends more on situation and lineups. Start big, go small off the bench. Answer is still KAT needs to play both PF and C. Just mix the lineups right depending on situation and matchups

[Reign23]

Let me get this right. KAT at the 5 got us the best record we've seen in decades. We dethroned the NBA champs. Got to the ECF for the first time in decades...and he's consistently been a net positive this season, and had the best All Star, All-NBA season of his career.

But because the Pacers pulled off a miracle in game 1, and we lost a very close game 2... somehow haters are high-fiving each other saying "I told you so" that KAT can't play the 5 and must be traded for the Knicks to compete??? Sad to see fans of other teams on our board actively rooting against our Knicks.

Anyway...For starters, Thibs has to try putting Deuce or Mitch in the starting lineup and let Josh be energy bench guy he's supposed to be. Deuce lets the Knicks play true 5 out with much tighter perimeter defense....while Mitch adds vertical spacing, all-around elite defense, and rebounding.

Fix the player combinations to put everyone in the best position to succeed, and take it from there.

yeah, this is really getting out of hand.
-preseason "can't win with Towns at the 5"
-51 wins
-win 2 series for the first time in forever
-down 0-2 "SEE!!!!! TOLD YOU!!!!"

The starting lineup has a negative net rating since December and it continued into the playoffs. We couldn’t beat any good teams all year and our defense was terrible and y’all are still in here like nuh uh. It’s a joke.

And thats completely KATs fault right? ok.

[Reign23]

yeah, this is really getting out of hand.
-preseason "can't win with Towns at the 5"
-51 wins
-win 2 series for the first time in forever
-down 0-2 "SEE!!!!! TOLD YOU!!!!"

The starting lineup has a negative net rating since December and it continued into the playoffs. We couldn’t beat any good teams all year and our defense was terrible and y’all are still in here like nuh uh. It’s a joke.

Lmao they can never admit when they were wrong. Pathetic.

stop provoking everytime man...