PG: Close, but no cigar

[Michael Jackson]

Everyone is going to talk about the final possession, but we lost because we were too small. The defense is one thing, size is another. We got killed on the boards for yet another game. And Randle was being defended by Lonzo & Caruso all game, leading to 10 FTs. That's basically game right there.

Not having even one big man on this roster the coach can trust to defend any big in this league is a red flag problem. This entire "throw PGs at the league's bigs" is never going to work. Lonzo blocking opposing centers at the rim only works for the Isaiah Stewarts.

AK threw all our eggs into the Patrick Williams gamble, and we're seeing the results.

Mostly agree but we lost primarily because Knicks defense is good and our offensive execution isn’t great. We need size but also can offset it by playing smarter.

[Clyde_Style]

Everyone is going to talk about the final possession, but we lost because we were too small. The defense is one thing, size is another. We got killed on the boards for yet another game. And Randle was being defended by Lonzo & Caruso all game, leading to 10 FTs. That's basically game right there.

Not having even one big man on this roster the coach can trust to defend to any big in this league is a red flag problem. This entire "throw PGs at the league's bigs" is never going to work. Lonzo blocking opposing centers at the rim only works for the Isaiah Stewarts.

AK threw all our eggs into the Patrick Williams gamble, and we're seeing the results.

Mitch is our secret weapon. He dominated Embiid last game. He put on 40 lbs of muscle and he is stopping guys in their tracks. You don’t have anyone to counter him and I’m wondering now if anyone does. Gobert and Jokic will test him, but he destroyed Embiid so I’m fairly positive he’s one of the keys to the Knicks making a run this year.

[Michael Jackson]

Everyone is going to talk about the final possession, but we lost because we were too small. The defense is one thing, size is another. We got killed on the boards for yet another game. And Randle was being defended by Lonzo & Caruso all game, leading to 10 FTs. That's basically game right there.

Not having even one big man on this roster the coach can trust to defend to any big in this league is a red flag problem. This entire "throw PGs at the league's bigs" is never going to work. Lonzo blocking opposing centers at the rim only works for the Isaiah Stewarts.

AK threw all our eggs into the Patrick Williams gamble, and we're seeing the results.

Mitch is our secret weapon. He dominated Embiid last game. He put on 40 lbs of muscle and he is stopping guys in their tracks. You don’t have anyone to counter him and I’m wondering now if anyone does. Gobert and Jokic will test him, but he destroyed Embiid so I’m fairly positive he’s one of the keys to the Knicks making a run this year.

Agree I overlooked him. For a few years he has been unsung. He is really really solid.

[Michael Jackson]

We got NYK fans posting here, where is money Mitch! Best troll job ever.

[Clyde_Style]

Entertaining game. This will be a good match-up the rest of the year. We almost threw away the game, but thanks to RJ’s defense ….. Bing Bong

I like RJ. He may never be a franchise cornerstone but he doesn’t need to be that. Man knows how to use his body. He can be the better version of Loul Deng sooner rather than later. He is showing consistent growth. If he keeps evolving him and Randle can open up everything for everyone else and each other. Knicks aren’t too heavy but have a lot of really good players and we all know Thibs can squeeze more juice out of players than anyone.

RJ is not a spontaneous athlete, but he is a relatively smart one. He’s 21 and in his third year and he makes lots of incremental improvements each year. Some Knicks fans don’t care for him and want to trade him, but it would be a mistake. He’ll end up being the 2nd best player from his draft after Ja. Zion is amazing, but he’s eating himself out of the league. RJ will keep rising though.

[Grodoboldo]

Hey. Great game. Your team defense is incredible. You could use some rim protection off the bench. You’ll be there all year.

at your title!

Thanks man! Great to have games against you guys meaning something again!

Gramps’s Law? The mods did that on purpose because I’m 63 and a lawyer, those mofos. But they put up with me.

LOL, glad to know the origins of it. Wear it proudly, my man!

[mmmmmbeeer]

Why doesn't Lonzo get to the free throw line more often? Is it that he doesn't drive to the basket enough? I haven't watched him close enough to tell. He's not a small guy so you'd think he'd be better in this regard.

I honestly haven't seen much of him....tuned out pretty far on the NBA while the Bulls floundered in awfulness. That said, it definitely surprises me that he doesn't drive and dish more, or even drive and just dribble right back out if nothing is there (like a Rondo). Seems he needs to probe the defense more. Put pressure on the D to react to his aggressiveness instead of staying at the key or back and conducting the offense.

[bullsnewdynasty]

If LaVine gets the last shot, Bulls win.

Have absolutely no clue why DeRozan got the last shot. Completely baffling.

[Dan Z]

Why doesn't Lonzo get to the free throw line more often? Is it that he doesn't drive to the basket enough? I haven't watched him close enough to tell. He's not a small guy so you'd think he'd be better in this regard.

I honestly haven't seen much of him....tuned out pretty far on the NBA while the Bulls floundered in awfulness. That said, it definitely surprises me that he doesn't drive and dish more, or even drive and just dribble right back out if nothing is there (like a Rondo). Seems he needs to probe the defense more. Put pressure on the D to react to his aggressiveness instead of staying at the key or back and conducting the offense.

I feel like sometimes he's just sort of vanishes.

But I am impressed with his defense.

[Grodoboldo]

Entertaining game. This will be a good match-up the rest of the year. We almost threw away the game, but thanks to RJ’s defense ….. Bing Bong

I like RJ. He may never be a franchise cornerstone but he doesn’t need to be that. Man knows how to use his body. He can be the better version of Loul Deng sooner rather than later. He is showing consistent growth. If he keeps evolving him and Randle can open up everything for everyone else and each other. Knicks aren’t too heavy but have a lot of really good players and we all know Thibs can squeeze more juice out of players than anyone.

RJ is not a spontaneous athlete, but he is a relatively smart one. He’s 21 and in his third year and he makes lots of incremental improvements each year. Some Knicks fans don’t care for him and want to trade him, but it would be a mistake. He’ll end up being the 2nd best player from his draft after Ja. Zion is amazing, but he’s eating himself out of the league. RJ will keep rising though.

Yeah, I wasn't a believer in the draft, but he improved steadly each season to the point that I think he's a foundational player. Does a little bit of everything and is a two-way player.

[Chi town]

Didn’t like the play there. Either something broke or it was mistake having Demar involved in the hand-off. Think giving it to Zach to work 1 Vuc screen would’ve been the simpler more effective play.

No screen when the are blitzing all game and there is 5 seconds left.

It was a great play. DDR just has to give that up or take that all the way to the rim and get fouled and win on FTs.

I like Zach at the top of the key with Fournier with 3 secs left. Zach makes a pull-up to win it

[Grodoboldo]

We got NYK fans posting here, where is money Mitch! Best troll job ever.

(angrily shakes fists to the sky)

[bullsaficianado]

They should have called Kukoc down from the stands to take the last shot he wouldn't have shot an air ball like Derozan. Demar should have passed it to Zach for the 3 he was open.

Good game but Bulls need to play better.

[Michael Jackson]

Entertaining game. This will be a good match-up the rest of the year. We almost threw away the game, but thanks to RJ’s defense ….. Bing Bong

I like RJ. He may never be a franchise cornerstone but he doesn’t need to be that. Man knows how to use his body. He can be the better version of Loul Deng sooner rather than later. He is showing consistent growth. If he keeps evolving him and Randle can open up everything for everyone else and each other. Knicks aren’t too heavy but have a lot of really good players and we all know Thibs can squeeze more juice out of players than anyone.

RJ is not a spontaneous athlete, but he is a relatively smart one. He’s 21 and in his third year and he makes lots of incremental improvements each year. Some Knicks fans don’t care for him and want to trade him, but it would be a mistake. He’ll end up being the 2nd best player from his draft after Ja. Zion is amazing, but he’s eating himself out of the league. RJ will keep rising though.

If Zion can’t stay healthy he might be the third best Dukie in that draft. I get that RJ isn’t a clear cut #1 but no reason to get rid of him. I’ve always liked him TBH. Call up Dolan and I’ll make the trade for Patrick Williams happen for him lol.

I have aways been jealous of NYK fandom to be honest. It is so visceral, I am not that personally, but I wish I was.

[chifan1798]

I don't understand how DJJr isn't playing over Brown or Green. He played 20 minutes + the last two seasons for good playoff teams. I think he's better than those guys.

Yeah, I questioned this in the game thread. Although I think Green has definitely earned his minutes on the floor….but I don’t get why TBJ gets so much time, and we don’t give DJJ a try

[Michael Jackson]

They should have called Kukoc down from the stands to take the last shot he wouldn't have shot an air ball like Derozan. Demar should have passed it to Zach for the 3 he was open.

Good game but Bulls need to play better.

Yeah they do, but this is a new team and you learn to play better by games like this. Also they did play better last year this ga,e would have been over long before the last shot.

[Clyde_Style]

Knicks should be more worried after this. They played their best game and were hitting shots all game long while the bulls didn’t play well, yet they only lost by 1 pt. Knicks might have played better and won tonight but they are not the better team.

Agree, but they are still the better team until we prove we can be consistent, which they have been. I think we can but we hve to earn it still.

That’s fair. Regardless of who’s better I expect both these teams to be close in the standings throughout the season.

It was not our best game. Randle was a bonehead and we still won. Both him and Lavine lost their composure. We’re still learning how to play with each other just like your guys. You’ll get better as the season goes on and so will the Knicks. But we’re a deeper team than the Bulls so I’d bet on the Knicks improving a bit more. Glad to have some kind of rivalries brewing again in the East.

[Clyde_Style]

I like RJ. He may never be a franchise cornerstone but he doesn’t need to be that. Man knows how to use his body. He can be the better version of Loul Deng sooner rather than later. He is showing consistent growth. If he keeps evolving him and Randle can open up everything for everyone else and each other. Knicks aren’t too heavy but have a lot of really good players and we all know Thibs can squeeze more juice out of players than anyone.

RJ is not a spontaneous athlete, but he is a relatively smart one. He’s 21 and in his third year and he makes lots of incremental improvements each year. Some Knicks fans don’t care for him and want to trade him, but it would be a mistake. He’ll end up being the 2nd best player from his draft after Ja. Zion is amazing, but he’s eating himself out of the league. RJ will keep rising though.

If Zion can’t stay healthy he might be the third best Dukie in that draft. I get that RJ isn’t a clear cut #1 but no reason to get rid of him. I’ve always liked him TBH. Call up Dolan and I’ll make the trade for Patrick Williams happen for him lol.

I have aways been jealous of NYK fandom to be honest. It is so visceral, I am not that personally, but I wish I was.

We’re brutal fans, but funny. I’m being very nice tonight

[Michael Jackson]

Agree, but they are still the better team until we prove we can be consistent, which they have been. I think we can but we hve to earn it still.

That’s fair. Regardless of who’s better I expect both these teams to be close in the standings throughout the season.

It was not our best game. Randle was a bonehead and we still won. Both him and Lavine lost their composure. We’re still learning how to play with each other just like your guys. You’ll get better as the season goes on and so will the Knicks. But we’re a deeper team than the Bulls so I’d bet on the Knicks improving a bit more. Glad to have some kind of rivalries brewing again in the East.

Agreed. This is good for the nba as a whole, and a playoff matchup between these two would be great. Let’s make it 10 more games this year instead of 3.

[Clyde_Style]

I like RJ. He may never be a franchise cornerstone but he doesn’t need to be that. Man knows how to use his body. He can be the better version of Loul Deng sooner rather than later. He is showing consistent growth. If he keeps evolving him and Randle can open up everything for everyone else and each other. Knicks aren’t too heavy but have a lot of really good players and we all know Thibs can squeeze more juice out of players than anyone.

RJ is not a spontaneous athlete, but he is a relatively smart one. He’s 21 and in his third year and he makes lots of incremental improvements each year. Some Knicks fans don’t care for him and want to trade him, but it would be a mistake. He’ll end up being the 2nd best player from his draft after Ja. Zion is amazing, but he’s eating himself out of the league. RJ will keep rising though.

Yeah, I wasn't a believer in the draft, but he improved steadly each season to the point that I think he's a foundational player. Does a little bit of everything and is a two-way player.

He’s becoming an elite defender right before our eyes. Not elite yet, but he’s becoming our stopper. Didn’t know it was possible since he’s not the quickest guy, but he gets into his crouch stance, sticks out those arms and moves his feet and he’s fcking people up. Star players are shooting poorly against RJ so he’s earning it on that end of the court for sure.