https://www.si.com/nba/heat/miami-news/a...
ESPN analyst says the Knicks are a tougher postseason opponent than the HeatSHANDEL RICHARDSON
The Miami Heat were considered a more superior team than the New York Knicks for most of the past 20 years.
Apparently, things are starting to change.
On a recent segment of ESPN's "NBA Today," the question was posed which team was a bigger playoff threat: Heat or Knicks? Analyst Zach Lowe chose the latter.
"I can't believe I'm saying this. I can't believe it," Lowe said. "I think it's the Knicks."
Lowe had his reasons. They included the Heat's lineup inconsistency and the midseason additions of Kevin Love and Cody Zeller. He hinted the Heat have yet to come together as a group. The Knicks are the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference, two spots above the Heat.
"As much respect as I have for the Heat and all that they've accomplished," Lowe said. "They were one shot from the Finals last year. They seem to just get there every year. The more I watch them, whether it's Kyle Lowry still being out, Victor Oladipo being in and out, Kevin Love now just all of a sudden being in the starting lineup, it just feels like it's kind of not coming together this year. And it's coming together for the Knicks".
Riley and Miami has made some very Knicks like moves over the past years.
Duncan Robinson
Whiteside
Lowrey
Oldapido
They all coming to fruition, but not in a good way. They still a dangerous team but are also 1 Butler injury away from really crapping out
“I can’t believe I’m saying this” - tells you where the media gasbags’ heads have been at.
Last time we played them I felt like Bam was the best player on the court.
We have 2 more games against them to figure it out. I'm not counting them out until they got stakes through the heart, their heads cut off, and holy wafers in their mouths.
KnickDanger wrote:“I can’t believe I’m saying this” - tells you where the media gasbags’ heads have been at.
Knicks havent been out of the first round in a decade. They've had two winning seasons in that same period and they weren't even in a row.
I don't get this, doubt I ever will.
Why do people think the media doesn't give the Knicks respect they've earned?
What have they earned?
Knickoftime wrote:KnickDanger wrote:“I can’t believe I’m saying this” - tells you where the media gasbags’ heads have been at.
Knicks havent been out of the first round in a decade. They've had two winning seasons in that same period and they weren't even in a row.
I don't get this, doubt I ever will.
Why do people think the media doesn't give the Knicks respect they've earned?
What have they earned?
Clowned Knicks for KP trade.
Clowned Knicks for “failing” in getting the ping pong balls for Zion.
Clowned Knicks for another fail for KD and Kyrie. Crowned Nets champions.
Clowned Knicks for signing Randle.
Clowned Knicks’ draft night moves that got us good young players and future assets.
Spread whispers to fire Thibs.
This is all in the past few years as things began to change and now we see the bearing of fruit. With these good moves and perhaps especially the non-moves including passing on Mitchell, there’s been plenty of opportunities to acknowledge the Knicks or even just give them a break. But it was fashionable and “cool” to dump on them.
Of course the media isn’t alone. We’ve seen plenty of “fans” here taking every opportunity to crap on their team. But now it’s bandwagon time. Happy I lived to see it!
KnickDanger wrote:Knickoftime wrote:KnickDanger wrote:“I can’t believe I’m saying this” - tells you where the media gasbags’ heads have been at.
Knicks havent been out of the first round in a decade. They've had two winning seasons in that same period and they weren't even in a row.
I don't get this, doubt I ever will.
Why do people think the media doesn't give the Knicks respect they've earned?
What have they earned?
Clowned Knicks for KP trade.
Clowned Knicks for “failing” in getting the ping pong balls for Zion.
Clowned Knicks for another fail for KD and Kyrie. Crowned Nets champions.
Clowned Knicks for signing Randle.
Clowned Knicks’ draft night moves that got us good young players and future assets.
Spread whispers to fire Thibs.
This is all in the past few years as things began to change and now we see the bearing of fruit. With these good moves and perhaps especially the non-moves including passing on Mitchell, there’s been plenty of opportunities to acknowledge the Knicks or even just give them a break. But it was fashionable and “cool” to dump on them.
Of course the media isn’t alone. We’ve seen plenty of “fans” here taking every opportunity to crap on their team. But now it’s bandwagon time. Happy I lived to see it!
I don't see anything wrong with actually having the knicks put two winning seasons in the row and being competitive in the postseason before people start taking them seriously.
Those are all moves in service of being a sustainably good team, which they aren't yet.
The Heat have a messy team. They built themselves up largely through the draft. They've successfully developed two bonafide contributors in Herro and Bam. But now they're pricey players off their rookie deals. Butler plays like a star and is paid like a star - BUT has a lot of wear and tear. I don't think Lowry, Oladipo, and Love can play high level defense without serious risk of injury. Lowry and Oladipo aren't even healthy now.
KnickDanger wrote:Knickoftime wrote:KnickDanger wrote:“I can’t believe I’m saying this” - tells you where the media gasbags’ heads have been at.
Knicks havent been out of the first round in a decade. They've had two winning seasons in that same period and they weren't even in a row.
I don't get this, doubt I ever will.
Why do people think the media doesn't give the Knicks respect they've earned?
What have they earned?
Clowned Knicks for KP trade.
Clowned Knicks for “failing” in getting the ping pong balls for Zion.
Clowned Knicks for another fail for KD and Kyrie. Crowned Nets champions.
Clowned Knicks for signing Randle.
Clowned Knicks’ draft night moves that got us good young players and future assets.
Spread whispers to fire Thibs.
This is all in the past few years as things began to change and now we see the bearing of fruit. With these good moves and perhaps especially the non-moves including passing on Mitchell, there’s been plenty of opportunities to acknowledge the Knicks or even just give them a break. But it was fashionable and “cool” to dump on them.
Of course the media isn’t alone. We’ve seen plenty of “fans” here taking every opportunity to crap on their team. But now it’s bandwagon time. Happy I lived to see it!
I've seen more craping on the knicks from non knick fans, since I live outside of NYC and I'm always rocking some kind of knick attire. And the amount of garage I had to deal with over the years is nothing compared to our own knick fans. We just complain, and try to come up with solutions. Non knick fans are like "you still root for that team?" They suck. As long as Dolan is there, they will always suck. Well, last time I checked, Dolan still here, and Knicks are rolling. So to non-knick fans, kick rocks. Only room on the banwagon is for knick fans only.
I'm honestly not there yet. At the risk of being called names, I think we need to pipe down on all the excitement and bravado. It's awesome and it feels good, yes, but let's take a step back and not overreact or overhype.
Miami is seasoned and proven.
It's hard to answer this question. If we based this on history, the answer is no. I have more confidence in Pat Riley and the heat organization, based on their recent successful playoff run. The knicks have more momentum heading into the playoffs, but still needs to prove it.
SergioNYK wrote:I'm honestly not there yet. At the risk of being called names, I think we need to pipe down on all the excitement and bravado. It's awesome and it feels good, yes, but let's take a step back and not overreact or overhype. Miami is seasoned and proven.
Social media has wired sports fans to want to be able to brag about being good or talented before that being good or talented translates to the actual goal of being good or talented.
Knicks can get to the 4 seed, play a tough out in the 5 seed Cavs, and they'll get "clowned" for losing in the first round.
The narrative changes when there are some accomplishments on the resume, not just the anticipation of them.
so in the impossible to quantify category of "Who has a bigger impact on the game" I would give Butler/Bam a slight edge over Brunson/Randle. Slight edge... what I do NOT think is a slight edge is our role players and supporting cast vs theirs. I think ours are not only better but a lot better. I think they are also ripe with defensive liabilities and we have the guys on offense to go right at those guys. Starting with Hero. There is nobody on the floor he can guard. IQ/Grimes/Brunson/Hart/RJ will all phucking destroy him.
We just dont have weaknesses right now. We have really balanced scoring that is not too top heavy. We dont play a lot of size at the wing but they are all tough and get after you on defense. We are brutal to play against in the paint. Randle/Hart/Mitch are so physical.
I'm pretty enamored with our youth/roster/coaching/style of play. We are on our way. Next step is a little luck in the draft 
Bump
Heat are probably looking foward to an opportunity to end the Knicks win streak, check their playoff ambitions. Im looking forward to seeing how we match up at this stage of the season.
I don't even include Miami in my Eastern Conference Standings thread anymore.
They've completely fallen off the NBA map and if Erik Spoelstra were currently "Tom Thibs" he'd be getting attacked right now due to losing his locker room and/or players focus (EFFORT).
They're a Play-in team (@ best) and might not even make the Play-In (anymore).
They're 1-5 (previous 6) and about to fall to 1-6 (previous 7) after getting destroyed by New York tomorrow.
They're losing to really bad teams too (Brooklyn) and even tank teams too (20-44 Charlotte).
Is Miami tanking for scoot?
fishmike wrote:so in the impossible to quantify category of "Who has a bigger impact on the game" I would give Butler/Bam a slight edge over Brunson/Randle. Slight edge... what I do NOT think is a slight edge is our role players and supporting cast vs theirs. I think ours are not only better but a lot better. I think they are also ripe with defensive liabilities and we have the guys on offense to go right at those guys. Starting with Hero. There is nobody on the floor he can guard. IQ/Grimes/Brunson/Hart/RJ will all phucking destroy him.We just dont have weaknesses right now. We have really balanced scoring that is not too top heavy. We dont play a lot of size at the wing but they are all tough and get after you on defense. We are brutal to play against in the paint. Randle/Hart/Mitch are so physical.
I'm pretty enamored with our youth/roster/coaching/style of play. We are on our way. Next step is a little luck in the draft
Agree with all you said. Heat are a season removed from the best record in the east and a missed 3 at the buzzer of a trip to the Finals. At worst they can be the 2012 Celtics; not good enough to win but good enough to fuck another team's post season plans. Take these guys lightly at your own risk.
They took us to the limit with no Lowry. Heat still in the rearview mirror.
GustavBahler wrote:They took us to the limit with no Lowry. Heat still in the rearview mirror.
They were playing 8 on 5 and we still won.
EwingsGlass wrote:GustavBahler wrote:They took us to the limit with no Lowry. Heat still in the rearview mirror.
They were playing 8 on 5 and we still won.
What does that even mean?
GustavBahler wrote:EwingsGlass wrote:GustavBahler wrote:They took us to the limit with no Lowry. Heat still in the rearview mirror.
They were playing 8 on 5 and we still won.
What does that even mean?
The refs were clearly paid off. Like it’s not even up for debate.
