PG: Knicks vs. Trail Blazers: #OGKENOBI

[Fat Kat]

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[Jalen Bluntson]

The stagnation with Hart and Wright together is another level. If the Knicks didn't force a lot of turnovers, they would have had their asses handed to them by the not that great Blazers.

It's a combination of Brunson being out and none of the other starters being that creatively good on ball, plus Thibs lack of play calling imagination.

Even with Brunson in the offense went through good and bad stretches movement wise, but it generally looked better based on talent.

Maybe all this looks better next year. I have doubts.

The second unit is relying on stops and turnovers for offense regardless. Cam Payne's 7 and 3 this season aren't making or breaking it. He hasn't been bad, but he's been crucial or even particularly good. Most of the time he's barely passable. Which is why I'd have liked to try different looks for the second unit. Particularly because I don't think Cam's point-guard play has made anyone else better...Kolek or Wright might not help either, but at least they add different elements to a unit that has been called weak all season long.

Kolek/Wright have proven to be serviceable bench players. It's only due to injuries that we are seeing this so late in the season in Kolek case. Both actually but, we just traded for Wright a few weeks ago. I agree about Payne and feel the same about Shamet too. They aren't integral to our success. They have barely been serviceable plenty of nights. Useless other nights. I won't expect Thibs to change anything once everyone is healthy. We will not see Kolek or Wright again after that. Just like we didn't see Kolek all year. We will be lucky to see 8 players in the playoffs.

Brunson/Payne
Mikal/Deuce
Hart/Shamet
OG
KAT/Mitch

That's about as deep as we will go and the bench will play about 50-60 minutes a game combined. Precious is done most likely. Shamet will most likely get the short end of the stick with 7-9 minutes if he's lucky. I will be shocked if anyone else plays. Maybe Precious and Shamet will battle for those situational minutes at best.

[WaltFrazier]

Do you really see Wright taking Payne's role off the bench?

Thibs is all about NET rating so I doubt it. Payne shooting and pushing the pace would be nice.

Delon Wright is the better defender and isn't as reckless with the ball. He is more of a "system" guard where he initiates offense and then runs more sets. When Payne is more of a free spirit out there. When he's hot he can provide a spark but his shot selection is questionable at times.

Do I see Thibs making that change? No.

Am I curious about how it would look? Absolutely. Payne's style of play is fine, and it generates pressure on the defense. But I don't think it gets the most out of Deuce or Shamet, who are better on catch-and-shoot opportunities than off-the-dribble shooting (at least at a distance). I also think that pairing the two best POA defenders off the bench on a team whose offense is best in transition could generate more turnovers and stops that lead to easy offense.

But I'm agnostic. I'm just curious what it would look like. I'm also interested to see if Tyler Kolek would help get Deuce into better shooting rhythm, but I know that's not happening.

I'm going to say something that I hope isn't as controversial as it has the potential to be

Delon Wright is basically a Frank who isn't timid.

So we have a template of how Thibs would use a player like that. Situationally, and as more of wing.

I would say no, Payne is safe because Thibs values 1 thing from his PG above all else: Rim pressure. Cam, though not perfect, provides that more than the other two. He also gets up 3's with volume, which this offense needs.

I don't think Thibs views the other guys as PG's. Just small wings. If you play them, they have to be paired with either Brunson, Payne, or Mikal.

I thought I saw, especially in Delon's first start, Mikal and Hart actually bringing the ball up and initiating a lot. Probably because Delon as a full time handler every possession would get hounded by the best opposing POA defender. But with him as a 6'5 secondary playmaker Thibs is more comfortable .

A related point. I'd like to see Thibs expand his rotation and use and develop more bench guys, like many others here. When he's forced to play someone like Precious, Delon, Kolek, Payne more minutes because of injuries, guys like that often look good or at least competent when allowed to play through mistakes and get in rhythm. But in Thibs defense, when everyone's healthy, it's hard for players like that to give the team 4-5 minutes of the same level of play they did in say 20 minutes. So he just sticks with 7-8 guys

[HopelessKnick]

Honestly Bridges should just keep shooting that same shot as much as possible. It's a hard to stop shot, the midrange fadeaway, and he seems to get hot as he keeps going. So keep doing it. He cuts and shoots the corner 3 decently well. But when Brunson is not doing his thing, OG and MB one on one is what we got left. Lean into iso because at this point, it's not going to change and the three of them are good ISO players. Didn't think that about OG that much but he's def showing he can do it.

I think ultimately it comes down to this question: Can the Knicks thrive/be optimized with 4 scorers in the starting line-up? It seems with Brunson and KAT in the line-up , both OG and Bridges take a backseat to them and their overall play (offense and defense) drops of considerably unfortunately. I don't think there is a great way to fix it other than having one come off the bench which is kinda iffy since both are absolutely legit starters. I think ultimately it will go in the direction of KAT being traded at some point for a 2 way forward capable of providing 18 points and being switchable against anyone and Mitch starting if he can stay healthy. There aren't too many 2-way forwards around the league though.

I personally would love to see this group succeed together but am not sure they can do it fitwise. It seems that against elite teams you can only afford one defensive liability.

[Jalen Bluntson]

Honestly Bridges should just keep shooting that same shot as much as possible. It's a hard to stop shot, the midrange fadeaway, and he seems to get hot as he keeps going. So keep doing it. He cuts and shoots the corner 3 decently well. But when Brunson is not doing his thing, OG and MB one on one is what we got left. Lean into iso because at this point, it's not going to change and the three of them are good ISO players. Didn't think that about OG that much but he's def showing he can do it.

I think ultimately it comes down to this question: Can the Knicks thrive/be optimized with 4 scorers in the starting line-up? It seems with Brunson and KAT in the line-up , both OG and Bridges take a backseat to them and their overall play (offense and defense) drops of considerably unfortunately. I don't think there is a great way to fix it other than having one come off the bench which is kinda iffy since both are absolutely legit starters. I think ultimately it will go in the direction of KAT being traded at some point for a 2 way forward capable of providing 18 points and being switchable against anyone and Mitch starting if he can stay healthy. There aren't too many 2-way forwards around the league though.

I personally would love to see this group succeed together but am not sure they can do it fitwise. It seems that against elite teams you can only afford one defensive liability.

If there is a concerted effort to let everyone get involved, the more the merrier. You don't want the defense to be able shut your whole system down by putting a C on Hart and a guard/wing on KAT. We have seen the best of all of our players at this point. Make it fit together now. It doesn't have to be all about playing off of ISO Brunson anymore. We have seen the team work without him so, there's more than one way to skin a cat now.

[thebuzzardman]

When did OG discover he had a Mikal middy in his bag? Maybe there was a hidden zipper pocket he didn't know was there but when he found it and opened it up out it popped...

Brunson was clogging all the midrange

Your trolling has become way too methodical and predictable just saying the basic contrarian thing, throw some more curveballs, this forum needs some fresh memes.

Maybe OG stole it from Mikal's bag that's why Bridges can't hit them anymore...there, we'll run with that one for awhile.

Am not!

[thebuzzardman]

The Celtics have 4 or 5 bonafide scorers and they make it work

[ctorres]

The Celtics have 4 or 5 bonafide scorers and they make it work

We do too and we are gonna take them down come playoff time!

[taikibansei]

He said it's important to him to put his success ahead of the team? Interesting. What interview?

google is free and I’m going to need to be paid for any further labor on this since you’re being an ass about it

I'm being an as about it? I asked a simple question. You are in here saying he said he will rush back and chase accolades and possibly get hurt. I seriously doubt that clown take.

I believe he's misquoting Brunson from this article:

"Realistically, I'm hoping to play before the playoffs," Brunson said in a pregame media session at his locker before New York hosted the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden. "It's good for me to get some game reps before we go into that type of stretch run, but the most important thing is trying to be 100 percent healthy."

The All-NBA guard has been out since March 6, when he suffered an ankle sprain on an awkward landing late in a loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles. Brunson had 39 points and 10 assists in that game, his latest performance in a brilliant season that again has him in contention for MVP votes and another All-NBA selection.

With 61 games played, however, Brunson is short of the 65 required to be eligible for those awards. And though he said he'd like to get to that benchmark, Brunson reiterated that his priority is to be ready for the postseason.

"Individually, yeah," Brunson said, when asked if contending for awards matters to him, "but I just want to make sure I'm fully healthy before I go out there."

https://www.espn.co.uk/nba/story/_/id/44470243/knicks-jalen-brunson-says-hopes-return-playoffs

Either my Google-fu is off, or that's the only recent interview of Brunson out there...and Brunson specifically states that his priority is the team.

[MrDollarBills]

I’m worried that Brunson is going to try to rush it back in the last 4 games trying to get his accolades and all-nba award and whatever and would get hurt again over it so hopefully they’re handling it responsibly

This makes no sense. Brunson is not out here chasing accolades or stat padding. He's not a selfish ball hog either. He is committed to doing whatever it takes to win. He was 7th in scoring and 8th in assists in the entire league when he went down. All the dumb takes about him need to stop.

He said in the interview when they asked him about it that it is individually important to him so my take is based off his own response.

For what it's worth, Hahn said about 20 mins ago that when he spoke to Brunson, making the 65 game cut off was not his concern.

[MrDollarBills]

google is free and I’m going to need to be paid for any further labor on this since you’re being an ass about it

I'm being an as about it? I asked a simple question. You are in here saying he said he will rush back and chase accolades and possibly get hurt. I seriously doubt that clown take.

I believe he's misquoting Brunson from this article:

"Realistically, I'm hoping to play before the playoffs," Brunson said in a pregame media session at his locker before New York hosted the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden. "It's good for me to get some game reps before we go into that type of stretch run, but the most important thing is trying to be 100 percent healthy."

The All-NBA guard has been out since March 6, when he suffered an ankle sprain on an awkward landing late in a loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles. Brunson had 39 points and 10 assists in that game, his latest performance in a brilliant season that again has him in contention for MVP votes and another All-NBA selection.

With 61 games played, however, Brunson is short of the 65 required to be eligible for those awards. And though he said he'd like to get to that benchmark, Brunson reiterated that his priority is to be ready for the postseason.

"Individually, yeah," Brunson said, when asked if contending for awards matters to him, "but I just want to make sure I'm fully healthy before I go out there."

https://www.espn.co.uk/nba/story/_/id/44470243/knicks-jalen-brunson-says-hopes-return-playoffs

Either my Google-fu is off, or that's the only recent interview of Brunson out there...and Brunson specifically states that his priority is the team.

Hahn said he spoke to him last night. Unless Brunson is lying, he's not going to jeopardize his recovery by coming back to make the cut off.

[HarthorneWingo]

Wrong. 408 to CF. Try again. You need some more toast for all that jelly?

They just painted that number to fool people like you. It’s a mini stadium.

Right field line is closer but, outside of that your stadium is not really much bigger. No excuses that your bums can't hit HRs. This may be considered derailing though so, we will troll each other in the proper channels sir!!!

Beat the Mets
Beat the Mets
Come on down and Beat the Mets!!

Baseball batsgate

[MrDollarBills]

The Celtics have 4 or 5 bonafide scorers and they make it work

Right. There's really no excuse as to why it took a bad injury for the team to share the basketball and let OG and Mikal work.

[Jalen Bluntson]

This makes no sense. Brunson is not out here chasing accolades or stat padding. He's not a selfish ball hog either. He is committed to doing whatever it takes to win. He was 7th in scoring and 8th in assists in the entire league when he went down. All the dumb takes about him need to stop.

He said in the interview when they asked him about it that it is individually important to him so my take is based off his own response.

For what it's worth, Hahn said about 20 mins ago that when he spoke to Brunson, making the 65 game cut off was not his concern.

Not surprised at all. Is anyone? Oh...wait.

[K_ick_God]

KAT can shoot 3's off of the others, or he can try to make quick finishes down low off the pass. KAT after he holds the ball more than a couple ticks -- that doesn't seem to work out.

[thebuzzardman]

The Celtics have 4 or 5 bonafide scorers and they make it work

Right. There's really no excuse as to why it took a bad injury for the team to share the basketball and let OG and Mikal work.

The ball was moving at one stretch of the season. The league adjusted and Tibbs didn’t

[MrDollarBills]

KAT can shoot 3's off of the others, or he can try to make quick finishes down low off the pass. KAT after he holds the ball more than a couple ticks -- that doesn't seem to work out.

KAT should be putting up way more three pointers. I don't understand why Tom wants him posting up. Last night I counted multiple instances of Karl attacking versus double coverage.

[MrDollarBills]

This weekend has broken Mets fans

Didn't they sign some guy who's supposed to be a power hitter, what's his name, When Soso?

Only 159 games left

I’m looking forward to the Mets-Yankees series.

I'm counting the days sir. I've never wanted to see the subway series this bad in my life

[K_ick_God]

KAT can shoot 3's off of the others, or he can try to make quick finishes down low off the pass. KAT after he holds the ball more than a couple ticks -- that doesn't seem to work out.

KAT should be putting up way more three pointers. I don't understand why Tom wants him posting up. Last night I counted multiple instances of Karl attacking versus double coverage.

It's nonsensical really. Listen, the eye test is underrated. Basketball isn't all that complex or nuanced. A coach like Tom is able to win with a few good players, and he deserves credit for that, but he's winning despite some obvious dumb stuff. Maybe the team with the least stupidity wins.

[Adelheid]

The Celtics have 4 or 5 bonafide scorers and they make it work

Right. There's really no excuse as to why it took a bad injury for the team to share the basketball and let OG and Mikal work.

BOS POBO used to be a coach and I do think that has bearing on how the team plays