Knicks · We can win the championship. I’ve seen this path with uconn (page 1)

It’s a vibe man. We have the mojo. We have other things breaking our way. We have a great player that doesn’t want us to lose in Brunson. We have the intangible players in hart and iq. We have the right coach w the right style of play. We’re pretty darn healthy. Instead of chastising the the couple who have not stepped— encourage them to be their best selves. This is a golden opportunity— we have a great chance— the path to a championship is legitimately there. Just follow the yellow brick road

BRIGGS wrote:It’s a vibe man. We have the mojo. We have other things breaking our way. We have a great player that doesn’t want us to lose in Brunson. We have the intangible players in hart and iq. We have the right coach w the right style of play. We’re pretty darn healthy. Instead of chastising the the couple who have not stepped— encourage them to be their best selves. This is a golden opportunity— we have a great chance— the path to a championship is legitimately there. Just follow the yellow brick road

You and Vegas see a path. It exists.

I believe the Knicks have a full rotation of championship level players. The challenge is at the top. Is Brunson a player that can carry a team all the way through the playoffs when it matters most? And can either Randle or Barrett become a consistent star-level playoff performer? These 2 areas are what are needed to get there. The good part is it wouldn’t have to be this year given the ages of this group.

Briggs Kiss of Death (TM)

Knixkik wrote:I believe the Knicks have a full rotation of championship level players. The challenge is at the top. Is Brunson a player that can carry a team all the way through the playoffs when it matters most? And can either Randle or Barrett become a consistent star-level playoff performer? These 2 areas are what are needed to get there. The good part is it wouldn’t have to be this year given the ages of this group.

We can justify it all day long and of course verbalize what needs to be. Randle has to be in form and hitting from all over, IQ needs to be hopping about in his happy place, and Brunson needs to stay healthy.
Given that, youung StarJay and Grimes can chime in every other game.

We have not demonstrated this all coming together orchestrated with any regularity but few glimpses of potential.
Yes, for that I am grateful and having fun.

Even a complete collapse could not undo what has been a successful season. Prefer we at least get thru this round to label it as such. Would make for an unpleasant off season.

Knixkik wrote:I believe the Knicks have a full rotation of championship level players. The challenge is at the top. Is Brunson a player that can carry a team all the way through the playoffs when it matters most? And can either Randle or Barrett become a consistent star-level playoff performer? These 2 areas are what are needed to get there. The good part is it wouldn’t have to be this year given the ages of this group.

The Knicks having been finding ways to win when their 3s percentage are horrific. The Knicks are not this bad at shooting the 3. If they just go back to their season average from 3, they are going to be a tough out for anyone.

Let's finish Cleveland tonight. I'll take a 1 point win here in triple overtime.

I think the Knicks should blow out the Heat. I wouldn't look past the Heat cause Butler is a legit competitor. But, I would want that series to be a statement series. We got beaten up in Cleveland. I don't think any other team is going to put such a defensive force up against us. And without Herro and Dipo, I think they really lack the depth to compete with our second unit. Butler can play 48 though and we don't have much answer for him.

That leaves the winner of the Celtics/Sixers. Embiid is unlikely to play the whole series. I don't think Philly can beat Celts without Embiid. I have the Celts as our the ECF most likely. We played the Celts hard, but caught some breaks across the season with Celts injuries. I do believe the Celts are the team to beat. We have the season series, so we have to be in their heads. But this is where I think we either advance as a team or talk about that time we made the ECF. This is gonna be on Randle, Barrett and IQ. Everyone else just needs to keep doing what they do. The frozen tundra that has been their 3 point shooting needs to find an early spring and thaw out.

EwingsGlass wrote:

Knixkik wrote:I believe the Knicks have a full rotation of championship level players. The challenge is at the top. Is Brunson a player that can carry a team all the way through the playoffs when it matters most? And can either Randle or Barrett become a consistent star-level playoff performer? These 2 areas are what are needed to get there. The good part is it wouldn’t have to be this year given the ages of this group.

The Knicks having been finding ways to win when their 3s percentage are horrific. The Knicks are not this bad at shooting the 3. If they just go back to their season average from 3, they are going to be a tough out for anyone.

Let's finish Cleveland tonight. I'll take a 1 point win here in triple overtime.

I think the Knicks should blow out the Heat. I wouldn't look past the Heat cause Butler is a legit competitor. But, I would want that series to be a statement series. We got beaten up in Cleveland. I don't think any other team is going to put such a defensive force up against us. And without Herro and Dipo, I think they really lack the depth to compete with our second unit. Butler can play 48 though and we don't have much answer for him.

That leaves the winner of the Celtics/Sixers. Embiid is unlikely to play the whole series. I don't think Philly can beat Celts without Embiid. I have the Celts as our the ECF most likely. We played the Celts hard, but caught some breaks across the season with Celts injuries. I do believe the Celts are the team to beat. We have the season series, so we have to be in their heads. But this is where I think we either advance as a team or talk about that time we made the ECF. This is gonna be on Randle, Barrett and IQ. Everyone else just needs to keep doing what they do. The frozen tundra that has been their 3 point shooting needs to find an early spring and thaw out.

Regarding the 3pt shooting, I don’t expect them to go back to regular season form overall. This is the playoffs. The biggest stage. Most teams will shoot worse. Some guys have it and some guys don’t. Quickley is always a threat to score 30+ in the regular season and hasn’t made a shot in 2 of the playoff games. Randle might still be really hurt but 2 playoffs he’s shrunk. It’s not a major knock on these guys. We need regular season players to get us here too. Not everyone can be Brunson and Josh hart. Maybe RJ can get there. Maybe Grimes too, who hasn’t made many threes. And quickley is young of course. But I’m not expecting all of these guys to shoot it the way they did in the regular season. The defense is tighter, the game is more intense, and guys have to be better. The good news is Quickley and Grimes are both grind-it-out defenders so they can make an impact either way.

Knicks vs. CLev is simple. We have more pieces then they do and Thibs is a better chess player. Thus we can win without the 3 for now. We can win without Randle being at top form for what ever reason. THibs putting RJ in the position to play to his strength. Look for Cav’s to try to stop him now.

Boils down to what will cavs give us and can we execute it.

Rather than indulge in a fever dream of grabbing our chip this year, I'm focused on seeing a competitive group for the next 5+ years and rekindling that 90s magic. We eventually win with our homegrown depth, a lucky FA add, or a trade for a superstar that doesn't deplete the roster in a destructive way (i.e., we use more picks than talent in the trade).

We definitely seem to be en route to something special and I'm strapping in to enjoy the ride. I'm saving up my loose change to afford an MSG ticket once we're in the Finals.

If the Bucks are healthy they can smother anyone and are terrible matchup for us. After that the Knicks have punchers chance against any team.

We can win this year. I agree, unless vs Phx or gsw in the finals

We also don’t have a 3 man to guard Lebron

Moonangie wrote:Rather than indulge in a fever dream of grabbing our chip this year, I'm focused on seeing a competitive group for the next 5+ years and rekindling that 90s magic. We eventually win with our homegrown depth, a lucky FA add, or a trade for a superstar that doesn't deplete the roster in a destructive way (i.e., we use more picks than talent in the trade).

We definitely seem to be en route to something special and I'm strapping in to enjoy the ride. I'm saving up my loose change to afford an MSG ticket once we're in the Finals.

Well said

Most of us will have to take out a mortgage, for a ticket to a Finals game at MSG-lol.

GustavBahler wrote:

Moonangie wrote:Rather than indulge in a fever dream of grabbing our chip this year, I'm focused on seeing a competitive group for the next 5+ years and rekindling that 90s magic. We eventually win with our homegrown depth, a lucky FA add, or a trade for a superstar that doesn't deplete the roster in a destructive way (i.e., we use more picks than talent in the trade).

We definitely seem to be en route to something special and I'm strapping in to enjoy the ride. I'm saving up my loose change to afford an MSG ticket once we're in the Finals.

Well said

Most of us will have to take out a mortgage, for a ticket to a Finals game at MSG-lol.

I looked for tickets for this Friday's "close out" game 6 for me and my youngest son...the cheapest acceptable seats were $500 each. I could do it, but that's a bit rich for one game. Still might, on the fence about it.

Yes, we can great-gosh almighty
Oh, yes, we can, I know we can, can

Moonangie wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

Moonangie wrote:Rather than indulge in a fever dream of grabbing our chip this year, I'm focused on seeing a competitive group for the next 5+ years and rekindling that 90s magic. We eventually win with our homegrown depth, a lucky FA add, or a trade for a superstar that doesn't deplete the roster in a destructive way (i.e., we use more picks than talent in the trade).

We definitely seem to be en route to something special and I'm strapping in to enjoy the ride. I'm saving up my loose change to afford an MSG ticket once we're in the Finals.

Well said

Most of us will have to take out a mortgage, for a ticket to a Finals game at MSG-lol.

I looked for tickets for this Friday's "close out" game 6 for me and my youngest son...the cheapest acceptable seats were $500 each. I could do it, but that's a bit rich for one game. Still might, on the fence about it.

Imagine what they would cost for the Finals! At least we dont have to watch games on a screen the size of a postage stamp anymore

Let's finish off the Cavs first. Jeez

I would almost have preferred the Bucks over the Heat.

I will be disappointed if we lose to them.

One step at a time. Big series win and now hopefully we get a good matchup with the Heat hopefully completing the upset

franco12 wrote:I would almost have preferred the Bucks over the Heat.

I will be disappointed if we lose to them.

I dunno man , the Bucks have whooped our asses big time this year.

fishmike wrote:If the Bucks are healthy they can smother anyone and are terrible matchup for us. After that the Knicks have punchers chance against any team.

The Bucks were a bad match-up for us. The Heat aren't great either. With Randle we would win the series. Without him things get tough. We will have to shoot better. The Heat aren' going to let us slauhter them on the offensive boards like the Cavs did.

Jmpasq wrote:

fishmike wrote:If the Bucks are healthy they can smother anyone and are terrible matchup for us. After that the Knicks have punchers chance against any team.

The Bucks were a bad match-up for us. The Heat aren't great either. With Randle we would win the series. Without him things get tough. We will have to shoot better. The Heat aren' going to let us slauhter them on the offensive boards like the Cavs did.

Agree about the Bucks. Mitch would have his hands full. As good a defender as he is. In good company vs. Giannis.

Its a mixed bag with Randle vs the Heat. Throw in that this is the playoffs. I'm not making any predictions.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/julius-...

Hopefully Obi can keep delivering in the second round. Especially if Randle's reinjured ankle is limiting his mobility.

Might be better for Hart to start over Grimes. We bounced back really well from that game 2 beatdown, with Hart in the starting lineup. Hart has a chip on his shoulder like the team we'll be facing.

A speedy I/Q Grimes backcourt, off the bench, might pay dividends as well. Because they're also A+ defenders.