We made the playoff 2 years ago on the back of defense while playing one of the slowest paces in the league. I think we thought that adding a shooter/scorer to our rotation would give us a boost to get closer to the top tier and we went for Fournier in FA. But along the way I think we lost some of the identity of the team. This year Thibs was talking letting 3 pointers fly, but there's a difference between running them up quickly and making them a key part of the offense. Last two games we have slowed the pace, focused on closing out on D and last night you saw hit good 3s. Guys like Grimes and McBride coming in have revived some of that mentality from the rest of the team on the floor. I think the last two games matched the identity of the team 2 years ago, and in general, the identity of a Thibs coached team. We don't have the talent to gun with the high octane Os, but there's an opportunity to play a different sort of game to match up with teams around the league and provide a tough match up. That's who we were 2 years ago and that should be our identity now. I hope last 2 games aren't a drop in the bucket, but a sign of things to come.
Knixkik@ 12/8/2022 9:08 AM
I agree. The identity of this team should mirror what we did 2 years ago, plus the improvement at PG with Brunson. Around Brunson, Barrett and Randle, this should be a team of only high intensity defensive minded players. Grimes, IQ, Quickley are 3 ideal pieces (with the exception being their size) to surround these guys with. The idea is you have 3 guys who can at least give you enough offense, and a stable defense that can protect leads etc. that’s what we have lacked to this point and seem to have found the last 2 games.
VDesai@ 12/18/2022 7:51 PM
I still think this is what its about. Knicks are playing a cohesive game now, not trying to run and be the Warriors. Play physical, hit the boards, close out and coalesce around your 3 offensive playmakers. Take two years ago and swap Eose for Brunson and Grimes for Bullock roughly and thats what we have going. Knicks are now playing like a Thibs team again and it shows.
martin@ 12/18/2022 9:17 PM
Javascript is not enabled or there was problem with the URL: https://twitter.com/BenRitholtzNBA/status/1604652305093214208?
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Imagine a camera shot to Randle, RJ, and Brunson...
Jim Gray mouthing over it...
John Tesh's 'The NBA on NBC' theme song comes on...
Bill Walton starts yelling that the Knicks are "in it" with their "relentless, attacking-style of basketball"
maybe I am slurping the Koolaid a bit here but I am a real fan of this style of basketball. i think that's why I am really optimistic around this particular group. I think you can play fast without playing like a Daryl Morey flameout, or without the dribble, dribble, chuck method
fishmike@ 12/19/2022 10:21 AM
I hoped when we signed Thibs we could build a 2000s Pistons type team. You need some really really good players. Big Ben, Billups, Rip and Prince were all fantastic and the role players were tremendous. I think we may be getting closer and closer to that with Brunson/Jules/RJ/Mitch
I think we are edging towards that kind of Det squad in real time. Our size up front is dominant. Jules/Mitch/Hart/Sims/RJ are wrecking balls. They smash into you all game long and we turn the basket into a painful place to visit for opponents, while we pound away on offense (often regardless of results).
Of course none of that works if the D isnt dominant and it sure looks like its suffocating. This isnt lucky misses. Knicks are got awful miserable to play against and it building every night.
I am really enjoying this
TheGame@ 12/19/2022 10:34 AM
martin wrote:
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Exactly, at all five positions, we have guys that are stronger than the average NBA player at their position. Mitch is huge, Randle and RJ do not have elite height but both are stronger than the average NBA player. Brunson is undersized but he is also stronger than the average NBA Point guard and the same with Grimes. So this team has used its advantage in team strength to outmuscle teams for rebounds and drives to the lane. We have the perfect players for the system Thibs runs.
martin@ 12/19/2022 10:39 AM
Fits the identity and makes sense
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For whatever reason, the quality of play has picked up immensely since Thibs shortened the rotation during the road win vs. Utah. It took some time for the improved play to lead to wins, but I think it's a lot more sustainable than two seasons ago because of JB. I still want to see how the next four games go, especially the contest with the 76ERS. If New York can put in the same 48 minute effort it has vs. Chicago and then Indiana against Philly AND get a win, then I'll be a true believer.
martin@ 12/19/2022 12:00 PM
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Nothing beats winning with a young roster that has upside.
As much as we kill RJ and his trashy slow stars he's 22. Mitch's improvements are fantastic. Jules is adjusting beautifully to being our #2 or at least 1B and doing really good things. Its just so fun to watch.
I really thought our bench would carry us. Its like imagine if we/when we get some scoring from IQ/Hart/Deuce/Sims
martin@ 12/19/2022 3:44 PM
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Knicks on Christmas Day!!!! We will be going for 10 in a row.
blkexec@ 12/20/2022 7:21 AM
blkexec wrote:
TheGame wrote:Knicks on Christmas Day!!!! We will going for 10 in a row.
Man the Knicks have a strong 5. Each player in the starting unit (especially Mitch) contributed to this streak. I’m not confident like these other top teams, that we can still win if a keyany player from this starting unit goes down, but that’s ok. Baby steps.
VDesai@ 12/21/2022 10:18 AM
Defense, rebound, play physical, play hard. Team is molded around the coaches philosophy. Yesterday I think was a culmination of this- pounded and outworked a smaller/less experienced team. The best part is when our reserves cam in the 4th quarter and made the GS reserves look like a G League team
martin@ 12/21/2022 10:33 AM
VDesai wrote:Defense, rebound, play physical, play hard. Team is molded around the coaches philosophy. Yesterday I think was a culmination of this- pounded and outworked a smaller/less experienced team. The best part is when our reserves cam in the 4th quarter and made the GS reserves look like a G League team
Wiseman will forever be a Gleague captain
Knixkik@ 12/21/2022 10:36 AM
martin wrote:
VDesai wrote:Defense, rebound, play physical, play hard. Team is molded around the coaches philosophy. Yesterday I think was a culmination of this- pounded and outworked a smaller/less experienced team. The best part is when our reserves cam in the 4th quarter and made the GS reserves look like a G League team
Wiseman will forever be a Gleague captain
Can’t knock the warriors for much but wiseman, kuminga and moody were supposed to be the future and none of them impress me. Warriors didn’t deserve high picks for any reason but seem to have wasted 3 of them.
BigDaddyG@ 12/21/2022 10:39 AM
martin wrote:
VDesai wrote:Defense, rebound, play physical, play hard. Team is molded around the coaches philosophy. Yesterday I think was a culmination of this- pounded and outworked a smaller/less experienced team. The best part is when our reserves cam in the 4th quarter and made the GS reserves look like a G League team
Wiseman will forever be a Gleague captain
Can he even show his face in the G-League after this?
Philc1@ 12/21/2022 9:13 PM
martin wrote:
VDesai wrote:Defense, rebound, play physical, play hard. Team is molded around the coaches philosophy. Yesterday I think was a culmination of this- pounded and outworked a smaller/less experienced team. The best part is when our reserves cam in the 4th quarter and made the GS reserves look like a G League team
Wiseman will forever be a Gleague captain
Knixkik wrote:
martin wrote:
VDesai wrote:Defense, rebound, play physical, play hard. Team is molded around the coaches philosophy. Yesterday I think was a culmination of this- pounded and outworked a smaller/less experienced team. The best part is when our reserves cam in the 4th quarter and made the GS reserves look like a G League team
Wiseman will forever be a Gleague captain
Can’t knock the warriors for much but wiseman, kuminga and moody were supposed to be the future and none of them impress me. Warriors didn’t deserve high picks for any reason but seem to have wasted 3 of them.
dribble, dribble, chuck method
