Hawks (5) @ Knicks (4) - Playoffs Round 1 - Game 1 - SUNDAY May 23 - 7:00pm

[thebuzzardman]

This series about to be a re-eye opener and reality check for quite a few fans, I see.

[Gravy]

Luca Vildoza coming out of the tunnel to start instead of Elf

[thebuzzardman]

I see speculation as to which player might be the "X" factor for the Knicks.

The correct answer is EVERYONE, because the Knicks are lacking in talent enough that they need basically every player to play their A game to win most games, but especially ones where the other team is actually good.

It's going to take some luck for the Knicks to advance. Maybe it happens, maybe it doesn't. Doesn't change the fact the Knicks need to add two more players - another real PG and another legit scoring wing.

Sorry if I'm halfway looking ahead to next year.

I'll enjoy whatever run they might have in them but I'm under no illusions about this team. 6

[Dave_R]

Beside the other reasons I mentioned to press full court, keep in mind that other than Young, ATL really has no ballhandlers in the starting lineup.
Press in spurts -- a few minutes of quickley, then frank, then rose, then vildoza

[jayu70]

Beside the other reasons I mentioned to press full court, keep in mind that other than Young, ATL really has no ballhandlers in the starting lineup.
Press in spurts -- a few minutes of quickley, then frank, then rose, then vildoza

That's not true. Bogdon Bogdanovic has been handling approximately 30% of the ball handing duties since being inserted into the starting lineup under Nate McM. The Hawks have actually been playing Trae off ball with Bogi bringing the ball up court to start 2nd half of games.
DeAndre Hunter is also capable of handling and running the offense from the top of the key.

[2020]

Any one of our guards can do it. Arent they all at least 6'2"-6'3"? Trae is only 5'9" get that mofo in foul trouble (make the refs make the call)

Maligned Knicks guard Elfrid Payton still ‘confident’ despite struggles
By Marc Berman May 20, 2021 | 5:26pm | Updated

Payton was asked by The Post how he’d assess his recent performances in light of Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau backing him up as a player who still brings defense and intangibles.

Payton also needs to not give an inch to Atlanta point guard Trae Young when the first-round series commences Sunday at the Garden.


When asked about his confidence level, Payton said, “I’m confident. I work on my game. I’m confident.’’

How convenient

Payton would probably be our best defender against Ben Simmons.

[Maury2423]

Beside the other reasons I mentioned to press full court, keep in mind that other than Young, ATL really has no ballhandlers in the starting lineup.
Press in spurts -- a few minutes of quickley, then frank, then rose, then vildoza

That's not true. Bogdon Bogdanovic has been handling approximately 30% of the ball handing duties since being inserted into the starting lineup under Nate McM. The Hawks have actually been playing Trae off ball with Bogi bringing the ball up court to start 2nd half of games.
DeAndre Hunter is also capable of handling and running the offense from the top of the key.

While I know what you're saying and they are more than capable of bringing the ball up, I don't think they can handle bringing the ball up with pressure. I havent watched them this yr so I am not sure how they've developed in that aspect but based on previous years, they would pick up their dribble very quick probably about half way to midcourt.

[jayu70]

Beside the other reasons I mentioned to press full court, keep in mind that other than Young, ATL really has no ballhandlers in the starting lineup.
Press in spurts -- a few minutes of quickley, then frank, then rose, then vildoza

That's not true. Bogdon Bogdanovic has been handling approximately 30% of the ball handing duties since being inserted into the starting lineup under Nate McM. The Hawks have actually been playing Trae off ball with Bogi bringing the ball up court to start 2nd half of games.
DeAndre Hunter is also capable of handling and running the offense from the top of the key.

While I know what you're saying and they are more than capable of bringing the ball up, I don't think they can handle bringing the ball up with pressure. I havent watched them this yr so I am not sure how they've developed in that aspect but based on previous years, they would pick up their dribble very quick probably about half way to midcourt.

Bogi and Hunter? You really haven't watched the Hawks this year.
Last year that may have been true since Huerter was starting next to Trae and Hunter was a rookie and Bogi was with the Kings.
The original post was about pressuring/pressing Young 94 feet, not pressuring the others.

[Oscirus]

I see speculation as to which player might be the "X" factor for the Knicks.

The correct answer is EVERYONE, because the Knicks are lacking in talent enough that they need basically every player to play their A game to win most games, but especially ones where the other team is actually good.

It's going to take some luck for the Knicks to advance. Maybe it happens, maybe it doesn't. Doesn't change the fact the Knicks need to add two more players - another real PG and another legit scoring wing.

Sorry if I'm halfway looking ahead to next year.

I'll enjoy whatever run they might have in them but I'm under no illusions about this team. 6

Naah it's rj, you already know exactly what you gonna get with every other knick in the rotation. If you say derek rose cuz of experience, thats fair enough as well. But it'll def come down to the performance of those two.

[Maury2423]

That's not true. Bogdon Bogdanovic has been handling approximately 30% of the ball handing duties since being inserted into the starting lineup under Nate McM. The Hawks have actually been playing Trae off ball with Bogi bringing the ball up court to start 2nd half of games.
DeAndre Hunter is also capable of handling and running the offense from the top of the key.

While I know what you're saying and they are more than capable of bringing the ball up, I don't think they can handle bringing the ball up with pressure. I havent watched them this yr so I am not sure how they've developed in that aspect but based on previous years, they would pick up their dribble very quick probably about half way to midcourt.

Bogi and Hunter? You really haven't watched the Hawks this year.
Last year that may have been true since Huerter was starting next to Trae and Hunter was a rookie and Bogi was with the Kings.

Yeh that's what i said.... plus there arent too many players in the league that can actually bring up the ball against pressure without picking up their dribble or having to make a pass over the top to someone around half court because of the 8sec violation.

[3toheadmelo]

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[jayu70]

While I know what you're saying and they are more than capable of bringing the ball up, I don't think they can handle bringing the ball up with pressure. I havent watched them this yr so I am not sure how they've developed in that aspect but based on previous years, they would pick up their dribble very quick probably about half way to midcourt.

Bogi and Hunter? You really haven't watched the Hawks this year.
Last year that may have been true since Huerter was starting next to Trae and Hunter was a rookie and Bogi was with the Kings.

Yeh that's what i said.... plus there arent too many players in the league that can actually bring up the ball against pressure without picking up their dribble or having to make a pass over the top to someone around half court because of the 8sec violation.

Understoid, but who is going to pressure Bogi or Hunter if you have 1 or 2 guys picking up Trae 94 feet every single time.

[KnicksGadfly]

While I know what you're saying and they are more than capable of bringing the ball up, I don't think they can handle bringing the ball up with pressure. I havent watched them this yr so I am not sure how they've developed in that aspect but based on previous years, they would pick up their dribble very quick probably about half way to midcourt.

Bogi and Hunter? You really haven't watched the Hawks this year.
Last year that may have been true since Huerter was starting next to Trae and Hunter was a rookie and Bogi was with the Kings.

Yeh that's what i said.... plus there arent too many players in the league that can actually bring up the ball against pressure without picking up their dribble or having to make a pass over the top to someone around half court because of the 8sec violation.

Don’t need to pressure Trae if the refs aren’t giving him star treatment. Dude ain’t good without his free throws. Let him take his long distance chuck shots in that case.

[jayu70]

Bogi and Hunter? You really haven't watched the Hawks this year.
Last year that may have been true since Huerter was starting next to Trae and Hunter was a rookie and Bogi was with the Kings.

Yeh that's what i said.... plus there arent too many players in the league that can actually bring up the ball against pressure without picking up their dribble or having to make a pass over the top to someone around half court because of the 8sec violation.

Don’t need to pressure Trae if the refs aren’t giving him star treatment. Dude ain’t good without his free throws. Let him take his long distance chuck shots in that case.

FYI - Trae took 9 3s per game last season. He has reduced that to 6 per game in the early part of the season and has been more selective.
Since Nate McM took over and Bogi has been a starter, he has reduced his 3pt shot attempts by another one attempt. So he's making use of the better 3pt shooters around him. He's cut his attempts by almost half.

[louisorr]

Why y'all wasting time in this thread? Where's the Knicks vs Sixers thread at?

[stuporman]

So when asked why he continues to use Elf when every measurable stat shows the Knicks are worse with him on the floor Thibs response is length?

[god shammgod]

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another win for team iq!!!!!

[Maury2423]

Bogi and Hunter? You really haven't watched the Hawks this year.
Last year that may have been true since Huerter was starting next to Trae and Hunter was a rookie and Bogi was with the Kings.

Yeh that's what i said.... plus there arent too many players in the league that can actually bring up the ball against pressure without picking up their dribble or having to make a pass over the top to someone around half court because of the 8sec violation.

Understoid, but who is going to pressure Bogi or Hunter if you have 1 or 2 guys picking up Trae 94 feet every single time.

My thinking is having Trae's defender play him straight up and also have the guy defending the inbounder come over to trap/double Trae to get the ball out of his hands or not even let him catch the ball, this would make someone else bring the ball up against pressure and run a few seconds off the shot clock. I personally feel confident with any one of our guys helping trap/double Trae and having Noel/Taj protecting the rim when we are at a disadvantage.

I wouldnt do this all game though, fatigue would be very real in the 4th.

[Clyde_Style]

Why y'all wasting time in this thread? Where's the Knicks vs Sixers thread at?

[jayu70]

Yeh that's what i said.... plus there arent too many players in the league that can actually bring up the ball against pressure without picking up their dribble or having to make a pass over the top to someone around half court because of the 8sec violation.

Understoid, but who is going to pressure Bogi or Hunter if you have 1 or 2 guys picking up Trae 94 feet every single time.

My thinking is having Trae's defender play him straight up and also have the guy defending the inbounder come over to trap/double Trae to get the ball out of his hands or not even let him catch the ball, this would make someone else bring the ball up against pressure and run a few seconds off the shot clock. I personally feel confident with any one of our guys helping trap/double Trae and having Noel/Taj protecting the rim when we are at a disadvantage.

I wouldnt do this all game though, fatigue would be very real in the 4th.

I get what you are saying and that is something Trae has been dealing with since he entered the league. Last year that was a problem. This year, particularly in the latter half of the season under Nate not a problem.
In the 2nd half of our games, Bogi has been receiving the inbounds and running the offense off the bat thereby limiting teams effectiveness in trying to trap Trae, and it's given Nate a chance to develop Trae off ball.