I think the Knicks with OG on the roster have a matchup answer for the Pacers, but if I had to say what my biggest concern was in this series, its that the Pacers play the fastest and most up tempo game in the league and the Knicks are down to 7 rotation players. Their most playable 8th man (Precious) is the third center, so he is behind glass that you break in case of emergency. So the question is, do we have enough on the perimeter to deal with the waves of players Indy can toss at us? This time off helps, but the margins are razor thin. Can't afford any ankle twists or stepping on players foots.
Jalen can control the game and the speed of the game, but given our tendency to crash boards, we can get beat in transition. Pacers will basket hang and try to break at every opportunity. Haliburton can throw the long pass as well as anyone. And giving up a lot of 2nd chance points to the Pacers would be demoralizing.
So do you give up spacing to put Achiuwa out there more often to dominate the glass. Do you try to integrate Burks or Milton for more perimeter depth? Should be interesting to see how it plays out, but my gut says Thibs will stick by his 7.
its a concern for sure, we gotta work an 8th guy in there. Precious might have to play some PF to give OG and Jhart a breather. We really cant afford another injury also.
That being said IND is really playing 8 guys mainly as well, its the playoffs, rotations are shorter and we aren't going to let IND run like they did in reg season.
If we can avoid another injury we'll be fine. I mean I guess we can sustain an injury at C but anywhere else and we're in a pretty bad place.
Pacers/ Bucks had more blowouts, so ultimately they had more guys get in games. That said only 8 players played all 6 - that left a guy like Jalen Smith who is a very good offensive player out of the rotation for the most part.
I think we'll see Achiuwa in this series. He's a better match up defensively against Turner and Obi.
SergioNYK wrote:I think we'll see Achiuwa in this series. He's a better match up defensively against Turner and Obi.
Agree
Ironically Thibs usually makes the right adjustments but if he keeps the same rotation and we win, I’m not surprised.
Some coaches want to match their speed. Other coaches will force the other teams to slow down.
We worried about their speed. But they probably more worried about those offensive rebounds. And that’s going to slow down the pacers from running too earlier until a rebound is secured.
Maxey has shown how speed can hurt us. So you know they will attack with speed. This will be an interesting coaches adjustment battle.
Reason for concerns.
Defense vs Offense potency. They run, so do we.
The have to defend us.
Obi regret here? Its not that simple. Yes, with Randle he would be a nice option to have off the bench.
Knicks did figure its roster out with OG trade and outside shooting from Bojan. Were were complete but never at the same time.
Bojan had a nice block shot early in Philly season and while it took time played decent defense.
In fans eyes we see one on one. It Thibs eyes its about covering assignments and we are good at it.
Jalen is really good at this. He does not have the length but he moves and reacts.
Most of us have watched enough games or breakdown videos to understand this.
Obi did not. Was he jettisoned because he yelled back? I think it was his frustration with Thibs and himself.
Also at play is physical attributes of lower body strength. Remembers Phil take that KP small ass would be a problem? It was. His back. His legs. His injuries. But being able to hold ground is paramount. Mitch is big. IHart has filled out. Cam? Not. The Build on OG and Deuce are similar. Tree trunks for legs. Strong core strength. perhaps prototypical? Randle and Josh are very strong dudes. Jalen? very strong build.
Our physicality differentiates us. Obi did not have it. His brother also.
This is not to say every player need be the same or can't get it done without it.
Ben Ritz on KFS was discussing how the Philly matchup was like a perfect precursor to this team in a lot of ways.
Embiid was essentially a stretch 5 which gave us great experience going into this series vs Turner. Probably expect to see OG playing deep protection while the big is out on the 5.
Had a crash course in the pick and pop and also guarding elite PG.
Almost every serious analyst is picking Knicks. ESPN writers were like 12-12 in favor of Knicks. Ngl that kind of consensus in our favor scares me a bit like the Burks trade.
I think we need to expand the rotation for sure. Brunson should be other worldly this series. And our role players should be able to get going on a nightly basis against this team who is bottom 5 on D.
We just went through an ECF kind of fight and Indy was barely tested versus MIL role player team.
VDesai wrote:I think the Knicks with OG on the roster have a matchup answer for the Pacers, but if I had to say what my biggest concern was in this series, its that the Pacers play the fastest and most up tempo game in the league and the Knicks are down to 7 rotation players. Their most playable 8th man (Precious) is the third center, so he is behind glass that you break in case of emergency. So the question is, do we have enough on the perimeter to deal with the waves of players Indy can toss at us? This time off helps, but the margins are razor thin. Can't afford any ankle twists or stepping on players foots.Jalen can control the game and the speed of the game, but given our tendency to crash boards, we can get beat in transition. Pacers will basket hang and try to break at every opportunity. Haliburton can throw the long pass as well as anyone. And giving up a lot of 2nd chance points to the Pacers would be demoralizing.
So do you give up spacing to put Achiuwa out there more often to dominate the glass. Do you try to integrate Burks or Milton for more perimeter depth? Should be interesting to see how it plays out, but my gut says Thibs will stick by his 7.
I think rebounding and controlling glass will set the tone of the series.
Pacers get more defensive rebounds they can kick and run, that'll be in their favor. Pacers try to keep Knicks off glass by not leaking out as much.... favors Knicks.
We will definitely see Precious in the 4 spot. He will give both OG and Josh a breather.
A lot of people calling for Precious at the 4 will soon regret it once the Pacers Zone us or completely ignore him and Mitch.
Clean wrote:A lot of people calling for Precious at the 4 will soon regret it once the Pacers Zone us or completely ignore him and Mitch.
Agree - Burks at the 3 to eat up mins is more likely than Precious at the 4.
What we need more than anything is points off the bench.
Clean wrote:A lot of people calling for Precious at the 4 will soon regret it once the Pacers Zone us or completely ignore him and Mitch.
i think you can get away with Ihart & Precious for 8-10mpg, we kind of have to. the other 3 guys will be shooters.
Precious is an important player for us but it will have to be for guarding fast bigs or stretch bigs. It will also have to be in place of iHart or Mitch. He is pretty much to bigs what McBride is to fast guards for us. Which is why I want him back next season if the price is right. Hopefully he can work on his shooting and maybe he can have a bigger role next season.
iHart and Precious are awful together. You can see here they don’t even like each other.
whoever sets the pace is at a decided advantage
That said, the Knicks are a far better road team than the Pacers. All we got to do is handle our business at home. I prefer to look at it like that
Clean wrote:A lot of people calling for Precious at the 4 will soon regret it once the Pacers Zone us or completely ignore him and Mitch.
Thats why you don't play them both together.
McConnell is the only thing I worry about the Pacers. He always seems to have good games against the Knicks
Swishfm3 wrote:Clean wrote:A lot of people calling for Precious at the 4 will soon regret it once the Pacers Zone us or completely ignore him and Mitch.
Thats why you don't play them both together.
McConnell is the only thing I worry about the Pacers. He always seems to have good games against the Knicks
We can play Hartenstein with Previous instead.
Thibs needs to extend to a 8 or 9 man rotation
Philc1 wrote:Thibs needs to extend to a 8 or 9 man rotation
Deep.
Swishfm3 wrote:Clean wrote:A lot of people calling for Precious at the 4 will soon regret it once the Pacers Zone us or completely ignore him and Mitch.
Thats why you don't play them both together.McConnell is the only thing I worry about the Pacers. He always seems to have good games against the Knicks
What you should worry about is Hali not having a bad game like last night. He's not going to score only 6 points every night
