PG: Saved By The KAT

[H_20]

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Damn, I wanted to see Thibs dancing in like in those AI videos!

Love the random get the fck out here

[Garbagelo]

We outputting 30+ in a quarter with KAT and 4 defense first players

If this isn't a revelation for Thibs then he needs to be gone

[KnixinSix]

Here is the cold hard truth about the Pacers:

Their defense is terrible and you can put anyone in the game and get offensive production vs them because they have poor defensive principles.

Their offense also tends to go cold for no reason, usually because Hali tends to go into fetal position several times a game. During these periods, you need to capitalize.

You need to play your bench because it's not a matter of if but when they produce. If you can rest your starters and have them come back with energy to finish the game, they have a better chance to close it out against the Pacers eventual comeback attempts.

TJ is a very good player but he runs out of gas quick and then becomes a major liability out there. You need to full court press this guy to finish him off quickly. Bring in Wright or Deuce when he comes in and shadow him every second he is out there with physicality.

Siakam has a tendency for hero ball and sometimes he performs well enough to carry the game. In some ways he kinda plays like Randle. Thibs had Randle for years, by now he should know how to get into these player's heads. Late doubles tend to screw this guy up.

When Turner is not in the game, you should simply penetrate 90% of the time, they are too soft to stop drives and play terrible help defense.

If Thibs doesnt get out of his stubborn ways and goes back to mismanagement of game 1 and 2 its over.

Well said. I wouldnt take it quite as far as absolutely any lineup but.... but most lineup combinations should score semi-well especially if they are converting defense to offense.

[HerSports85]

Oh they’re scared

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[The KnicksFix]

Deuce is a +25 in the conference finals
Mikal is a -20
Why isn’t deuce closing games ??

[Chanel Bomber]

KAT's a flawed player, everybody knows that.

But he's an All-Star and All-NBA, and the impact metrics generally like him. This doesn't just happen for no reason.

His defensive impact oscillates between neutral and really bad depending on the scheme, the opposition and his mental focus. He can absolutely get exploited. But he's an elite offensive player who opens up the entire offense by his mere presence and who also dominates on the defensive glass.

His positives are just completely taken for granted by some, as if they didn't matter in the equation.

Bigs who can give you an efficient 21 points (on 60% TS) and 11 rebounds in the postseason don't exactly grow on trees.

The only other players in the last 10 years to average 21ppg or more, 11rpg or more, with a TS of 59% or higher in the postseason (min. 10 games played) are Jokic, Giannis, AD and LeBron.

This is not to say that KAT is these guys or prime Dirk Nowitzki but how about we appreciate this level of production? We can still acklowledge his limitations. But this combination of offense and rebounding is extremely rare.

[KnixinSix]

Stephen A: Tom Thibadeau wouldn't wanna play 9 players in a baseball game lolol

Please do it again Thibs....
Go against every fiber in you carnal being!!!

[KnixinSix]

KAT's a flawed player, everybody knows that.

But he's an All-Star and All-NBA, and the impact metrics generally like him. This doesn't just happen for no reason.

His defensive impact oscillates between neutral and really bad depending on the scheme, the opposition and his mental focus. But he's an elite offensive player who opens up the entire offense by his mere presence and who also dominates on the defensive glass.

His positives are just completely taken for granted by some, as if they didn't matter in the equation.

Bigs who can give you an efficient 21 points (on 60% TS) and 11 rebounds in the postseason don't exactly grow on trees.

The only other players in the last 10 years to average 21ppg or more, 11rpg or more, with a TS of 59% or higher in the postseason (min. 10 games played) are Jokic, Giannis, AD and LeBron.

This is not to say that KAT is these guys or prime Dirk Nowitzki but how about we appreciate this level of production? We can still acklowledge his limitations. But this combination of offense and rebounding is extremely rare.

The reason people are killing him is more Thibs fault than anyone else.

The way Thibs has been utilizing him in the postseason vs elite scoring/passing teams (Celts/Pacers) has exposed/maximized his weaknesses rather than partially cover or minimize them.

Playing him with Mitch helps but never play Brun and KAT together ....not in this matchup. You cant cover up two defensive liabilties vs this type of team. It took him 2 games to realize this.

[FrozenEnvelope]

Wanted to see how y'all reacted down 20 in the game thread and it did not disappoint.

Shout out to dakomish23! He and like 2 others were the only ones who kept faith and hope when we got down 20!

The rest of you are an embarrassment! I really hope none of you have high stressful jobs or lives. You cave in and give up so easily even though this team has proven it's never really over!

[Chanel Bomber]

KAT's a flawed player, everybody knows that.

But he's an All-Star and All-NBA, and the impact metrics generally like him. This doesn't just happen for no reason.

His defensive impact oscillates between neutral and really bad depending on the scheme, the opposition and his mental focus. But he's an elite offensive player who opens up the entire offense by his mere presence and who also dominates on the defensive glass.

His positives are just completely taken for granted by some, as if they didn't matter in the equation.

Bigs who can give you an efficient 21 points (on 60% TS) and 11 rebounds in the postseason don't exactly grow on trees.

The only other players in the last 10 years to average 21ppg or more, 11rpg or more, with a TS of 59% or higher in the postseason (min. 10 games played) are Jokic, Giannis, AD and LeBron.

This is not to say that KAT is these guys or prime Dirk Nowitzki but how about we appreciate this level of production? We can still acklowledge his limitations. But this combination of offense and rebounding is extremely rare.

The reason people are killing him is more Thibs fault than anyone else.

The way Thibs has been utilizing him in the postseason vs elite scoring/passing teams (Celts/Pacers) has exposed/maximized his weaknesses rather than partially cover or minimize them.

Playing him with Mitch helps but never play Brun and KAT together ....not in this matchup. You cant cover up two defensive liabilties vs this type of team. It took him 2 games to realize this.

Unless they play 24 minutes each, their minutes will inevitably overlap.

If one of them plays 36 minutes, as they should, this leaves only 12 minutes for the other. It's not realistic.

But there should be at least one of them on the court at all times. This helps reduce the overlap.

I think they can manage to play together in this matchup with lineups that help mitigate their weaknesses and/or leverage their strengths.

In the end, they'll need to figure it out because we'll need both of them to win this series.

[MrDollarBills]

Oh they’re scared

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Rick would whup John's ass if he even tried it

[KnixinSix]

KAT's a flawed player, everybody knows that.

But he's an All-Star and All-NBA, and the impact metrics generally like him. This doesn't just happen for no reason.

His defensive impact oscillates between neutral and really bad depending on the scheme, the opposition and his mental focus. But he's an elite offensive player who opens up the entire offense by his mere presence and who also dominates on the defensive glass.

His positives are just completely taken for granted by some, as if they didn't matter in the equation.

Bigs who can give you an efficient 21 points (on 60% TS) and 11 rebounds in the postseason don't exactly grow on trees.

The only other players in the last 10 years to average 21ppg or more, 11rpg or more, with a TS of 59% or higher in the postseason (min. 10 games played) are Jokic, Giannis, AD and LeBron.

This is not to say that KAT is these guys or prime Dirk Nowitzki but how about we appreciate this level of production? We can still acklowledge his limitations. But this combination of offense and rebounding is extremely rare.

The reason people are killing him is more Thibs fault than anyone else.

The way Thibs has been utilizing him in the postseason vs elite scoring/passing teams (Celts/Pacers) has exposed/maximized his weaknesses rather than partially cover or minimize them.

Playing him with Mitch helps but never play Brun and KAT together ....not in this matchup. You cant cover up two defensive liabilties vs this type of team. It took him 2 games to realize this.

Unless they play 24 minutes each, their minutes will inevitably overlap.

If one of them plays 36 minutes, as they should, this leaves only 12 minutes for the other. It's not realistic.

But there should be at least one of them on the court at all times. This helps reduce the overlap.

I think they can manage to play together in this matchup with lineups that help mitigate their weaknesses and/or leverage their strengths.

In the end, they'll need to figure it out because we'll need both of them to win this series.

Absolutely agreed. It's inevitable. They will need some minutes together. But if you play those minutes with Mitch on the court, you will never have Brunson and Kat on the floor together without Mitch being the optimal defensive stabilizer.

I believe the Mitch,KAT, Brunson lineup outscored Pacers 13-10 prior to the first subouts...our best start in the series

[MrDollarBills]

Read on Twitter

RESTED!

Josh is now in his proper role.

Shout out to Josh for being a team first guy as well.

[MrDollarBills]

Here is the cold hard truth about the Pacers:

Their defense is terrible and you can put anyone in the game and get offensive production vs them because they have poor defensive principles.

Their offense also tends to go cold for no reason, usually because Hali tends to go into fetal position several times a game. During these periods, you need to capitalize.

You need to play your bench because it's not a matter of if but when they produce. If you can rest your starters and have them come back with energy to finish the game, they have a better chance to close it out against the Pacers eventual comeback attempts.

TJ is a very good player but he runs out of gas quick and then becomes a major liability out there. You need to full court press this guy to finish him off quickly. Bring in Wright or Deuce when he comes in and shadow him every second he is out there with physicality.

Siakam has a tendency for hero ball and sometimes he performs well enough to carry the game. In some ways he kinda plays like Randle. Thibs had Randle for years, by now he should know how to get into these player's heads. Late doubles tend to screw this guy up.

When Turner is not in the game, you should simply penetrate 90% of the time, they are too soft to stop drives and play terrible help defense.

If Thibs doesnt get out of his stubborn ways and goes back to mismanagement of game 1 and 2 its over.

If Thibs hits the reset button, which he has done before during this playoffs, I dunno what else to say.

Josh needs to be our super 6th man.

Deuce, Wright, and Shamet need to play.

Stagger Karl and JB's minutes.

We should be up 2-1 on these clowns. No more excuses. The formula is there.

[K_ick_God]

Pacers have won one game this series legitimately and it was a one possession game with our miss at the buzzer

So just got to keep the defensive pressure up and move the ball

[F N 11]

How do the knicks keep coming back by 20pts???

There’s no giving up and that’s something to admire from this team. Just when you think they’re out of it, they make these nice runs like it’s meant to happen. This series took a 20 degree turn on the Knicks favor and next game will show what we are made of.

Hart and KAT came big when it counted along with Thibs giving Wright, and Shamet the nod. He’s fighting to get wins and he matched up well versus Carlisle substitutions.

Playing real defense

[F N 11]

Anyone watching the replay right now?

After watching it the comeback started end of 2nd quarter. Much love Knicks lost early and stepped up late. This can carry over.

[Enzo954]

Thibs should be throwing our best defensive line ups on the floor while scattering Towns and Brunsons minutes in those line ups.

[K_ick_God]

We outputting 30+ in a quarter with KAT and 4 defense first players

If this isn't a revelation for Thibs then he needs to be gone

Yeah if they are behind go back to 4 quick defensive guys and KAT

[F N 11]

I thought Shamet gave us good energy off the bench

Entire bench refused to get killed on screens caused multiple offensive fouls and momentum. They are getting a lot of deserved props.