LivingLegend wrote:shinmen wrote:I cannot imagine how proud Rick Brunson must be of seeing his son becoming a Knicks legend in front of his eyes.
Agreed but what I reallly love is when Deuce hit big 3 and Rick flew off the bench pumping his fist for Deuce.
I think Rick is low-key adding toughness to this squad.
Rick is also the one guy who can truly talk to Brunson in a way no one else in the world can. Literally. And when his son is not heading in the right direction, he can pull him aside and TALK.
martin wrote:LivingLegend wrote:martin wrote:
I-Hart has been great all year but stinky past few games.
With Precious, OG, Josh, Deuce we have 4 outstanding defenders on a string and moving feet bodies with Jalen lurking to draw charges.
Thibs to Jalen: "Do SOMETHING anything on D and that'll be AOK with me"
haha maybe I'm wrong and he is a defensive genius
LivingLegend wrote:shinmen wrote:I cannot imagine how proud Rick Brunson must be of seeing his son becoming a Knicks legend in front of his eyes.
Agreed but what I reallly love is when Deuce hit big 3 and Rick flew off the bench pumping his fist for Deuce.
I think Rick is low-key adding toughness to this squad.
Yea Rick is definitely showing his worth beyond being Brunon's dad. He's clearly a respected OG, ex player on the staff. A calming presence and also brings a toughness to the assistant coaching staff. He was there for the 90s Knicks, he helps facilitate that culture to this team.
SergioNYK wrote:I am still in shock over that game by Brunson! Highest scoring playoff game by a player in NYK history! We are so blessed! Think about how much and how long we waited for that PG and I honestly never in my wildest dreams expected him to be this good! The play that will stand out for me is the one on one iso on Embiid. Was such a momentum changer!Such a blessing when Hartenstein got those 5 dumb fouls on Embiid in the 3rd and Thibs was forced to go with OGA on Embiid. OGA shut him down! Embiid didn't even hit a shot in the 4th! Just elite fronting defense, ball denial and physical play without fouling! Embiid was so shook! Props to Precious too! He was outstanding! Loved that block on Embiid's 3!
Only Josh Hart can have such a big game without hitting a single shot. He took the hearts out of the Sixers with his rebounding in the 4th! He's very Rodman like in that sense. Deuce hit some timely shots too!
Fingers crossed Mitch and Bogey can go tomorrow or soon. We have to take care of business and send these crybabies on vacation after tomorrow. We will.
I would strongly consider keeping Mitch out. Precious brought a look that Philly really struggled with. Not only did him and OG play terrific tandem defense but nobody has contested Maxey's drives as good as Precious yesterday. That extra foot speed made a world of difference in that Maxey help defense.
Also as much as DDV did not play a great game, but Knicks were down 70-63 deep in the 3rd and things were starting to look bleak. He blasted B2B 3s to make it a 1 point game. If both of those don't go down that game could take a much different direction. We've gotten those B2B 3s from somebody in every game pretty much, Deuce a few teams, Bogie, DDV. That was a critical juncture of the game.
martin wrote:technomaster wrote:This is a seriously deep Knicks team. It's like a player is forced to leave the game due to foul trouble or injury, and the Knicks just get even better. That's gotta piss off the Sixers. Our two 7 ft centers were out of the game against a taller team with their MVP-level center - no prob, we proceed to out-hustle and out-rebound them the rest of the way.
The brand of defense this team plays is really different from the Patrick Ewing Knicks - those Knicks dominated with size, muscle, and toughness. These Knicks are so quick - we're a little undersized but we have tough guys that play larger than their heights.
Modern 90’s defense.
Knicks did it, and Brunson isn’t a weak link IMHO, not stout but not weak link either.
And it’ll be even badder next year
Brunson has been a huge positive surprise on defense. I think he's good. Has some obvious limitations but a legit asset. Makes tons of plays, is very strong and physical, plays his role perfectly on switches and challenging jumpers. Legit part of an elite team defense.
it's gonna be an interesting offseason. Starting to think we lose IHart. It's gonna take his wife saying "Im not going to OKC" to stop it cause I think they offer him a good bag and my god he would be a crazy good fit.
So for us I think it's something like Mitch/Precious and we make a move for someone. I like Naz Reid. He's 24 and could be a great fit under Thibs as a 3&D big with some other skills. Minn is going to be an apron team so something Burk's expiring (can we still do that around the draft?) and say pick 25 and 36 (we keep and draft someone w/ 24)
Wow... our squad
Brunson/DD/OG/Jules/Mitch
bench: McBride/Josh/Bojan/Precious/Reid
end of bench: Rokas? Drafted player at 24, Jericho under contract at $2mm ish
That's looking really phucking nasty 
Joking aside, I never realized how whiney this guy is. Nothing is ever his fault. The guy is the biggest man on the court. Get a f*cking defensive rebound!
fishmike wrote:martin wrote:technomaster wrote:This is a seriously deep Knicks team. It's like a player is forced to leave the game due to foul trouble or injury, and the Knicks just get even better. That's gotta piss off the Sixers. Our two 7 ft centers were out of the game against a taller team with their MVP-level center - no prob, we proceed to out-hustle and out-rebound them the rest of the way.
The brand of defense this team plays is really different from the Patrick Ewing Knicks - those Knicks dominated with size, muscle, and toughness. These Knicks are so quick - we're a little undersized but we have tough guys that play larger than their heights.
Modern 90’s defense.
Knicks did it, and Brunson isn’t a weak link IMHO, not stout but not weak link either.
And it’ll be even badder next year
Brunson has been a huge positive surprise on defense. I think he's good. Has some obvious limitations but a legit asset. Makes tons of plays, is very strong and physical, plays his role perfectly on switches and challenging jumpers. Legit part of an elite team defense.it's gonna be an interesting offseason. Starting to think we lose IHart. It's gonna take his wife saying "Im not going to OKC" to stop it cause I think they offer him a good bag and my god he would be a crazy good fit.
So for us I think it's something like Mitch/Precious and we make a move for someone. I like Naz Reid. He's 24 and could be a great fit under Thibs as a 3&D big with some other skills. Minn is going to be an apron team so something Burk's expiring (can we still do that around the draft?) and say pick 25 and 36 (we keep and draft someone w/ 24)
Wow... our squad
Brunson/DD/OG/Jules/Mitch
bench: McBride/Josh/Bojan/Precious/Reid
end of bench: Rokas? Drafted player at 24, Jericho under contract at $2mm ish
That's looking really phucking nasty
The odds of losing iHart are extremely slim IMO. Mitch and his non stop injuries cannot be relied upon, Knicks will make iHart top priority. I think our odds of keeping Mitch/iHart tandem together are high, given Mitch's injuries he probably has more of a willingness to come off the bench. I think both guys probably have come to the realization that they are 25mpg guys and not 35mpg guys. Both have stated that their platoon is the best tandem in the league. I think they want to keep it together. No one will trust Mitch to be full time C with his injuries. He needs to be part of a platoon.
As the dude in the video described Brunson on defense was brilliant. not man to man but TEAM defense. As broken down "it was a thing of beauty" but mostly lost on most of us. We see misses and just assume the guy on him at that moment is to get the credit. But its the schematic. Him switching and covering was pointed out.
I used to marvel at the "Heatles" in year two and beyond at the switch defense and how they filled the passion lanes so quickly.
Last few years they have been effective with Duncan, Herro and Stress besides Jimmy. this is practiced.
That OG picked it up so fast was awesome.
As said in previous years RJ, IQ, Deuce and Grimes all would take steps backward when tasked with more on both offense and defense.
Development takes time to adding building blocks to a players skill set. Thibs wants complete players.
Its entirely possible DDV was lapsing on defense which is why he was struggling on offense? Fatigue? All the above?
As for Embiid? I know you guys like to have villains. I'd not want Embiid or any star if it leaves depth barren and have to rely too much on one player with a massive contract.
Not like we have not had Mitch fall on players and hurt them in the past. Our guys injure others but not deliberately. These videos of a few years of dirty player tends to paint Embiid badly.
I don't want him here because he breaks down and his contract is massive. The cost would be too high if he asks out.
I respect that he has yet to. I respect his calling out Philly fans for not blocking out knicks fans! I respect him playing thru pain.
Not a good look when he (as do many Allstar players) complain after plays. Jalen included.
I urge anyone who has in their minds Randle as lost on Defense or ball hogging to look at January and the ball movement. That roster was just coming together. Randle this year was not complaining as much. I admit he does take some plays off but without a good back up I think it was necessary. Bojan came after he got hurt.
And there was Bojan earlier this series playing tough defense and blocking shots!!! He was asked to come off the bench and play both sides.
His injury looked bad. I hope im wrong.
DLeethal wrote:Also as much as DDV did not play a great game, but Knicks were down 70-63 deep in the 3rd and things were starting to look bleak. He blasted B2B 3s to make it a 1 point game. If both of those don't go down that game could take a much different direction. We've gotten those B2B 3s from somebody in every game pretty much, Deuce a few teams, Bogie, DDV. That was a critical juncture of the game.
Yes those were massive shots. Deuce did it in the first half.
Formula for the Knicks is usually Brunson for 30-40 and then someone else is making 3's - Donte has 4-5, Deuce has 4-5...someone else. Yesterday was a struggle as no one else could score. OG did a great job of attacking the basket and he has a pretty nice 12-15 foot shot.
Embiid is not rim protecting and the Sixers don't have any other interior defenders. We actually blew a lot of layups (not all of them easy) yesterday.
I think we most definitely give iHart the bag. No reason not to keep Mitch unless it's part of a bigger trade. Precious will be tough to convince to stay when he's clearly only part of rotation when Mitch is hurt. So the decision becomes whether you want a more reliable Precious or the best ORBer in the league in Mitch.
VDesai wrote:DLeethal wrote:Also as much as DDV did not play a great game, but Knicks were down 70-63 deep in the 3rd and things were starting to look bleak. He blasted B2B 3s to make it a 1 point game. If both of those don't go down that game could take a much different direction. We've gotten those B2B 3s from somebody in every game pretty much, Deuce a few teams, Bogie, DDV. That was a critical juncture of the game.
Yes those were massive shots. Deuce did it in the first half.
Formula for the Knicks is usually Brunson for 30-40 and then someone else is making 3's - Donte has 4-5, Deuce has 4-5...someone else. Yesterday was a struggle as no one else could score. OG did a great job of attacking the basket and he has a pretty nice 12-15 foot shot.
Embiid is not rim protecting and the Sixers don't have any other interior defenders. We actually blew a lot of layups (not all of them easy) yesterday.
Basically every game we've fallen behind double digits and have gotten those 3 point barrages at different stages to get us back in the game. I'd like to see the starters hold serve better in the 1st and 3rd Q's and not have to rely on those types of role player heroics to get us back in the game.
BigDaddyG wrote:Joking aside, I never realized how whiney this guy is. Nothing is ever his fault. The guy is the biggest man on the court. Get a f*cking defensive rebound!
Like read a scouting report man. The Knicks have played the same way all year. Crash boards, get to corners. 2nd shot attempt is higher percentage than the first because the defense is not set. This is what Thibs is all about. This is why he doesnt kill you for pull up threes.
If by now you don't know Josh Hart is gonna be on every loose ball than you are just not paying attention. But this guys is a lumbering mental midget who wants to blame everyone but himself.
DLeethal wrote:I think we most definitely give iHart the bag. No reason not to keep Mitch unless it's part of a bigger trade. Precious will be tough to convince to stay when he's clearly only part of rotation when Mitch is hurt. So the decision becomes whether you want a more reliable Precious or the best ORBer in the league in Mitch.
our defensive rotations are also just much faster with Precious. and we can switch easier, he's def a different look.
but Mitch is clearly not 100%, he's a beast otherwise.
I could see a scenario where we trade Mitch and keep Precious. but we dont have to do anything.
But in this modern NBA it's such a "game of runs" style with big point swings in every game. I think we've gotten comfortable in this series making our pushes late and letting Philly blow their loads early. I've gotten comfortable as a fan, in this series in particular, watching this team dig an early hole knowing they will position themselves for the late run.
DLeethal wrote:But in this modern NBA it's such a "game of runs" style with big point swings in every game. I think we've gotten comfortable in this series making our pushes late and letting Philly blow their loads early. I've gotten comfortable as a fan, in this series in particular, watching this team dig an early hole knowing they will position themselves for the late run.
embiid wears down as the game goes on
DLeethal wrote:I think we most definitely give iHart the bag. No reason not to keep Mitch unless it's part of a bigger trade. Precious will be tough to convince to stay when he's clearly only part of rotation when Mitch is hurt. So the decision becomes whether you want a more reliable Precious or the best ORBer in the league in Mitch.
Precious has had some big games, but he also has limitations. Was annoyed he missed a cpl dunks yesterday. But obviously his ability to guard bigs out at the perimeter and switch around is massive. And he has a great instinct for shotblocking. He gets vertical and gets ball. His timing is impressive. He is also one of these guys that once a few good things happen for him, he goes into some kind of beast mode where he makes a cluster of great plays. Other times he can look lost.
I think you give iHart the money without a doubt. Mitch is a super valuable player, but he's also an attractive trade piece and maybe you keep Precious. Its the hardest situation to manage this offseason.
And we need to lock up Brunson asap. This guy is made of different DNA than most NBA players. He is a champion. Guys with his mentality win championships in Sports.
nycericanguy wrote:DLeethal wrote:I think we most definitely give iHart the bag. No reason not to keep Mitch unless it's part of a bigger trade. Precious will be tough to convince to stay when he's clearly only part of rotation when Mitch is hurt. So the decision becomes whether you want a more reliable Precious or the best ORBer in the league in Mitch.
our defensive rotations are also just much faster with Precious. and we can switch easier, he's def a different look.
but Mitch is clearly not 100%, he's a beast otherwise.
I could see a scenario where we trade Mitch and keep Precious. but we dont have to do anything.
Knicks have prioritized depth every year. Each year going in we argue about mins distro because of all the depth. I would not be shocked to see Knicks try hard to retain Precious for that reason alone. Just not sure Precious will be that interested. But going into this season they had DDV, Grimes, RJ, IQ, Deuce. They wanted the depth so they could make trades and also survive injuries. Obviously it paid dividends. So I could see them wanting to have iHart, Mitch, and Precious, and Sims all come back. You have to bank on Mitch getting hurt at this point. Precious might also be comfortable knowing that. He's gonna get his time throughout the year even as a 3rd big.
nycericanguy wrote:DLeethal wrote:But in this modern NBA it's such a "game of runs" style with big point swings in every game. I think we've gotten comfortable in this series making our pushes late and letting Philly blow their loads early. I've gotten comfortable as a fan, in this series in particular, watching this team dig an early hole knowing they will position themselves for the late run.
embiid wears down as the game goes on
Even game 3, where he exploded for 50- he mostly did it on FTs in the 4th quarter. The fact that he never sat yesterday was possibly an issue for him. He was gassed.
Mitch's injuries worry me. The guy seems like he tweaks his foot or ankle on every play. Non stop hobbling and limping even when "healthy". Knicks can't count on him without great reinforcements.
VDesai wrote:nycericanguy wrote:DLeethal wrote:But in this modern NBA it's such a "game of runs" style with big point swings in every game. I think we've gotten comfortable in this series making our pushes late and letting Philly blow their loads early. I've gotten comfortable as a fan, in this series in particular, watching this team dig an early hole knowing they will position themselves for the late run.
embiid wears down as the game goes on
Even game 3, where he exploded for 50- he mostly did it on FTs in the 4th quarter. The fact that he never sat yesterday was possibly an issue for him. He was gassed.
If you read Philly forums it's a huge talking point. They were so bad in the non-Embiid minutes that Nurse gambled and got burned for not finding him a spot to rest. Very similar to common Thibs critique. Nurse doesn't empower his bench, runs his best players into the ground, yada yada.
