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

[HEZI]

A statement win would be great but at this point just get a win any way possible

[Deeeez Knicks]

It’s tough to say exactly where the issue is with the starting lineup exactly as we can point to multiple things. Just a shame we never experimented more. Like with Elf…..it was obviously an issue. By the time we changed it was too late.

Not about starting your best players at the same time, need to find the best fits.

[Chanel Bomber]

And it has to be all about KAT because?

Everybody knows the starting lineup isn't working. The notion this is about a single issue is a caricature.

The defense is a problem, but so is our offense. It has also been hugely disappointing considering we have both Brunson and KAT. And this falls on the players around them, because those two alone provide elite shot creation, elite floor spacing, and efficient scoring.

It's just as much of a reality that OG, Mikal and to a lesser Hart have completely underperformed offensively relative to expectations.

OG and Mikal are scoring on RJ levels of efficiency, while providing nada in other areas (offensive rebounding and playmaking). Tell me with a straight face having two RJs on offense hasn't been a major issue as well.

What is this Pacers fan talking about?

Gp easy on chanel - he so busy defeflecting blame off kat these days he doesn't have time to even watch the games.

The responsibility for our shortcomings falls on a lot of different shoulders, including KAT but also RG, Mikal, and Thibs. You're the ones turning a complex issue into a single-issue narrative. It's not any different than the Thibs or Randle bashers.

[3toheadmelo]

I get this sense that OG doesnt really fw some of the players.

maybe just me lol

Can we blame him?

Who likes working with a coworker that make their job more difficult

Poor OG probably has a torn hamstring since he’s been trying to defend 3 players at a time since KATgnani is so incompetent

[Fury]

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 who sets the starting lineup?

[Context]

I get this sense that OG doesnt really fw some of the players.

maybe just me lol

Can we blame him?

Who likes working with a coworker that make their job more difficult

this was my point earlier. We cant see everything in the game. Yes we watch it but OG clearly is tired of Kat's nonsense on defense. And my thing with OG is you can tell he doesn't look for trouble.

[The KnicksFix]

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!!!!"

Taking constructive criticism and blowing it out of proportion. Then condemning those of us who try to hold the highest paid player accountable.

We actually want kat to be his best self instead of enabling him.

Get help while you still can

Guan’ I was referring to Janquinn who I’ve never seen posted who said

Big mistake to change the lineup. Towns is a center, give him the damn ball in the post. Brunson is shooting to much, get your teammates involved earlier in the shot clock.

As this post made no sense to me since Kat is not a traditional big and more of a guard in a 4’s body. Don’t know why. It grinded my gears in the early morning hours lmao

[Chanel Bomber]

I get this sense that OG doesnt really fw some of the players.

maybe just me lol

Can we blame him?

Who likes working with a coworker that make their job more difficult

Watch on YouTube

Right

[The KnicksFix]

Big mistake to change the lineup. Towns is a center, give him the damn ball in the post. Brunson is shooting to much, get your teammates involved earlier in the shot clock.

Stop it
Get help while you still can

Thanks for the laugh early this Sunday.

Whoever janquinn was made me damn near throw my phone with that post

[god shammgod]

when you decide to start mitch, what you're saying is kat's defense at the 5 is a problem. because they could have gone another way and started duece. is it the only problem ? no. but it's the problem they decided was most important to try to solve. which is coincidentally the same problem the timberwolves felt they had and they tried to solve it in the same exact way. but you're right, me and melo are just being dicks about this. lol

[Guano]

What is this Pacers fan talking about?

Gp easy on chanel - he so busy defeflecting blame off kat these days he doesn't have time to even watch the games.

The responsibility for our shortcomings falls on a lot of different shoulders, including KAT but also RG, Mikal, and Thibs. You're the ones turning a complex issue into a single-issue narrative. It's not any different than the Thibs or Randle bashers.

Oh, don't get it twisted, its not just kat's defense that's an issue. His stupid fouls, constant complaining, foul baiting that results in poor shots, weak screens... I could go on but the point is made. Its not a single issue with him.

[The KnicksFix]

It’s tough to say exactly where the issue is with the starting lineup exactly as we can point to multiple things. Just a shame we never experimented more. Like with Elf…..it was obviously an issue. By the time we changed it was too late.

Not about starting your best players at the same time, need to find the best fits.

Everyone on the board knew that Derrick Rose should have been starting point guard in that Atlanta series, but the stupid oaf didn’t make the change from elf to rose until 2 1/2 games into the series. By then it was too late.

[Guano]

I get this sense that OG doesnt really fw some of the players.

maybe just me lol

Can we blame him?

Who likes working with a coworker that make their job more difficult

Watch on YouTube

Right

Want me to link the gif of og pushing kat to a close out?

Or im sure it wouldn't take me too long to find a highlight video of kats defense.

[The KnicksFix]

when you decide to start mitch, what you're saying is kat's defense at the 5 is a problem. because they could have gone another way and started duece. is it the only problem ? no. but it's the problem they decided was most important to try to solve. which is coincidentally the same problem the timberwolves felt they had and they tried to solve it in the same exact way. but you're right, me and melo are just being dicks about this. lol

I agree Sham, He def needs a starting five defensive big next to him at all times. UNLESS he plays against bench units. During those stretches, he’s able to exploit the back up centers. However, if you play him against opposing starting units, KAT needs to be at the four with a defensive minded center behind him. I’ve been screaming for this since Mitch returned. We could’ve ramped up mitch’s minutes, and started Mitch at the five at the end of March.

[WaltFrazier]

It’s tough to say exactly where the issue is with the starting lineup exactly as we can point to multiple things. Just a shame we never experimented more. Like with Elf…..it was obviously an issue. By the time we changed it was too late.

Not about starting your best players at the same time, need to find the best fits.

Yeah that's the thing, Thibs never experiments with combinations. Never changes sub patterns. Only uses bench guys when injuries make it absolutely necessary. Maybe Precious and Delon Wright could be helping in spots here but he never tries them along the way so now he's reluctant

[Chanel Bomber]

when you decide to start mitch, what you're saying is kat's defense at the 5 is a problem. because they could have gone another way and started duece. is it the only problem ? no. but it's the problem they decided was most important to try to solve. which is coincidentally the same problem the timberwolves felt they had and they tried to solve it in the same exact way. but you're right, me and melo are just being dicks about this. lol

Mitch will help with the defense. It was always a reasonable argument that we needed more defense to offset KAT's weaknesses (in addition to Brunson's).

The offense has also been a big issue. Several players have been underperforming on that end of the court.

The being dicks about it (not a point I've made) is just how you focus on a single player, as if it were the only issue. Sure looks like scapegoating. Nobody's gonna mistake you guys for being KAT fans, so no need to worry.

[Fury]

when you decide to start mitch, what you're saying is kat's defense at the 5 is a problem. because they could have gone another way and started duece. is it the only problem ? no. but it's the problem they decided was most important to try to solve. which is coincidentally the same problem the timberwolves felt they had and they tried to solve it in the same exact way. but you're right, me and melo are just being dicks about this. lol

Hold up. You’re talking about a guy who decided to start Mitch in the 3rd round of the playoffs after evidence that the lineup hasn’t been working since January. And you think, that a guy who took that long, finally gives in, is also making the smartest decision possible? Maybe he’s just making the best decision possible that falls in line with his traditional philosophy? Maybe we’ve seen proof that he doesn’t know how to run a 5 out offense.

And the damn T’Wolves point doesn’t make sense when the coach of this team hasn’t won a title either. He even got fired by the T’Wolves!

[Chanel Bomber]

Can we blame him?

Who likes working with a coworker that make their job more difficult

Watch on YouTube

Right

Want me to link the of og pushing kat to a close out?

Or im sure it wouldn't take me too long to find a highlight video of kats defense.

Or how OG fell asleep on the Nesmith 3 with 30 seconds left in game 1?

This can go on and on.

Both are overpaid, flawed players, who are playing below their pay grade.

The advanced stats just prefer one over the other, and this gives me some confidence in the idea that it's not just KAT's fault.

[Context]

Gp easy on chanel - he so busy defeflecting blame off kat these days he doesn't have time to even watch the games.

The responsibility for our shortcomings falls on a lot of different shoulders, including KAT but also RG, Mikal, and Thibs. You're the ones turning a complex issue into a single-issue narrative. It's not any different than the Thibs or Randle bashers.

Oh, don't get it twisted, its not just kat's defense that's an issue. His stupid fouls, constant complaining, foul baiting that results in poor shots, weak screens... I could go on but the point is made. Its not a single issue with him.

bro...you really gonna make us look at Halifraud every time we see your name? did i do something to you to deserve that?

[3toheadmelo]

when you decide to start mitch, what you're saying is kat's defense at the 5 is a problem. because they could have gone another way and started duece. is it the only problem ? no. but it's the problem they decided was most important to try to solve. which is coincidentally the same problem the timberwolves felt they had and they tried to solve it in the same exact way. but you're right, me and melo are just being dicks about this. lol

Feels like people live in alternate realities here