NBA Games Discussion Thread - Part 6

[DukeLecker]

Huge Ewing theory with Brunson sitting in game 3. Knicks down 20 then he goes out with four fouls. Out most of the 2nd half, knicks win and KAT leads the way. Pacers learn don’t let Brunson get in foul trouble.

[thebigE]

This is the best series. Two teams so evenly matched.

The Knicks backs remain against the wall. I’d be shocked if the Pacers don’t go up 3-1 at home in game 4.
Carlisle is too good a coach to let this opportunity pass by.

[closg00]

Gentleman’s sweep?

[payitforward]

What a great game last night....!

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

You think Julius was the reason they won today, OR was it the increased intensity of defense and less lazy passing which didn't lead to fastbreak points for OKC.... Julius definitely played better, but Minny go the way Ant pulls them, and he was much more aggressive today, which set the tone.... He has to out play Shai or this series is hopeless...... Hopefully this game woke Minny up to how they need to carry it the rest of the series.....

My point is with the ancillary pieces a player like Julius can be a viable contributor on a winning team.

Of course, Ant leads them. Rudy anchors them.

Derik Queen wouldn't be the anchor who sinks the Wizards.

Sorry, but we need to pump the brakes on this Queen = Randle idea. Randle has played well in the playoffs because he has proven to be a solid defender at the PF position, even guarding Lebron in isolation with success. Randle was able to do this because he is actually a very good athlete and was always a very good athlete, even as a draft prospect. Queen is nowhere near the athlete that Randle was, it's not even close. Here are Randle's combine numbers compared to Queen's. Note that they are the same weight.



Randle is a full second faster in lane agility and jumps 7.5 inches higher!

Queen absolutely cannot play PF. He will get destroyed on defense. Guys will blow past him like he is standing still. He has to play center, and then we are talking about a 6'-9" center with a mediocre wingspan who can't jump. He would be a much shorter and probably slower Jokic on defense. (Jokic is 6'-11 with a 7'-3" wingspan.)

You speak in absolutes. I envision him with Sarr. Defensive matchups go both ways.

Which PFs will guard Queen or Sarr?

[nate33]

My point is with the ancillary pieces a player like Julius can be a viable contributor on a winning team.

Of course, Ant leads them. Rudy anchors them.

Derik Queen wouldn't be the anchor who sinks the Wizards.

Sorry, but we need to pump the brakes on this Queen = Randle idea. Randle has played well in the playoffs because he has proven to be a solid defender at the PF position, even guarding Lebron in isolation with success. Randle was able to do this because he is actually a very good athlete and was always a very good athlete, even as a draft prospect. Queen is nowhere near the athlete that Randle was, it's not even close. Here are Randle's combine numbers compared to Queen's. Note that they are the same weight.



Randle is a full second faster in lane agility and jumps 7.5 inches higher!

Queen absolutely cannot play PF. He will get destroyed on defense. Guys will blow past him like he is standing still. He has to play center, and then we are talking about a 6'-9" center with a mediocre wingspan who can't jump. He would be a much shorter and probably slower Jokic on defense. (Jokic is 6'-11 with a 7'-3" wingspan.)

You speak in absolutes. I envision him with Sarr. Defensive matchups go both ways.

Which PFs will guard Queen or Sarr?

Centers will guard Queen. PF's will guard Sarr. I don't think either guy will be able to exploit any offensive advantage nearly well enough to make up for the disastrous defensive disadvantage Queen will face on every possession.

We've seen this movie before with Thomas Bryant. Bryant was an excellent, highly efficient offensive player who put up great numbers. The guy was averaging 19 points and 11 boards on an unbelievable .679 TS% with virtually no turnovers, but the Wizards couldn't win with him. Now, Indy can't even play him in a playoff game.

Defense is just too critical for a center. Teams are dead in the water if their center can neither switch nor protect the rim. It's a tough thing to get people to understand. It's easy to see the positive effect of guys that put the ball in the bucket; but it's much harder to properly account for negative effect when a guy fails to make a defensive play that a better defender can make, or when a team must utilize a less effective defensive scheme because they have a player who is incapable of holding up his responsibility in a more effective defensive scheme.

[Zonkerbl]

Randle, the guy who only remembers he can play basketball during the playoffs? What a frustrating guy to have on your roster.

[9 and 20]

Halliburton with nearly 20-10-10. At halftime.

Shaping up to be another classic.

[Zonkerbl]

Nesmith is a secret defensive weapon. He shut down Donovan Mitchell

[doclinkin]

Suffice to say I don’t think anyone is calling Halliburton overrated anymore.

[9 and 20]

Towns kinda looks like Will Smith which makes him more unlikable. Love the rest of the Knicks guys tho.

[closg00]

The journey ends for the Knicks

[Rafael122]

If Brunson didn't have his Godfather running the team and if his dad wasn't a coach, he would be the first guy I'd look to trade. His value will never be higher and he has a great contract. He's undersized and he can't play defense. The guy is a magician on offense but he's not a championship player.

Hart/Bridges/OG - all inconsistent offensively, and if I had to trade one it would be Bridges. I'd try and recoup the picks I traded, and he's due for an extension which makes this team even more expensive. Hart would be the other guy I would trade.

[montestewart]

If Brunson didn't have his Godfather running the team and if his dad wasn't a coach, he would be the first guy I'd look to trade. His value will never be higher and he has a great contract. He's undersized and he can't play defense. The guy is a magician on offense but he's not a championship player.

Hart/Bridges/OG - all inconsistent offensively, and if I had to trade one it would be Bridges. I'd try and recoup the picks I traded, and he's due for an extension which makes this team even more expensive. Hart would be the other guy I would trade.

Not sure Towns is championship caliber either, a little hot and cold. Apply for a Knicks front office job. Put RealGM on your résumé, Doc and Nate as references.

[tontoz]

If Brunson didn't have his Godfather running the team and if his dad wasn't a coach, he would be the first guy I'd look to trade. His value will never be higher and he has a great contract. He's undersized and he can't play defense. The guy is a magician on offense but he's not a championship player.

Hart/Bridges/OG - all inconsistent offensively, and if I had to trade one it would be Bridges. I'd try and recoup the picks I traded, and he's due for an extension which makes this team even more expensive. Hart would be the other guy I would trade.

QFT

[nate33]

If Brunson didn't have his Godfather running the team and if his dad wasn't a coach, he would be the first guy I'd look to trade. His value will never be higher and he has a great contract. He's undersized and he can't play defense. The guy is a magician on offense but he's not a championship player.

Hart/Bridges/OG - all inconsistent offensively, and if I had to trade one it would be Bridges. I'd try and recoup the picks I traded, and he's due for an extension which makes this team even more expensive. Hart would be the other guy I would trade.

This is an interesting take.

Brunson is actually pretty old. He'll be 29 at the start of next season. Usually, guys that small don't age well. All it takes is a 5% loss in explosion and they suddenly can't get enough separation to get their shot off. Other small All-NBA caliber guys like Iverson, Isiah Thomas and Rod Strickland had an abrupt decline in their early 30's. It might be wise to move Brunson before his decline starts. That said, I'd say Brunson still has at least one or two peak years left, and his contract is locked in for 4 more years so I don't really see any decline in his trade value in the next year or so (barring injury).

The other thing worth mentioning is that the Celtics are unlikely to be a factor next year, and Cleveland is going to have to shed a little depth for salary purposes. The East is weak, without any dominant team. New York hasn't been in better position to make a Finals in 40 years. I seriously doubt they would punt on that opportunity in some big-brained effort to time their players' peaks perfectly. New York should absolutely make another run at it next year with more-or-less the same squad. Maybe in 2026, it could be time to make a big change, but not now.

If anything, a coaching change might be in order. Thibbs is a good coach, but he usually has a relatively short shelf life because guys get sick of his abrasive demeanor and heavy minute load. And their offense is very unimaginative and doesn't seem to leverage the strengths of Bridges and KAT enough. I might consider a coaching change, but I'd roll with the same core at least one more year.

[tontoz]

Interesting article about the problems the Knicks have with Kat and Brunson playing together.

My favorite NBA all-in-one stat is EPM, or estimated plus-minus, via DunksAndThrees.com. That metric has Brunson rated as the best offensive player in the playoffs at +4.8 overall, while also being the worst defensive player in the playoffs at -3.6.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/article/knicks-2-stars-t-play-150933390.html

[tontoz]

Found this post on another board.

Just went through Haliburton's game logs this season. He's got 5 games of 10+ assists with 0 turnovers during the regular season, and 15 games of 10+ assists with 1 turnover.

In the playoffs he has 4 games with 10+ assists and 1 turnover and last night was his first with 10+ and 0 turnovers.

Guy is insanely efficient with the ball and his decision making.

[nate33]

Found this post on another board.

Just went through Haliburton's game logs this season. He's got 5 games of 10+ assists with 0 turnovers during the regular season, and 15 games of 10+ assists with 1 turnover.

In the playoffs he has 4 games with 10+ assists and 1 turnover and last night was his first with 10+ and 0 turnovers.

Guy is insanely efficient with the ball and his decision making.

This is really a highly underrated skill. Turnovers are really, really bad. They are way worse than missed shots because you don't get the 28% chance of an offensive rebound, and they often result in fast break points going the other way. They're probably about as bad as 1.4 or 1.5 missed shots.

[Dat2U]

If Brunson didn't have his Godfather running the team and if his dad wasn't a coach, he would be the first guy I'd look to trade. His value will never be higher and he has a great contract. He's undersized and he can't play defense. The guy is a magician on offense but he's not a championship player.

Hart/Bridges/OG - all inconsistent offensively, and if I had to trade one it would be Bridges. I'd try and recoup the picks I traded, and he's due for an extension which makes this team even more expensive. Hart would be the other guy I would trade.

You take away their #1 option in Brunson and then what? Its suddenly a 1st round exit waiting to happen. The issue is Towns at C moreso than Brunson. Towns IMO needs another C alongside him to protect him defensively. Mitch Robinson has had his moments but they need to find a better fit to pair with Towns up front.