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

[TKKnicks1]

It would be nice if we can get a statement win like Minny last night. Blow these fools out by 30.

[god shammgod]

I don't think the lineup change will have much of an impact if the minutes distribution remains the same.

i'm not sure it will either. but you also don't need that much of an impact. these were close games. you just need to be a little better.

i also think this decision was being thought about for awhile. but because we were always up in series he figured why disrupt things. and i agree with that.

[Besart19]

we can do a comeback, folks

We can but Thibs, Hart, Mikal and KAT wont allow it

We threw two games

[god shammgod]

curious to see the defensive matchups. does he put mitch on pascal or try to hide kat on nembhard ? and on the other side, is pascal guarding kat now ?

[3toheadmelo]

Robinson, who missed the team's first 58 games following an ankle surgery last postseason, would bring greater defensive mobility in the paint and along the perimeter. The Knicks have struggled with the Pacers' pace and ability to force multiple rotations per possession, which has at times exposed Towns' footspeed.

The Knicks have managed to contest 52% of the Pacers' shot attempts with Robinson on the floor compared to 42% when Robinson is on the bench, according to ESPN Research.

[Chanel Bomber]

I don't think the lineup change will have much of an impact if the minutes distribution remains the same.

i'm not sure it will either. but you also don't need that much of an impact. these were close games. you just need to be a little better.

i also think this decision was being thought about for awhile. but because we were always up in series he figured why disrupt things. and i agree with that.

I agree the margins are slim, but I think the minutes distribution will tend to affect those margins more than who starts or who doesn't. Perhaps I'm wrong and the lineup change helps set a different tone that ends up making the difference. I guess we will see.

I also agree with the decision not to disrupt things when we were up in the other series. Obviously the situation we're in now is quite different.

[cgmw]

I don't think the lineup change will have much of an impact if the minutes distribution remains the same.

i'm not sure it will either. but you also don't need that much of an impact. these were close games. you just need to be a little better.

i also think this decision was being thought about for awhile. but because we were always up in series he figured why disrupt things. and i agree with that.

Rotations aside, to win 4 games we need full mental acuity from our top 4 guys sustained the entire game + limited mistakes and good energy from the other 4 rotation players. It’s only happened a handful of times all year. Brunson in particular seems bothered by the whistles with repeated questionable late-game decision making.

I’m not sure the rotations are going to make a lick of difference. We need focus and execution from our top 4. Period.

[god shammgod]

I don't think the lineup change will have much of an impact if the minutes distribution remains the same.

i'm not sure it will either. but you also don't need that much of an impact. these were close games. you just need to be a little better.

i also think this decision was being thought about for awhile. but because we were always up in series he figured why disrupt things. and i agree with that.

I agree the margins are slim, but I think the minutes distribution will tend to affect those margins more than who starts or who doesn't. Perhaps I'm wrong and the lineup change helps set a different tone that ends up making the difference. I guess we will see.

I also agree with the decision not to disrupt things when we were up in the other series. Obviously the situation we're in now is quite different.

it might be that because the pacers finally did the hack a mitch late in game 2 he figured there's another reason to do it

[god shammgod]

I don't think the lineup change will have much of an impact if the minutes distribution remains the same.

i'm not sure it will either. but you also don't need that much of an impact. these were close games. you just need to be a little better.

i also think this decision was being thought about for awhile. but because we were always up in series he figured why disrupt things. and i agree with that.

Rotations aside, to win 4 games we need full mental acuity from our top 4 guys + limited mistakes from the other 4 rotation players. It’s only happened a handful of times all year. Brunson in particular seems bothered by the whistles with repeated questionable late-game decision making.

I’m not sure the rotations are going to make a lick of difference. We need focus and execution from our top 4. Period.

yeah. there's something missing from this team this year. even while winning the boston series, their effort and focus would come and go. there's rumblings of guys not getting along that well so maybe it's just that.

[Iron Mantis]

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 let's 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.

I feel like matchups matter more than anything. In the Boston series they couldn’t exploit Towns in the way they thought they could bc Knicks would just switch instead of using drop coverage and Towns held his own in isolation. Against the Pacers they can exploit him better on switches bc their best player is a guard who is much quicker than Towns is.

I do want to speak in defense of towns tho. He had an excellent game 1 and he was good 95% of that game and while he made some defensive mishaps, that game was ultimately stolen from the Knicks. It’s unfair to paint this series as if he’s been a total negative when his impact game 1 99% of the time results in a win.

This.

Agree X10000

Matchups are everything in the playoffs and you have to be ready to quickly pivot and adapt to your opponent.

So vs this Pacers team...if their quickness is giving us trouble on defense...pivot....and if Josh is not helping to maximize the offense of the starting lineup, then we have to pivot quickly before it's too late. This series:

Game 1.....it took us 6 minutes into the 3rd quarter to score only 10 points.

Game 2...it took us 7 minutes into the 1st quarter to score only 10 points.

Game 2: it took us 7 minutes into the 3rd quarter to score only 10 points.

Then Deuce or Mitch comes in to play with some of the starters and we suddenly put up an additional 15-20 points in 5 minutes....

Against the Indy defense we should not be getting shut down from scoring for the first 7 minutes of the 1st and 3rd quarters.

A lineup change is needed to galvanize the offense from the jump.

[3toheadmelo]

KAT shouldn’t have been starting at the 5 since day 1 but yall wanted him there. It’s all your faults. lol.

[Fury]

curious to see the defensive matchups. does he put mitch on pascal or try to hide kat on nembhard ? and on the other side, is pascal guarding kat now ?

I was thinking KAT on Nembhard and don’t give him space. Let him drive and try to make plays.

[Chanel Bomber]

i'm not sure it will either. but you also don't need that much of an impact. these were close games. you just need to be a little better.

i also think this decision was being thought about for awhile. but because we were always up in series he figured why disrupt things. and i agree with that.

Rotations aside, to win 4 games we need full mental acuity from our top 4 guys + limited mistakes from the other 4 rotation players. It’s only happened a handful of times all year. Brunson in particular seems bothered by the whistles with repeated questionable late-game decision making.

I’m not sure the rotations are going to make a lick of difference. We need focus and execution from our top 4. Period.

yeah. there's something missing from this team this year. even while winning the boston series, their effort and focus would come and go. there's rumblings of guys not getting along that well so maybe it's just that.

There's definitely some tension in that locker room. I think we may all have theories but really we don't know too many specifics.

This series matchup reminds me of the closing of this scene:

Watch on YouTube

Pacers are the fist.

[Fury]

KAT shouldn’t have been starting at the 5 since day 1 but yall wanted him there. It’s all your faults. lol.

Could we at least see it with Deuce in the lineup? I think the Knicks have untapped scoring potential.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

KAT shouldn’t have been starting at the 5 since day 1 but yall wanted him there. It’s all your faults. lol.

Made it to the ECF with him starting, and most importantly, it has caused you anguish. I think the second part has been the highlight of the season

[whocares1]

I don't think the lineup change will have much of an impact if the minutes distribution remains the same.

It depends on how Thibs handles the first sub. If Hart comes in for Towns instead of Robinson it should limit the original starting 5 from playing together too much.

[spree2kawhi]

KAT shouldn’t have been starting at the 5 since day 1 but yall wanted him there. It’s all your faults. lol.

Made it to the ECF with him starting, and most importantly, it has caused you anguish. I think the second part has been the highlight of the season

Reaching the ECF will likely be sold as a L once the season is over. This isn’t about basketball. At least you get the impression every now and then.

[MrDollarBills]

KAT shouldn’t have been starting at the 5 since day 1 but yall wanted him there. It’s all your faults. lol.

Yeah but the options were either Karl at the 5 or play Sims or Hukporti next to him.

[3toheadmelo]

KAT shouldn’t have been starting at the 5 since day 1 but yall wanted him there. It’s all your faults. lol.

Could we at least see it with Deuce in the lineup? I think the Knicks have untapped scoring potential.

Imo I think our defense is a bigger problem than offense. And for what it’s worth, I believe the metrics say we’re even better offensively with Mitch on the court than with just KAT.

I also really like hart as a 6th man. Thats the Josh hart who we fell in love with.

[The KnicksFix]

I don't think the lineup change will have much of an impact if the minutes distribution remains the same.

It depends on how Thibs handles the first sub. If Hart comes in for Towns instead of Robinson it should limit the original starting 5 from playing together too much.

I was thinking the first sub off the bench should be Deuce for Kat
Meaning you get the lineup that’s been +39 all playoffs with
Deuce Brunson OG Mikal Mitch

That should add to a lead that should already be there with Mitch already in
Let Hart come in once Mikal or OG is ready to sit