Who Should Be the 5th Starter?

[spree8]

Since the FO forced Thibs to start Mitch next to KAT, and then the article about how players and coaches were frustrated with KAT’s defense, it seems obvious they are going to start Mitch. And they just tried to get Ayton too which is another sign they are done with KAT at the 5.

Need to find a way to trade KAT for AD but thats a different convo

Na, that dude had like 4 injuries this past season alone lol. He’s played 36, 40, 56, 76, 51 games the past 5 seasons. I’m good..

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[spree8]

Brown wants to play fast (his words), how we doing that with Mitch n KAT together all that time?

KAT should be playing 32 mpg, Mitch between 20-22 mpg… leaves 4-6 mpg for them to play together at most, which is enough imo.

You can play fast even with Mitch on the floor with KAT.... You play fast when only one of them is on the floor and when both are on the floor, you secure defensive rebounds and push the pace instead of walking it up like Thibs liked the guys doing. It's a mindset and a readiness. If you can't get stops (misses, blocks, steals) and if you can't secure rebounds at a high clip, it's hard to run. Mitch helps in all those areas.

Couldn’t disagree more… stuff like this makes me hope Leon n Mitch can’t agree on an extension…

[3toheadmelo]

Since the FO forced Thibs to start Mitch next to KAT, and then the article about how players and coaches were frustrated with KAT’s defense, it seems obvious they are going to start Mitch. And they just tried to get Ayton too which is another sign they are done with KAT at the 5.

Need to find a way to trade KAT for AD but thats a different convo

Na, that dude had like 4 injuries this past season alone lol. He’s played 36, 40, 56, 76, 51 games the past 5 seasons. I’m good..

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Someone get spree out of here with his terrible ideas!!!

[spree8]

Need to find a way to trade KAT for AD but thats a different convo

Na, that dude had like 4 injuries this past season alone lol. He’s played 36, 40, 56, 76, 51 games the past 5 seasons. I’m good..

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Someone get spree out of here with his terrible ideas!!!

Advocating for this man to be wearing orange n blue is nasty work!

[Jalen Bluntson]

I think if we wanna go 10 deep Mitch or Deuce has to start. Deuce is the best option IMO.

Brunson/Deuce/Kolek
Mikal/Jordan/Pac
Hart/???
OG/Yabu
KAT/Mitch/Huk

Hart getting mad minutes in a 9 man rotation. We need another wing with this lineup. Like we did last season. Would they use Pac as backup 3?

Brunson/Deuce/Kolek
Mikal/Jordan/Pac
OG/Hart
KAT/Yabu
Mitch/Huk

More balance but relying on injury prone centers is a risk. Maybe we need another C? KAT can slide over at times to help keep the other guys healthy.

Brunson/Kolek/???
Deuce/Clarkson/Pac
Mikal/Hart
OG/Yabu
KAT/Mitch/Huk

5 out with the best POA defense but, is Kolek ready? Maybe we need a vet PG?

I think with a faster pace we need the last lineup. Kolek would need to take a leap in scoring and defense for it to work OR another PG added to the roster who can fill the role. We aren't gonna run a faster pace with a two big lineup unless it's Yabu/KAT. Huk can run too but, injury risk and pecking order.

Brunson/Deuce/Kolek
Mikal/Jordan/Pac
OG/Hart
Yabu/???
KAT/Mitch/Huk

We need a PF with this lineup. FC defense probably falls off a cliff. No.

The last two roster signings will probably reveal a little more about what Brown is looking to do. He talked of pace and space so, we already have some clue. Both Deuce and Hart can push the pace. Hart actually thrives there but, he kills the space.

[Barcs]

Unless this team is making a major trade, you start Mitch. The rim protection is important. I like Hart's energy off the bench. Deuce, Hart, Kolek, Clarkson, Huk has potential!

[Jalen Bluntson]

Unless this team is making a major trade, you start Mitch. The rim protection is important. I like Hart's energy off the bench. Deuce, Hart, Kolek, Clarkson, Huk has potential!

Both centers are injury liability. Deuce is a good option because it will be true 5 out with his shooting compared to Hart. The defense would be better and the pace would be quicker than with Mitch. Mitch off the bench and Huk as insurance makes more sense. For durability reasons.

Brown talked about pace and space. Deuce fits that mold.

One thing I will say, if we play with pace Hart thrives in that role. His shooting won't be as much of a problem as last year in a slow footed half court ISO system.

Deuce/Jordan/Yabu/Mitch the youth and the final vet mini is a solid bench. Shooting/scoring and defense/rebounding.

It's good to have options.

[Besart19]

Since the FO forced Thibs to start Mitch next to KAT, and then the article about how players and coaches were frustrated with KAT’s defense, it seems obvious they are going to start Mitch. And they just tried to get Ayton too which is another sign they are done with KAT at the 5.

Mitch
LBJ or Giannis
Anunoby
Bridges
Brunson

[Iron Mantis]

Unless this team is making a major trade, you start Mitch. The rim protection is important. I like Hart's energy off the bench. Deuce, Hart, Kolek, Clarkson, Huk has potential!

Both centers are injury liability. Deuce is a good option because it will be true 5 out with his shooting compared to Hart. The defense would be better and the pace would be quicker than with Mitch. Mitch off the bench and Huk as insurance makes more sense. For durability reasons.

Brown talked about pace and space. Deuce fits that mold.

One thing I will say, if we play with pace Hart thrives in that role. His shooting won't be as much of a problem as last year in a slow footed half court ISO system.

Deuce/Jordan/Yabu/Mitch the youth and the final vet mini is a solid bench. Shooting/scoring and defense/rebounding.

It's good to have options.

We hear a lot about rim protection but no one talks about defending the point of attack.

With Deuce it is true 5 out offense, but I also like Deuce as a perimeter defender.

Keeping ball-handlers from easily getting into the paint disrupts the opposing teams' offensive rhythm and cuts down the frequency of having to challenge shots at the rim.

I can think of many possessions vs Indy where the pacers had no shot blocker in the game, but their foot speed and quick hands prevented us from getting to the basket...and many times forced turnovers.

It's nice to be able to have both Mitch and Deuce to use them depending on matchups.

[Novaknicks]

I don't know enough about Yabu yet or Nanji for that matter. I still voted for him, because I really don't want to see Mitch starting and then getting hurt 20 games in. Deuce is not a starter either, though probably the best POA defender on the team. I do want to see what starting Yabu with KAT wil look like. This roster is still an island of misfit toys, and its Brown's job to make that work. I hope we do better that last year and we try out different lineups instead of being stuck in coach's ego problems

[Fat Kat]

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[Guano]

Yabu
OG
Baguette Pippen
3pac
Brunson

Arguably the greatest lineup of all-time and we're alive to witness it.

It's good to be us.

[god shammgod]

Kat can’t play fast no matter who he plays with

[Knicks365247]

1. Hart should absolutely come off the bench. He's a super-sub.
2. I see merit with both Deuce and Yabusele starting. I think they should adjust based on matchups.
3. Starting Mitch occasionally based on matchup should be fine too, but we need to preserve him thru the season.

[WaltFrazier]

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Well there goes the faint hope he'll come back with a better shot and solve a lot of problems.

Why didn't he get this done as soon as playoffs ended?

[Nostrand Ave]

I would like it to be Mitch but he's injury prone.

[Fat Kat]

I would like it to be Mitch but he's injury prone.

Yep. Can’t plan a cross country road trip with a 2001 Ford explorer. Local driving only. Play Mitch around 20 minutes a night and sit him back to backs.

[Knicks365247]

I would like it to be Mitch but he's injury prone.

Yep. Can’t plan a cross country road trip with a 2001 Ford explorer. Local driving only. Play Mitch around 20 minutes a night and sit him back to backs.

Nobody cares about the regular season anyway. I say Knicks go 54-28 though.

[nedleeds]

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Well there goes the faint hope he'll come back with a better shot and solve a lot of problems.

Why didn't he get this done as soon as playoffs ended?

Needed his fingers in Cancun?

[Wildcat]

Mitch. Hart should be the first guy off the bench.