The Bucks who brutalized Brunson and perhaps set scouting templete for other teams to follow.
Obviously offense is not the issue with this team. Its the defense. Its why we did not over pay for DM for the 2? Thibs and FO likely understands the issue. EF removal was at JB’s expense. Not that blame is all that important here. With Mitch out its even worse.
Its Grimes job if he can handle it. Cam, not IQ or Drose starts over EF. This tells me the issue. (My opinion)Grimes is the answer but we don’t know if he up to the task yet.
That defensive coach Thibs cannot impliment a schematic to over come this is an issue. His removal does not cure this issue. My guess is Johnny Bryant is next up it Thibs cannot fix it.
Team is one game under .500 but the tilt of up coming roadtrip will not make it easy and fans are restless.
Aggregate of issues:
1. Randle iso play. Is it a cause or a symptom that opponents are stifling the wonderful ball movement we saw earlier. If the passing lanes are clogged, Randle and a declining shot clock are forcing the issue. Is it the play that leads to the play?
2. RJ having to focus defense on best player, and then both create offense AND do the iso thing. They put a lot on his plate.
3. Brunson Defense. Maybe why cuban was reluctant to pay him when he was not the alpha. He is ours. They have luka.
4. Thibs kept both RJ and Brunson out. That was a bad look telling he does not have an answer.
5. Grimes lack of playing time due to injury.
6. IQ and Obi are not the answer. That is not defacto statement and thus why fans want to see it and solve. Thibs is not an experimenter.
At the same time if this is as good as it gets, and Im serious now, then its an organic tank if we don’t make a trade to shake it up. Such trades are expensive and it could matter down the road. A road that each year we don’t succeed seems longer and longer. Look for us to be sellers than buyers for a sign
Do nothing is tanking? Leon won’t say it. Thibs would never admit it, and Dolan is mute which is good. Fans will get angry.
This is about getting top 5 pick and a player that can contribute and excite the fan base. Can’t just rely on the Alien. Its about the greater odds and getting a good one in a top heavy draft.
Conclusion. Its too early to give up but if knicks tank, and the stakes with the Thompson twins, Scoot and “The Alien” all alluring it very much could be the year to do this.
Slam dunk tell tale signs:
*We sell than buy when trades open up. (Thanks to Capt obvious for this one!)
*Fan pressure mounts, Thib takes time away from team for some health reason. Bryant then can experiment and perhaps this is a prelude to trades either this year or next. Fans are more accepting and Losing would be more tolerated. If Bryant pulls some great turnaround it becomes permanent. Yoot might be more tradable. Its some weird far out shit here. No time table prediction. Just a spitball. Knicks are not that good. Nobody said they’d be more than battle for play in. Thibs might be keeping us from the cellar than from playoffs. Its not saying much.
