GT: New York Knicks vs Milwaukee Bucks (Wed, 7:30PM)

[GONYK]

For the all the angst, driven mostly by the loss to Cleveland, Knicks win against the 76ers (depleted though they were) was like a win last year. Knicks played defense, kept the game close, Randle made shots and some assists down the stretch and win.

Yeah and the regular season was great last year.

But honestly it wasn't really all that great either until the big winning streak. We were mostly a 500 team until then and then after that... I still think this team is noticeably better, maybe not defensively, but overall there's more talent.

Thibs will sort out the defensive issues. There's enough good personnel that we should at least be average on that end. With that said we're currently a top 5 offense without looking great I'd say for 60% of the time tbh.. If we can stay in the top 10 in offense and creep our way up defensively we should be a more consistent team even if it doesn't feel like the same energy we had last year and I still think we're better equipped for a playoff matchup with anyone but the Bucks and the Nets

Fun fact: At this point in the season last year, the Knicks were the 17th ranked defense in the league.

It took us a while to figure it out at that end too.

I think people lionize last season, by and large, and don't remember the growing pains. Especially the pre-Rose games.

[WajaBawl]

For the all the angst, driven mostly by the loss to Cleveland, Knicks win against the 76ers (depleted though they were) was like a win last year. Knicks played defense, kept the game close, Randle made shots and some assists down the stretch and win.

Yeah and the regular season was great last year.

But honestly it wasn't really all that great either until the big winning streak. We were mostly a 500 team until then and then after that... I still think this team is noticeably better, maybe not defensively, but overall there's more talent.

Thibs will sort out the defensive issues. There's enough good personnel that we should at least be average on that end. With that said we're currently a top 5 offense without looking great I'd say for 60% of the time tbh.. If we can stay in the top 10 in offense and creep our way up defensively we should be a more consistent team even if it doesn't feel like the same energy we had last year and I still think we're better equipped for a playoff matchup with anyone but the Bucks and the Nets

Derrick Rose happened. That's why he is by far the most important player on this team.

[WajaBawl]

Yeah, 2 PGs over 30 with extensive injury histories isn't enough, we need to get a third.

Considering Kemba has been a straight liability on defense and playing a Jose Calderon style of game, it's not the worst option. It's not like we'd have to give up any assets to get him if he was bought out.

Continuity and keeping the peace in the locker room are the only two real reasons why it wouldn't work. Ruining the Knicks' glamorous homecoming story would be another I guess.

[bearadonisdna]

Wonder if which team we get tonight :
Contender Knicks : benched Mitch
Treadmill knicks: starting Mitch

[bearadonisdna]

Yeah, 2 PGs over 30 with extensive injury histories isn't enough, we need to get a third.

Considering Kemba has been a straight liability on defense and playing a Jose Calderon style of game, it's not the worst option. It's not like we'd have to give up any assets to get him if he was bought out.

Continuity and keeping the peace in the locker room are the only two real reasons why it wouldn't work. Ruining the Knicks' glamorous homecoming story would be another I guess.

With kemba getting rest days there will need to be a point guard hierarchy for his off days .

This can be a clear passage to quickly becoming a suitable starter . At times has looked as good as drose or kemba because of speed etc. My high end comparison for him is SGA , twins and went to same school .

Drose starting ain’t that good , as a starter he will slow down the offense , it’s really hard to explain .
The hierarchy stays relatively unchanged .

Kemba backs up and rose plays backup 2g minutes which he can and actually looked like a rebounding magnet . He used to be a league mvp.

[WajaBawl]

Yeah, 2 PGs over 30 with extensive injury histories isn't enough, we need to get a third.

Considering Kemba has been a straight liability on defense and playing a Jose Calderon style of game, it's not the worst option. It's not like we'd have to give up any assets to get him if he was bought out.

Continuity and keeping the peace in the locker room are the only two real reasons why it wouldn't work. Ruining the Knicks' glamorous homecoming story would be another I guess.

With kemba getting rest days there will need to be a point guard hierarchy for his off days .

This can be a clear passage to quickly becoming a suitable starter . At times has looked as good as drose or kemba because of speed etc. My high end comparison for him is SGA , twins and went to same school .

Drose starting ain’t that good , as a starter he will slow down the offense , it’s really hard to explain .
The hierarchy stays relatively unchanged .

Kemba backs up and rose plays backup 2g minutes which he can and actually looked like a rebounding magnet . He used to be a league mvp.

I don't see SGA in Immanuel Quickley. Like, at all.

[TKKnicks1]

Are Mitch and Noel playing?

Knicks honestly should win this one but ya never know what you gonna get with this team. East is tight right now!

[bearadonisdna]

Considering Kemba has been a straight liability on defense and playing a Jose Calderon style of game, it's not the worst option. It's not like we'd have to give up any assets to get him if he was bought out.

Continuity and keeping the peace in the locker room are the only two real reasons why it wouldn't work. Ruining the Knicks' glamorous homecoming story would be another I guess.

With kemba getting rest days there will need to be a point guard hierarchy for his off days .

This can be a clear passage to quickly becoming a suitable starter . At times has looked as good as drose or kemba because of speed etc. My high end comparison for him is SGA , twins and went to same school .

Drose starting ain’t that good , as a starter he will slow down the offense , it’s really hard to explain .
The hierarchy stays relatively unchanged .

Kemba backs up and rose plays backup 2g minutes which he can and actually looked like a rebounding magnet . He used to be a league mvp.

I don't see SGA in Immanuel Quickley. Like, at all.

Current day SGA is a star I’m talking about a developing SGA.

[thebuzzardman]

Tommy beer must be stopped with these meaningless stats. Jesus.

Tommy Beer: "81.3% of Shamms' posts are negative, with 2.5% of those containing a nasty curse"

[thebuzzardman]

Yeah and the regular season was great last year.

But honestly it wasn't really all that great either until the big winning streak. We were mostly a 500 team until then and then after that... I still think this team is noticeably better, maybe not defensively, but overall there's more talent.

Thibs will sort out the defensive issues. There's enough good personnel that we should at least be average on that end. With that said we're currently a top 5 offense without looking great I'd say for 60% of the time tbh.. If we can stay in the top 10 in offense and creep our way up defensively we should be a more consistent team even if it doesn't feel like the same energy we had last year and I still think we're better equipped for a playoff matchup with anyone but the Bucks and the Nets

Derrick Rose happened. That's why he is by far the most important player on this team.

First off, we'll get out of the way that Rose is wildly important to the Knicks. But Rose on the Knicks without Randle and that team wins 28 games. Probably Randle without Rose isn't doing a lot better, maybe 33 games (in a 71 game season)

Rose was exactly what the Knicks needed, but it also points out how talent deficient the Knicks were in general. I mean, we love RJ, but he was still developing and still IS developing. IQ was a nice story but has his limitations, Obi looked more LFT than Larry F*cking Nance Sr, and Bullocks is like supersized Trent Tucker. So, kudos the Randle AND Rose AND Thibs for getting 41/71 while carrying around Boat Anchor Elf.

I think this year's team is somewhat better than the Rose version. Not a lot, but certainly some more depth or depth of variety. That's what it is, it was a small but possibly important incremental step, where the Knicks can make a trade at some point and still have enough useful players with some variety in their game that the Knicks still field a reasonable team. When? As covered often by many, who knows.

[thebuzzardman]

For the all the angst, driven mostly by the loss to Cleveland, Knicks win against the 76ers (depleted though they were) was like a win last year. Knicks played defense, kept the game close, Randle made shots and some assists down the stretch and win.

Yeah and the regular season was great last year.

Well, yeah. And the post season sucked but that's because the Knicks rolled out like 2.5 complete offensive players - Randle, Rose and RJ. Now they have 5. Is it enough? Who knows. But last year's sure as hell wasn't, and in retrospect that should have been obvious.
Fournier isn't awesome and Kemba is not prime Kemba, but they addressed fairly significant needs.

With that said, the Knicks compromised their current ceiling a bit by going somewhat cheaper/shorter with Fournier/Kemba/running back the bench mob, and maybe should have laid out the money for Powell or Trent Jr or Ball or DeRozan - some combination of Ball and the other 3, but they seem to planning to be able to get in on some trade at some point. So now it's the waiting game to see if they can do that, which means skill AND luck.

[HarthorneWingo]

Grayson Allen is on fire. He had 25 last night on 8-13 FGs and 5-9 from 3. RJ has got to put the clamps on him.

Btw, is Grayson Allen Ted Cruz’s son?

I thought he was David Duchovny's son.

I think Ted Cruz looks more like Grayson Allen than Grayson Allen does.

[makeitstop]

Read on Twitter

[Clyde_Style]

Tommy beer must be stopped with these meaningless stats. Jesus.

Tommy Beer: "81.3% of Shamms' posts are negative, with 2.5% of those containing a nasty curse"

with the remaining 16.2% in the form of petulant monosyllabic posts

[HEZI]

We've been playing a lot of teams who are shorthanded. Our most impressive win this year was maybe against Chicago. This should be a win but Bucks will want revenge so they will likely be hungry so this would be a solid W if we come out on top. Would feel a lot better to win even in ugly fashion than that crappy Sixers win

[HarthorneWingo]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

[F N 11]

This gonna have to be a shoot out

[makeitstop]

This gonna have to be a shoot out

Hopefully Ju can rack up a few large for the kids.

[Jalen Bluntson]

I'm just happy we have the ability to win more games than the previous almost decade of teams. I have zero expectations beyond being able to root for wins for a change. This isn't a contender and it most likely won't be after the TDL. We will win some and lose some all year long. I hope to see some youth develop along the way. That's about it. I'm am not emotionally invested in anything going on with rotations or...any of the players we currently have. Just entertain me with no drama and I will be happy with whatever happens.

[Zenzibar]

Yeah, 2 PGs over 30 with extensive injury histories isn't enough, we need to get a third.

Considering Kemba has been a straight liability on defense and playing a Jose Calderon style of game, it's not the worst option. It's not like we'd have to give up any assets to get him if he was bought out.

Continuity and keeping the peace in the locker room are the only two real reasons why it wouldn't work. Ruining the Knicks' glamorous homecoming story would be another I guess.

Hey Kemba is arguably one of the most respected and beloved players in the league. That applies both on and off the court. The Knicks team as a whole benefits from his reputation and having him mentor is invaluable.

He and Rose have no problems co-exiting, lets not make one. Rose is underrated as a defender and ball hawk. IQ is a beneficiary of this and Kemba is coaching with his big shot propensity.
Once our perimeter defense becomes smothering again, we'll get tougher to beat like was mentioned.