We have 2 teams. The starters play slow and their offensive and defensive efficiency is poor. The second team plays at a pace that is one of the fastest and it’s effective. The rotation needs to be integrated or he is going to lose the locker room
martin wrote:
And we are stuck with this guy for 4 more
yrs 
I mentioned in a thread over the summer that we should sell high on Randle and move him...His playoff performance was alarming.
Man, the starters all play like elfrid Payton
We stink.
Effort is a problem this season. Fournier is going to turn into a bad contract real quick.
Let’s get the Sixers on the phone, Fournier, Burks, IQ, 3 firsts for Simmons.
This season isn't fun anymore. By Dec 8 we will be well under .500
MS wrote:We stink. Effort is a problem this season. Fournier is going to turn into a bad contract real quick.
Let’s get the Sixers on the phone, Fournier, Burks, IQ, 3 firsts for Simmons.
frustration/in the moment trade? a guy who wilted under pressure and criticism coming to ny?
We won't change it though. It did get us to 5 - 1 so it has to be good. Right?
Joining the thread late but the worries with Randle should die down.
Yes, Thibs should probably have rolled with the bench last night, but these are the set starters and its early on in the season. We all know when Julius is not in a funk he is a dominant player, especially in the regular season.
I thought things would be so much better when Elf was made gone?
Losing always sucks but I'm not sounding any alarm or panicking. This season has gone and is going as I expected. This is a 45 win team at best. Meaning you'll see a lot of up and downs, winning streaks here, losing streaks there. We'll beat some contenders and lose to some bottom feeders. I think what we are missing from being that 50-55 win team (or even 60 win team) and title contender is that grade A superstar. Someone like KD, LeBron or Curry. Those players bring it 99% of the time. They don't go through many slumps. That's why they are elite and MVP candidates. Most teams do not have them and they are almost impossible to acquire.
This is not a shot at Randle. I really like and support and appreciate Randle. He's 'almost' the perfect Knick imo. He works hard, he cares, he doesn't get in trouble of the court and his teammates and coaches love him. He also seems like a good husband and father. He just lacks that next level to that elite status on the court. Maybe he will get there one day but right now, he's a level below. Last night was a struggle for him. He's had too many of those games this season for whatever reason. Could be the new baby, the fans back in the building or he's simply just not playing as well as last season (teamd defending him different?). He's down from 24 ppg on 46/41/81 to 21 ppg on 42/36/77 shooting. It's still early but he's clearly not playing his best. I see too much hero ball, dribbling too much and lack of effort and poor body language on defense when his shot isn't falling. But I'm confident Randle will get back to that level from last season. I do not view his season last season as a fluke. He'll figure it out.
RJ was also disappointing last night. Bad shooting nights happen but his lack of effort and concentration on defense was most irritating. He says his goal was to be on the All-NBA team. That requires maximum effort and concentration on defense every single game. He's having too many brain farts leaving his man in transition, getting beat back door, not boxing him out, failing to recover him past the three. But I'm also confident RJ will get there eventually. Kid works too hard and cares too much.
On the bright side last night, we defended a lot better. Hornets only shot 10/26 from three. We also outrebounded the by 2. Turnovers were still an issue with 19. Like Thibs says, you win with defense, rebounding and keeping your turnovers low.
I really liked how Kemba played last night. We need him to be super aggressive. He wasn't brought here for his defense or to play the Elfrid Payton role. Kemba needs to look for shot and score. Same with Fournier. He passed up too many shots last night for some reason.
Major kudos to the bench once again. They are our biggest strength and advantage so far and I can see why Thibs doesn't want to mess with it. Although I do think he needs to pull the trigger and bring in the bench in these third quarters. Do not wait until the 4 minute mark. Bring them as soon as you see the starters just not playing with required effort.
Wonder if we could get Payton from the Suns - a pair of twos? The Hornets pick? Or since he needs to be traded now, Randle?
I’m not happy either but I’m a give it time guy. In the meantime I do enjoy the prisoner of the moment threads - a few weeks ago when we were headed to the finals and today when we need to back up the truck.
I do hope we win a few soon. 
I remember i fell asleep and we were up by 18, i wake up and we were down like 7 in 4th. Horrific.
Clean wrote:
We won't change it though. It did get us to 5 - 1 so it has to be good. Right?
I actually just posted this link in another thread. Didn't see this last night...As I alluded to in the other thread, the defensive issues are bigger than just 2 new starters...
KnickDanger wrote:Wonder if we could get Payton from the Suns - a pair of twos? The Hornets pick? Or since he needs to be traded now, Randle?I’m not happy either but I’m a give it time guy. In the meantime I do enjoy the prisoner of the moment threads - a few weeks ago when we were headed to the finals and today when we need to back up the truck.
I do hope we win a few soon.
We don't need to- like I said, right now we have FIVE players playing like Elfrid Payton for whole quarters at a time- putrid on offense, no passing, no defense, not effort, no heart, devoid of any joy for the game.
Man, when we Wuz 5-1 it like “Fuck you who think we not a top seed 60+ Team!!! Bing bong, Whooo!!!!Hell yeah we the shit, fuck anyone not in this mode!
Fuck the nets too! Extrapolate to the future! Whoo Yeah, fuck Boston!
Remember going undefeated In preseaon and anyone who not on board with it: Fuck you too!
Not its like “can’t put my finger on it but damn it the team not the same since Elf left”. Too soon? LLOL…..
Guys, you don’t know the future. We may be on the verge of collapse, or the verge of going on winning streak. Most likely something in between.
