Knicks · Will hart keep grimes’ starting spot? (page 1)

Caseloads @ 5/3/2023 6:32 AM
I feel like shades of spree with hart - the hair, the motor, the will to win.

Would like to see more dunks ala spree.

Attacking the basket more would be great too. Hart does it on defense to get boards; would love it on offense too.

VDesai @ 5/3/2023 6:43 AM
I think he should go back to coming off the bench. 32-36 min should be the same, but the bench unit which was our biggest advantage is missing his energy. He unlocks Obi by getting into the transition. To a lesser extent he unlocks IQ as a secondary ballhandler as well.
Knixkik @ 5/3/2023 8:06 AM
I was going to start a thread asking the same this morning. Seems like Hart has become a full-time starter. The minutes were never the concern, but Thibs isn’t even starting him just to match him to butler anymore. He’s playing him as a full-time starter and Grimes (healthy or not) has been demoted to reserve role and minutes. And before the Grimes injury, this was brewing anyway. Just wondering if it’s going to carry over into next year. Hart is everything Thibs loves in a player. I definitely agree with the Sprewell similarities. And while I think Hart wants to resign regardless of his role, I think he views himself as a starter and his role in the playoffs probably helps secure him resigning. Knicks need him going forward. He’s part of the core now. The issue I see is we will miss his energy off the bench, and we miss Grimes shooting gravity as a starter. But I expect some changes in the offseason to take the next step forward so can’t be too concerned about that stuff now. Hart is an elite defender, rebounder, and playmaker on both ends. He isn’t a great shooter but always seems to make the ones that count. He’s just a really good basketball player.
HofstraBBall @ 5/3/2023 8:35 AM
Grimes was my favorite player at the beginning of the year. He is not ready. Everything he does is rushed. Reminds me of a thing a coach once told me, play at a pace where someone is whispering "take your time, see the court and then act" NOT "hurry hurry hurry".

Grimes looks and acts like someone is screaming at him to hurry.

Has to slow down, see the court and act decisively. This is all part of the growing process. Give him a couple of years and he will be fine.

Unfortunately, as I said in pre season and throughout the year, we needed an Upgrade as SG. Watching JHart make shots last night, shows you how an elite shooting SG would thrive with Randle, RJ and JB drawing so much attention.

blkexec @ 5/3/2023 8:35 AM
Knixkik wrote:I was going to start a thread asking the same this morning. Seems like Hart has become a full-time starter. The minutes were never the concern, but Thibs isn’t even starting him just to match him to butler anymore. He’s playing him as a full-time starter and Grimes (healthy or not) has been demoted to reserve role and minutes. And before the Grimes injury, this was brewing anyway. Just wondering if it’s going to carry over into next year. Hart is everything Thibs loves in a player. I definitely agree with the Sprewell similarities. And while I think Hart wants to resign regardless of his role, I think he views himself as a starter and his role in the playoffs probably helps secure him resigning. Knicks need him going forward. He’s part of the core now. The issue I see is we will miss his energy off the bench, and we miss Grimes shooting gravity as a starter. But I expect some changes in the offseason to take the next step forward so can’t be too concerned about that stuff now. Hart is an elite defender, rebounder, and playmaker on both ends. He isn’t a great shooter but always seems to make the ones that count. He’s just a really good basketball player.

I agree with everything you said and still think grimes starting is better for this team (right now). Bring hart off the bench for grimes or RJ. Depending on fouls and who doesn’t have it going on both ends. That way hart can see from the sideline who needs more attention so he can come in and immediately neutralize the threat. Sometimes it might be Vincent and not butler. Sometimes RJ is doing ok on defense and his shot is falling. So hart comes in for grimes and applies pressure on Vincent Or RJ is bricking and grimes is hitting. I think for this season, using hart like a Swiss Army knife off the bench is what this team needs. But knowing thibs he’s going to be consistent with that starting unit and probably use grimes / IQ as the off the bench momentum swinger. The issue is IQ hasn’t been that guy and grimes doesn’t look 100%.

blkexec @ 5/3/2023 8:42 AM
HofstraBBall wrote:Grimes was my favorite player at the beginning of the year. He is not ready. Everything he does is rushed. Reminds me of a thing a coach once told me, play at a pace where someone is whispering "take your time, see the court and then act" NOT "hurry hurry hurry".

Grimes looks and acts like someone is screaming at him to hurry.

Has to slow down, see the court and act decisively. This is all part of the growing process. Give him a couple of years and he will be fine.

Unfortunately, as I said in pre season and throughout the year, we needed an Upgrade as SG. Watching JHart make shots last night, shows you how an elite shooting SG would thrive with Randle, RJ and JB drawing so much attention.

I love hart and hope that jumper is consistent. Because they guarding him like he’s Mitch on the perimeter daring hart to shoot.

As far as grimes, that’s his style. Even in warmups, he looks like he’s full speed while others are half speed. I believe he will get better at the pace hes comfortable with. If slowing down helps sure. Or if he likes playing at that speed then practice at a faster pace so when it’s game time, everything looks slower.

Nalod @ 5/3/2023 9:02 AM
Caseloads wrote:I feel like shades of spree with hart - the hair, the motor, the will to win.

Would like to see more dunks ala spree.

Attacking the basket more would be great too. Hart does it on defense to get boards; would love it on offense too.

Can we happy with who he is? he is not spree. He has bounced around a bit because he has Limitations.
Its not a knock, he is a very very good “dog” type player and plays a great role on a good team. He was not great on a subpar team.

What your seeing is a great effort in a playoff series and Griimes is playing back into rhythm. Grimes is 22, give him room to grow.

If he is not traded.

As for Hart, that flat shot is not great. He is clutch performer and they leave him open for a reason. He is hitting them when it counts. All that matters for now.
He is not as offensively gifted as Spree but is super strong with low center that gives him ablity to play big on the floor.

Clean @ 5/3/2023 9:08 AM
The who should start question is a hard one. Grimes is a shooter but is giving you nothing but defense in these playoffs. With Randle back that means Obi is back on the bench. Obi and Hart work well because Hart always looks for Obi in transition. We don't get that with Hart starting. Without Hart coming off the bench we get essentially nothing but rebounding from iHart. IQ used to at least have a good chemistry with Obi but he is struggling to contribute in any tangable way these days. I can't make up my mind.
Knixkik @ 5/3/2023 9:49 AM
Nalod wrote:
Caseloads wrote:I feel like shades of spree with hart - the hair, the motor, the will to win.

Would like to see more dunks ala spree.

Attacking the basket more would be great too. Hart does it on defense to get boards; would love it on offense too.

Can we happy with who he is? he is not spree. He has bounced around a bit because he has Limitations.
Its not a knock, he is a very very good “dog” type player and plays a great role on a good team. He was not great on a subpar team.

What your seeing is a great effort in a playoff series and Griimes is playing back into rhythm. Grimes is 22, give him room to grow.

If he is not traded.

As for Hart, that flat shot is not great. He is clutch performer and they leave him open for a reason. He is hitting them when it counts. All that matters for now.
He is not as offensively gifted as Spree but is super strong with low center that gives him ablity to play big on the floor.

The idea that he has “bounced around because of limitations “ isn’t entirely true. He was traded for AD and then for McCollum. I have a good friend who is a diehard New Orleans fan and he thought it was a bad trade because he really liked Hart and didn’t think McCollum was a difference maker. The only time he got traded outside of being included in a star trade was to us, and Portland seems to be really in a tough place and the Knicks benefitted from their uncertainty which resulted in a questionable trade at best. What I’m saying is yes he’s been traded a few times but there’s context behind it and this isn’t some journeyman that has been shuffled around and let go by teams seeking upgrades over him. For us he’s pretty much been a star player.

Nalod @ 5/3/2023 10:21 AM
Knixkik wrote:
Nalod wrote:
Caseloads wrote:I feel like shades of spree with hart - the hair, the motor, the will to win.

Would like to see more dunks ala spree.

Attacking the basket more would be great too. Hart does it on defense to get boards; would love it on offense too.

Can we happy with who he is? he is not spree. He has bounced around a bit because he has Limitations.
Its not a knock, he is a very very good “dog” type player and plays a great role on a good team. He was not great on a subpar team.

What your seeing is a great effort in a playoff series and Griimes is playing back into rhythm. Grimes is 22, give him room to grow.

If he is not traded.

As for Hart, that flat shot is not great. He is clutch performer and they leave him open for a reason. He is hitting them when it counts. All that matters for now.
He is not as offensively gifted as Spree but is super strong with low center that gives him ablity to play big on the floor.

The idea that he has “bounced around because of limitations “ isn’t entirely true. He was traded for AD and then for McCollum. I have a good friend who is a diehard New Orleans fan and he thought it was a bad trade because he really liked Hart and didn’t think McCollum was a difference maker. The only time he got traded outside of being included in a star trade was to us, and Portland seems to be really in a tough place and the Knicks benefitted from their uncertainty which resulted in a questionable trade at best. What I’m saying is yes he’s been traded a few times but there’s context behind it and this isn’t some journeyman that has been shuffled around and let go by teams seeking upgrades over him. For us he’s pretty much been a star player.

He is 26 and on his 4th team. Not saying he is a scrub journeyman and don’t disagree with your response. He has been a great fit for us to win and to me takes the pressure off RJ and his development some. Take last night, RJ looked gassed in the 3rd. He sat most of the 4th but still logged in 38min. That is because Josh Hart gets it done! Grimes had freasher legs and Knicks offense was about Brunson and Randle. Now, Thibs played his hunch and it worked.
Im thrilled by Hart and want him here long term. He was not dumped nor given up on. I agree, but he was expendable for those teams for other players. Can’t deny that. Trade quality for more. We will be doing similar I believe with a consolidation trade. We gave up a 1st round pick for him. That was good for Portland and what they are trying to do. They have other plans and he was expendable.
Good teams have the undersized tough player. Boston has Grant and smart. PJ Tucker been doing it for years. Iggy out west, Shane Battier, etc etc. We have ours now.

martin @ 5/3/2023 10:32 AM
I'd guess that Hart starts going forward during playoffs or at least again Miami. Next year it'll be back to Grimes.
GustavBahler @ 5/3/2023 10:47 AM
martin wrote:I'd guess that Hart starts going forward during playoffs or at least again Miami. Next year it'll be back to Grimes.

I'm hoping its a competition through the preseason.

I'm a big fan of Grimes, but I dont want him to start if he still has no midrange game. Necessary for a starting SG. Needs more tools in the toolbox.

Knixkik @ 5/3/2023 10:56 AM
martin wrote:I'd guess that Hart starts going forward during playoffs or at least again Miami. Next year it'll be back to Grimes.

I’m not 100% sure if it will be Grimes next year. Why would Thibs go back to him if Hart is starting in the playoffs? I understand Grimes got hurt, but it’s not like grimes was playing well before the injury. Hart probably starts this series regardless. Grimes fits better with the starting group because of the shooting, but if Hart is just a better player he probably shouldn’t just lose his starting spot next year for no reason.

martin @ 5/3/2023 11:00 AM
Knixkik wrote:
martin wrote:I'd guess that Hart starts going forward during playoffs or at least again Miami. Next year it'll be back to Grimes.

I’m not 100% sure if it will be Grimes next year. Why would Thibs go back to him if Hart is starting in the playoffs? I understand Grimes got hurt, but it’s not like grimes was playing well before the injury. Hart probably starts this series regardless. Grimes fits better with the starting group because of the shooting, but if Hart is just a better player he probably shouldn’t just lose his starting spot next year for no reason.

For me, Hart is an energy guy. He had a GREAT shooting during the regular season with the Knicks but realistically he is not a spacer by nature. He can certainly fill in in that type of role, but he is a better energy guy than he is a starter, and that right there will maximize his impact.

Nalod @ 5/3/2023 11:03 AM
Knixkik wrote:
martin wrote:I'd guess that Hart starts going forward during playoffs or at least again Miami. Next year it'll be back to Grimes.

I’m not 100% sure if it will be Grimes next year. Why would Thibs go back to him if Hart is starting in the playoffs? I understand Grimes got hurt, but it’s not like grimes was playing well before the injury. Hart probably starts this series regardless. Grimes fits better with the starting group because of the shooting, but if Hart is just a better player he probably shouldn’t just lose his starting spot next year for no reason.

he was playing well ending the regular season.
Thibs has a chess board to play and injuries matter.
There will be a competition of sorts to whats best to win the most games. Might be one thing to start the season and another to finish. Its fluid and matchups matter.
My take is Josh is the anti Jimmy. Jimmy usually reserves for second half? If so, Grimes and RJ go after him early and try to wear him down some. If Jimmy is super human and beats you, he beats you. No guarantees logic works.

If knicks jump out to early lead without him its great.
Thibs had him out last night to finish strong. Thats all that matters for now.
next season? Who knows who is still on the roster.

Knixkik @ 5/3/2023 11:31 AM
martin wrote:
Knixkik wrote:
martin wrote:I'd guess that Hart starts going forward during playoffs or at least again Miami. Next year it'll be back to Grimes.

I’m not 100% sure if it will be Grimes next year. Why would Thibs go back to him if Hart is starting in the playoffs? I understand Grimes got hurt, but it’s not like grimes was playing well before the injury. Hart probably starts this series regardless. Grimes fits better with the starting group because of the shooting, but if Hart is just a better player he probably shouldn’t just lose his starting spot next year for no reason.

For me, Hart is an energy guy. He had a GREAT shooting during the regular season with the Knicks but realistically he is not a spacer by nature. He can certainly fill in in that type of role, but he is a better energy guy than he is a starter, and that right there will maximize his impact.

I guess the way I see it is everyone who plays basketball wants to start on their team. If Hart plays like this in the playoffs and goes back to an off the bench energy role the following season, I just can’t see him being satisfied since he earned the role he’s currently playing now with his playoff performances.

martin @ 5/3/2023 11:45 AM
Knixkik wrote:
martin wrote:
Knixkik wrote:
martin wrote:I'd guess that Hart starts going forward during playoffs or at least again Miami. Next year it'll be back to Grimes.

I’m not 100% sure if it will be Grimes next year. Why would Thibs go back to him if Hart is starting in the playoffs? I understand Grimes got hurt, but it’s not like grimes was playing well before the injury. Hart probably starts this series regardless. Grimes fits better with the starting group because of the shooting, but if Hart is just a better player he probably shouldn’t just lose his starting spot next year for no reason.

For me, Hart is an energy guy. He had a GREAT shooting during the regular season with the Knicks but realistically he is not a spacer by nature. He can certainly fill in in that type of role, but he is a better energy guy than he is a starter, and that right there will maximize his impact.

I guess the way I see it is everyone who plays basketball wants to start on their team. If Hart plays like this in the playoffs and goes back to an off the bench energy role the following season, I just can’t see him being satisfied since he earned the role he’s currently playing now with his playoff performances.

I'd guess that Josh literally doesn't care about starting or coming off bench. He will get paid and be in NY and that's all that matters.

Panos @ 5/3/2023 12:48 PM
martin wrote:
Knixkik wrote:
martin wrote:
Knixkik wrote:
martin wrote:I'd guess that Hart starts going forward during playoffs or at least again Miami. Next year it'll be back to Grimes.

I’m not 100% sure if it will be Grimes next year. Why would Thibs go back to him if Hart is starting in the playoffs? I understand Grimes got hurt, but it’s not like grimes was playing well before the injury. Hart probably starts this series regardless. Grimes fits better with the starting group because of the shooting, but if Hart is just a better player he probably shouldn’t just lose his starting spot next year for no reason.

For me, Hart is an energy guy. He had a GREAT shooting during the regular season with the Knicks but realistically he is not a spacer by nature. He can certainly fill in in that type of role, but he is a better energy guy than he is a starter, and that right there will maximize his impact.

I guess the way I see it is everyone who plays basketball wants to start on their team. If Hart plays like this in the playoffs and goes back to an off the bench energy role the following season, I just can’t see him being satisfied since he earned the role he’s currently playing now with his playoff performances.

I'd guess that Josh literally doesn't care about starting or coming off bench. He will get paid and be in NY and that's all that matters.

...and he already has the adoring love of NY Knicks fans. He'll be fine. He's getting his 30+ mins either way

Nalod @ 5/3/2023 12:52 PM
Knixkik wrote:
martin wrote:
Knixkik wrote:
martin wrote:I'd guess that Hart starts going forward during playoffs or at least again Miami. Next year it'll be back to Grimes.

I’m not 100% sure if it will be Grimes next year. Why would Thibs go back to him if Hart is starting in the playoffs? I understand Grimes got hurt, but it’s not like grimes was playing well before the injury. Hart probably starts this series regardless. Grimes fits better with the starting group because of the shooting, but if Hart is just a better player he probably shouldn’t just lose his starting spot next year for no reason.

For me, Hart is an energy guy. He had a GREAT shooting during the regular season with the Knicks but realistically he is not a spacer by nature. He can certainly fill in in that type of role, but he is a better energy guy than he is a starter, and that right there will maximize his impact.

I guess the way I see it is everyone who plays basketball wants to start on their team. If Hart plays like this in the playoffs and goes back to an off the bench energy role the following season, I just can’t see him being satisfied since he earned the role he’s currently playing now with his playoff performances.

Its a natural assumption but minutes matter and finishing better than starting? They want to get paid and have security which "starting" usually coincides with it.

Knixkik @ 5/3/2023 12:57 PM
martin wrote:
Knixkik wrote:
martin wrote:
Knixkik wrote:
martin wrote:I'd guess that Hart starts going forward during playoffs or at least again Miami. Next year it'll be back to Grimes.

I’m not 100% sure if it will be Grimes next year. Why would Thibs go back to him if Hart is starting in the playoffs? I understand Grimes got hurt, but it’s not like grimes was playing well before the injury. Hart probably starts this series regardless. Grimes fits better with the starting group because of the shooting, but if Hart is just a better player he probably shouldn’t just lose his starting spot next year for no reason.

For me, Hart is an energy guy. He had a GREAT shooting during the regular season with the Knicks but realistically he is not a spacer by nature. He can certainly fill in in that type of role, but he is a better energy guy than he is a starter, and that right there will maximize his impact.

I guess the way I see it is everyone who plays basketball wants to start on their team. If Hart plays like this in the playoffs and goes back to an off the bench energy role the following season, I just can’t see him being satisfied since he earned the role he’s currently playing now with his playoff performances.

I'd guess that Josh literally doesn't care about starting or coming off bench. He will get paid and be in NY and that's all that matters.

Who knows, maybe he’s the exception and really doesn’t care.

fishmike @ 5/3/2023 2:28 PM
I would give Grimes the defensive edge, but Hart is a better player (right now).

The combo I dont like is Brunson/RJ. That's when our defense comes apart. You cant hide two guys and we eventually get lit up when they are together too long. I'm GREAT with running this very young squad back next year. If it was up to me I would start Brunson/Grimes/Hart and bring IQ/RJ off the bench where RJ plays his best and you can always finish with whoever but this limits the amount of time RJ/Brunson are together

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