Knicks · OG is the key (page 2)

fishmike wrote:we had him for barely half a year and it's easy to see he's special.

First off I am not even sure he's wing, and I think Leon/Thibs also kinda figured this out. He's really a stretch big who can guard smaller guys. He's really huge. I would say he's an inch (maybe) shorter than Jules but has 2 inches on the wingspan (this is verified, Jules is 7' and OG is 7'2). Jules is more explosive. OG has a stronger base. Both are really powerful guys.

So when I look at the league and the playoff teams there's no doubt in my mind OG is a 4. What (obviously) makes him so special is his ability to shoot and defend like... anyone. He's got a great slashing game. He's not the fluid athlete Randle is. OG reminds me a bit of Tim Thomas on offense... really good athlete. Kinda doesnt know what he's doing at all times but I think as the 3rd/4th scoring option he's exceptional. You see his ability to get buckets is mostly built around his size/power/length combo. He's showing a little pull up J as well.

Meanwhile Mikal is clearly a wing. He's so skinny and long. He's perfect. My "dream" guy for this squad was always some kinda hybrid of Kris Middleton and Tayshaun Prince. A long rangy wing who drills 3 and gobbles up scorers. Mikal is a brilliant fit.

It's really having both that makes this so special. Either is great. Both is how you win a chip. They are almost the same in length. Mikal is 6'7 with a 7'1 wingspan. These guys are like vultures with their length. The key is their versatility together. You can go big with them at the 2/3 or you can play another guard and they are the 3/4. Either of those combos is going to be great. Both are true 2 way players with very good scoring chops and elite defense.

God forbid they are healthy the formula is nuts:
Brunson/Towns break down the defenses
Mikal/OG 3rd/4th scoring options and elite defense
Mix and match: Josh, McBride, Mitch

You can really make some nasty combos with those 7 guys. I can't phucking wait.

Great analysis...totally agree. It's the pieces that solidify our contention window.

fishmike wrote:we had him for barely half a year and it's easy to see he's special.

First off I am not even sure he's wing, and I think Leon/Thibs also kinda figured this out. He's really a stretch big who can guard smaller guys. He's really huge. I would say he's an inch (maybe) shorter than Jules but has 2 inches on the wingspan (this is verified, Jules is 7' and OG is 7'2). Jules is more explosive. OG has a stronger base. Both are really powerful guys.

So when I look at the league and the playoff teams there's no doubt in my mind OG is a 4. What (obviously) makes him so special is his ability to shoot and defend like... anyone. He's got a great slashing game. He's not the fluid athlete Randle is. OG reminds me a bit of Tim Thomas on offense... really good athlete. Kinda doesnt know what he's doing at all times but I think as the 3rd/4th scoring option he's exceptional. You see his ability to get buckets is mostly built around his size/power/length combo. He's showing a little pull up J as well.

Meanwhile Mikal is clearly a wing. He's so skinny and long. He's perfect. My "dream" guy for this squad was always some kinda hybrid of Kris Middleton and Tayshaun Prince. A long rangy wing who drills 3 and gobbles up scorers. Mikal is a brilliant fit.

It's really having both that makes this so special. Either is great. Both is how you win a chip. They are almost the same in length. Mikal is 6'7 with a 7'1 wingspan. These guys are like vultures with their length. The key is their versatility together. You can go big with them at the 2/3 or you can play another guard and they are the 3/4. Either of those combos is going to be great. Both are true 2 way players with very good scoring chops and elite defense.

God forbid they are healthy the formula is nuts:
Brunson/Towns break down the defenses
Mikal/OG 3rd/4th scoring options and elite defense
Mix and match: Josh, McBride, Mitch

You can really make some nasty combos with those 7 guys. I can't phucking wait.

Spot on.

All of the above is true.

However, you’re paying $95MM for two guys that miss 20-30 games everyone season. And that’s not bringing up Mitch, our only rim protector.

Who rebounds?

Just liked the flexibility we had before trading for KAT. Having two guys that can go off in different ways and a real bench is more interesting than a big man who doesn’t quite have it. His numbers are alway great but there is something that’s always been missing.

I’m sure he will have 30 tonight and go off. But, it’s going to get hot really quick tonight.

MS wrote:All of the above is true.

However, you’re paying $95MM for two guys that miss 20-30 games everyone season. And that’s not bringing up Mitch, our only rim protector.

Who rebounds?

Just liked the flexibility we had before trading for KAT. Having two guys that can go off in different ways and a real bench is more interesting than a big man who doesn’t quite have it. His numbers are alway great but there is something that’s always been missing.

I’m sure he will have 30 tonight and go off. But, it’s going to get hot really quick tonight.

there is no however. That is the NBA. Jimmy Butler and Giannis didnt play in the playoffs. KP played like 5 games for Boston. Paul George, Embiid, Anthony Davis.. Haliburton misses 20-30 every year so far. That's the league. We can do this all day.

You build it up and hope you are healthy come post season. We have 2 all stars, 2 all NBA defensive wings and McBride/Josh who seem able to do whatever we need.

MS wrote: Who rebounds?

in 3 years under Thibs KAT averaged 12.5 rebs, 1.5 blocks and was a 2x all star. That's a good start. After that I expect Josh. 42 games last year as a starter and he averaged 12 points and 10.5 rebounds.

lets see how OG does at the 4 vs teams that are not sending 4 guys to the 3pt line and shooting like a high video.
One game is not the trend.
OG at the 3 rebounding rate is one thing. At the 4, should be higher.
Josh is the best rebounder under 6-5 in the league.
We lead the league in offensive rebounding last year. Small part was we shot more 3's so long rebounds mattered. So did Mitch, and of course now departed iHart.
small part was Randle putbacks on his own layups. Melo was really not a great rebounder but that padded his stats similar Randle got an offensive rebound boost.
The aggregate was knicks lead the league in that catagory.
I expect KAT numbers to get back over 10 per game.
Knicks were good rebounding team last year do to Thibs insistence they box out. Randle when so inclined was very good at this.
Im not bashing Randle. Players cannot be all world the whole game and need to conserve energy. He has had bad looks. Maybe last night he was better. His box score was impressive.
The guy I think played 16 min in preseason. I assume he'll revert to his all star self soon enough. BTW, DDV had another off night off the bench. Similar to last year start. He'll revert also I assume.

Key to winnng a chip, is getting the stars to line up by seasons end. Anthony Davis, Zion, Kat, Embiid, Giannis, and others all have stretches of misisng games. some more than others.
We take for granted good health buts its the exception.

I forgot that not only had Embiid returned from his knee issues last year and was in great pain, he also had Bells Palsey. You know, half his face was frozen. His eye needed drops and he was drooling. He was kicking ass! Most of us would be freaked out or distracted especially his eye. Dirty as his play was, one had to respect the effort. If he was a knick, we'd have be loving on him for the effort!

Players are dropping around the league. Injuries are always a factor.