PG: First time in 29 years

[othawhitemeat]

Cliff's Notes: Giddey was Magic Johnson on a good night and we rode Vuc like a thoroughbred across the finish line as he just took over. They were the dudes.

But Ayo was just like a ninja out there, with surgical strikes over and over again that just seemed to come at heart breaking times for the Knicks. He was putting some of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA on skates with absolute confidence in his ability to do it. If I were a Knicks fan watching the game tonight, I'd have been relieved when Ayo passed it.

Arthritis Cup here we come!

Ayo is an assassin. He's going to be one of those savvy veterans in the future. It would be cool if he'll end up like those one franchise players like Sonic's Nate McMillan, or Heat's Haslem.

Bias here, but as an Illini fan, dude is a stoneblood killer. If he was on the Lakers/Spurs of late 90's/early 2000s, I could see him being a Big Shot Bob/Fisher type killer

[Red Larrivee]

Ayo alone off the bench tonight: 22 points

Huerter + Smith duo off the bench tonight: 22 points

The Knicks ENTIRE bench tonight, total: ...21 points

The Knicks had four players who played more than 30 minutes: Brunson, Bridges, Towns, OG.

The Bulls had one player who played more than 30 minutes: Giddey.

The depth is the star. Teams have to run their starters hard while the Bulls keep fresh legs. They're legitimately going 10 deep every night and that's without their best scorer and a quality reserve big.

They're also not playing many players who suck on defense right now. So, they can mix and match a bunch of lineups and ride the hot hand.

[sco]

Giddey, Vuc, and Ayo deserve their flowers for tonight.

But I was also really impressed by Jalen Smith, Huerter, and PWill, all on both offense and defense. Huerter is a really smart cutter and surprisingly competent defender. Smith made some nice plays on offense and was protecting the rim. And of course Williams is playing like a whole new person. Extremely encouraging performance.

Yeah, there is a lot of Smith bashing here, so he deserves his kudos after a game like tonight. He is very active without the ball on both ends. I cover my eyes when he starts putting up 3's, but I've been pleasantly surprised with his makes of late.

I still cringe when Pat has the ball, but I think he has found his comfort zone in this current role. I feel like there is a pressure that he feels when he starts that causes him to force things and do things that he shouldn't do. He seems to be playing more controlled and that limits the mistakes that offset the good he does with his 3 and D.

[Indomitable]

Ayo alone off the bench tonight: 22 points

Huerter + Smith duo off the bench tonight: 22 points

The Knicks ENTIRE bench tonight, total: ...21 points

The Knicks had four players who played more than 30 minutes: Brunson, Bridges, Towns, OG.

The Bulls had one player who played more than 30 minutes: Giddey.

The depth is the star. Teams have to run their starters hard while the Bulls keep fresh legs. They're legitimately going 10 deep every night and that's without their best scorer and a quality reserve big.

They're also not playing many players who suck on defense right now. So, they can mix and match a bunch of lineups and ride the hot hand.

Are you still doing your podcast.

[Ice Man]

I still cringe when Pat has the ball, but I think he has found his comfort zone in this current role. I feel like there is a pressure that he feels when he starts that causes him to force things and do things that he shouldn't do. He seems to be playing more controlled and that limits the mistakes that offset the good he does with his 3 and D.

I was fine with Pat all night except for that charge in the 4th, which had me pulling my sparse hair out and which (once again) showed that the guy is a pure 3&D role player. Just keep it at that and we will all be happy.

Oh, and I should give yet another nod to Huerter, who continues to be more of an all-around player than I had envisioned. Some good defense there.

[Red Larrivee]

Are you still doing your podcast.

Yes. Just dropped an episode earlier this week.

[Indomitable]

I still cringe when Pat has the ball, but I think he has found his comfort zone in this current role. I feel like there is a pressure that he feels when he starts that causes him to force things and do things that he shouldn't do. He seems to be playing more controlled and that limits the mistakes that offset the good he does with his 3 and D.

I was fine with Pat all night except for that charge in the 4th, which had me pulling my sparse hair out and which (once again) showed that the guy is a pure 3&D role player. Just keep it at that and we will all be happy.

Oh, and I should give yet another nod to Huerter, who continues to be more of an all-around player than I had envisioned. Some good defense there.

That was a call made on Pat because Pat is not consider important. He got rid of the ball in enough time. It had no effect on the play. It was a great pass. I want more of it. His passing has been the greatest improvement this season. He has two or 3 passes a game where you smile. He had a couple of nice drives.

I just want him confident enough to make him believe. I hated the call. You have Kat tripping and elbowing everyone.

[drosestruts]

Giddey, Vuc, and Ayo deserve their flowers for tonight.

But I was also really impressed by Jalen Smith, Huerter, and PWill, all on both offense and defense. Huerter is a really smart cutter and surprisingly competent defender. Smith made some nice plays on offense and was protecting the rim. And of course Williams is playing like a whole new person. Extremely encouraging performance.

Yeah, there is a lot of Smith bashing here, so he deserves his kudos after a game like tonight. He is very active without the ball on both ends. I cover my eyes when he starts putting up 3's, but I've been pleasantly surprised with his makes of late.

I still cringe when Pat has the ball, but I think he has found his comfort zone in this current role. I feel like there is a pressure that he feels when he starts that causes him to force things and do things that he shouldn't do. He seems to be playing more controlled and that limits the mistakes that offset the good he does with his 3 and D.

That Pat drive and And-1 against Bridges was awesome. As the play started I was confident he would travel, he did not. Not only did he not travel, he got around a very good defender in Bridges. Not only did he get around a very good defender in Bridges, he drew a foul. Not only did he draw a foul, he finished and scored on the play for an And-1.

That and the jab step 3 from earlier this season. Who is this guy?

[Jello Biafra]

So Dalen's career is now dead, huh?

Yes. There are absolutely no minutes for him. I’m really interested to see how we are going to get Coby 30 minutes. No one deserves to lose playing time when he comes back.

0k0r0

Interesting comparison between Okoro and Dalen. Both want to be known for their defense. Dalen has superior measurables standing 6'7.25" with a 7'0.75" wingspan compared to Okoro at 6"5" with a 6' 8.5". I also think Dalen is the superior athlete and in theory could be the better player except for the fact that even though Okoro has been bad, he hasn't made a bunch of stupid mistakes and fouls. Every time Dalen gets burn he makes a stupid mistake and fouls. So Okoro has that and the fact that he historically has been a better 3 point shooter going for him. The question is, "do you keep either one?". Neither is Mikal Bridges, who (despite getting absolutely torched by Giddey last night) I would definitely want, but he's apparently worth 5 first round picks and Bogdanovic. Maybe. Which perhaps shows the value of first round picks.

[madvillian]

It really bothered me watching the Knicks clutch and grab and hip check all night on defense and then flop at the other end. Officials fell for it hook line and sinker. Matas didn't have his best game but when the opponent is allowed to hand check like it's the 90s well, I guess he'll have to play through it until he earns "respect" or something. Giddey was getting bodied too but he's veteran enough to know how to respond with some of his own dark arts.

[Indomitable]

Cliff's Notes: Giddey was Magic Johnson on a good night and we rode Vuc like a thoroughbred across the finish line as he just took over. They were the dudes.

But Ayo was just like a ninja out there, with surgical strikes over and over again that just seemed to come at heart breaking times for the Knicks. He was putting some of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA on skates with absolute confidence in his ability to do it. If I were a Knicks fan watching the game tonight, I'd have been relieved when Ayo passed it.

Arthritis Cup here we come!

Ayo is an assassin. He's going to be one of those savvy veterans in the future. It would be cool if he'll end up like those one franchise players like Sonic's Nate McMillan, or Heat's Haslem.

Bias here, but as an Illini fan, dude is a stoneblood killer. If he was on the Lakers/Spurs of late 90's/early 2000s, I could see him being a Big Shot Bob/Fisher type killer

He comes across as a team first leader and I love his attitude.

[ShouldaPaidBG]

Something really important I would like to speak on: F the Fin Knicks, lol.

KAT is a talented trainreck and looks like a Sesame Street character, Brunson is an annoying fat midget reliant on pushoffs and foul baiting, Robinson is the softest giant I've ever seen, their bench is trash, they made a huge coaching downgrade, Hart is washed, they have no identity or urgency anymore, and they only hung with us because they got lucky from 3.

[NecessaryEvil]

Read on Twitter

Mannnn we had people on the board having him in trade scenarios no problem last season. No way. Extend AYO

[cocktailswith_2short]

Something really important I would like to speak on: F the Fin Knicks, lol.

KAT is a talented trainreck and looks like a Sesame Street character, Brunson is an annoying fat midget reliant on pushoffs and foul baiting, Robinson is the softest giant I've ever seen, their bench is trash, they made a huge coaching downgrade, Hart is washed, they have no identity or urgency anymore, and they only hung with us because they got lucky from 3.

I know knicks fans are proud of that team but I'm so relieved I don't have to root for them particularly KAT and Brunson . I just can't stand them .

[kodo]

Yeah, there is a lot of Smith bashing here, so he deserves his kudos after a game like tonight. He is very active without the ball on both ends. I cover my eyes when he starts putting up 3's, but I've been pleasantly surprised with his makes of late.

I still cringe when Pat has the ball, but I think he has found his comfort zone in this current role. I feel like there is a pressure that he feels when he starts that causes him to force things and do things that he shouldn't do. He seems to be playing more controlled and that limits the mistakes that offset the good he does with his 3 and D.

I loved the guys doing the stinkface when Pat got that and-1 on Bridges.


Locker room seems to be in great shape. Unlike Memphis...

[Ja Morant] when asked what went wrong and why he looked to have low energy tonight: “Go ask the coaching staff… they had a whole spiel. Go ask the coaching staff why.” When asked what could’ve been done differently: “According to them, probably don’t play me… it’s cool. It’s cool bro.”

[HomoSapien]

Many of us have been here for 20+ years. We are collectively experiencing something we have never experienced as a board. Pretty damn cool.

[kodo]

Even if we get into a funk at some point, we should get a top 6 seed unless it goes off the rails. That's pretty good considering the the past few years of play-in being the ceiling.

We're a good team I think. Been a while since you can say that. Fun to watch too.

It wouldn't be surprising to lose the next 5 without Coby, NY PHI MIL CLE SAS. SAS is like an auto-loss since we're so reliant on attacking the basket now.
But 5-5 start is still pretty good for a brutal part of the schedule and we have some easier game after that like UTA, Washington, Pels, Charlotte, etc..

[Chi town]

Many of us have been here for 20+ years. We are collectively experiencing something we have never experienced as a board. Pretty damn cool.

Yep.

Here for it.

[Indomitable]

Something really important I would like to speak on: F the Fin Knicks, lol.

KAT is a talented trainreck and looks like a Sesame Street character, Brunson is an annoying fat midget reliant on pushoffs and foul baiting, Robinson is the softest giant I've ever seen, their bench is trash, they made a huge coaching downgrade, Hart is washed, they have no identity or urgency anymore, and they only hung with us because they got lucky from 3.

I know knicks fans are proud of that team but I'm so relieved I don't have to root for them particularly KAT and Brunson . I just can't stand them .

The head flopping and whining.

[sco]

Even if we get into a funk at some point, we should get a top 6 seed unless it goes off the rails. That's pretty good considering the the past few years of play-in being the ceiling.

We're a good team I think. Been a while since you can say that. Fun to watch too.

It wouldn't be surprising to lose the next 5 without Coby, NY PHI MIL CLE SAS. SAS is like an auto-loss since we're so reliant on attacking the basket now.
But 5-5 start is still pretty good for a brutal part of the schedule and we have some easier game after that like UTA, Washington, Pels, Charlotte, etc..

Speaking of SA, MIA tried something interesting in having Mitchell Guard Wemby who had a little trouble backing down a guy who had such a low center of gravity.