HofstraBBall wrote:nycericanguy wrote:KP was really open to coming back here, we might have given BOS the title by not trading for him. Huge miss, he was the perfect cheap star for this roster that would have left us more than enough assets to get another star later if needed.
The question was never about his ability. We knew everything he did last night was possible. Problem is staying healthy for a whole year.
This. He's healthy now because it's game one.
Glad to see KP's classy comments but c'mon we don't really think he would be here with Thibs as coach
KP is more finesse and in a good situation in Boston where he is the 3rd or 4th option.
Losing that one hurts but let's not overreact either. Our best players laid eggs, and the refs sucked and we almost took that one.
KP had a really good season last year that wasn't recognized. He might be more finesse on O, but he's a legit shotblocker. STill he missed 15-20 games. If he stays healthy he can change Boston's fortunes, but that's not a high percentage bet.
For as gifted physically as guys like RJ/Randle are, they will be limited if they can't learn to make these types of in-game decisions.
You can beast and be a 20+ppg 10+rbs guy and still not get over that hump if you can't process the game upstairs.
the Knicks played like absolute crap, the big guns played like shit... yet I feel weirdly optimistic. The Knicks missed every other free throw. It felt like they should have blown out. Yet the hung in there and had a shot to win. I hate leaning into moral victories, but that's what this one feels like to me
The team is ugly - I love ‘em.
Hate the free throw shooting though.
My thoughts on the game:
After a really shaky preseason I leave this game feeling encouraged about our upcoming season. We should be pretty good again if this is any indicator. Boston is loaded, potentially the best team in the league on paper, KP and Jrue are huge upgrades all around and pose tough matchups for us specifically (Mitch guarding perimeter, Jrue on Brunson down the stretch). Nonetheless we almost beat them without getting a great performance from anyone.
Randle missed a ton of layups, Brunson missed two clutch bunnies down the stretch, Grimes, Brunson, Randle all missed critical FTs. Grimes missed a wide open transition 3. We had a few chances to take the game and no one could hit the big shot or FTs. The Brunson technical on the 3 pointer and the IQ foul that didn't get overturned were tough calls against us in key moments as well.
Shooting continues to be the achilles heel for the team. Whether it's FT shooting or clutch shooting in general. Somewhere down the line, something will have to give with the RJ-Randle-Mitch front court. Need shooting in there to realize our potential longterm.
Quickley looked awesome. I think the biggest decision Thibs will have on a nightly basis is who going to be who sits down the stretch out of IQ, Grimes, RJ.
We need more size and length on the wing.
JesseDark wrote:We need more size and length on the wing.
True but to give the Celtics credit, they have two unmatchable players in Tatum and KP. Both are problems most teams can’t solve. Tatum is tall. And the double center lineups was a problem for our small team.
But more length helps. Just not sure if length on the wings would change the outcome of this last game. Healthy KP is a problem. Tatum is a superstar on the rise.
Quickly must start. We cant start a sg that cant shoot and get down 10 in the first qt and keep fighting back. Its so simple.
Potential 4 point swing right there.
martin wrote:Potential 4 point swing right there.
How could they have missed that?!?!? What the hell were they reviewing in the first place?
blkexec wrote:JesseDark wrote:We need more size and length on the wing.
True but to give the Celtics credit, they have two unmatchable players in Tatum and KP. Both are problems most teams can’t solve. Tatum is tall. And the double center lineups was a problem for our small team.
But more length helps. Just not sure if length on the wings would change the outcome of this last game. Healthy KP is a problem. Tatum is a superstar on the rise.
You make good points. My concern is that the lack of length where the 6'8" - 6'9" player can just be unbothered by our smaller defenders can become a trend. When I was watching the game I was thinking we should have persued Bol Bol during the off season to deal with the "unicorns" of the league. He could have been deployed on Porzinghis or Tatum.
BigDaddyG wrote:martin wrote:Potential 4 point swing right there.
How could they have missed that?!?!? What the hell were they reviewing in the first place?
The irony would have been Brunson getting call and then missing more FTs
I really thought we had them beat after being down 12 but then up 6 (18 point swing) with only 4 minutes remaining.
I'm proud of the fact NY went toe to toe with Boston because they didn't out play us. They didn't have more talent and they didn't show more depth than us either; we beat ourselves due to missed Free Throws (the Grimes missed FT after 3 pointer was a huge momentum killer imo).
Get better @ the FT line and we'll contend and compete against any elite contender (as shown last night despite our 2 best players in Brunson/Randle not having good shooting performances).
That's all I've got to say about game 1.
martin wrote:Potential 4 point swing right there.
Oh, man it's all good now. They apologized. What had me hysterical was the announcers during the game discussing it and going back and forth if it was a tech. Yikes the announcers and refs both suck
apologizing is a start but very ungratifying if there's no explanation of consequences.
Missing a play in real time is going to happen. Missing key plays, at key times, with video review should result in public consequences. tired of the b**sh!t
All the guys need to know the play.
Chandler wrote:
Glad to see KP's classy comments but c'mon we don't really think he would be here with Thibs as coachKP is more finesse and in a good situation in Boston where he is the 3rd or 4th option.
Losing that one hurts but let's not overreact either. Our best players laid eggs, and the refs sucked and we almost took that one.
Would he be limited to rim driving for offensive rebounds? LOL
KnickDanger wrote:The team is ugly - I love ‘em.Hate the free throw shooting though.
Haha. watching around the league game 1 seems to be uglier than the norm. That said it seems like this team has fully committed to winning ugly. Randle and Brunson were both 5 for 20 and they just kept attacking the rim while the team kept attacking the glass. On defense, they are insanely physical off-ball and clog the paint. The Kings and Warriors play a different sport
