Tough loss but I really liked what I saw from Hukporti last night
NYStateOfMind wrote:No KAT to stretch out a team that rebounds well is a killer, but there are so many other mistakes. So much for beating them gain after 16 gamed in a row.
Our perimeter defense looks really bad. Maybe Mitch coming back helps because he is so long and quick
VDesai wrote:Malik Beasley always gets up for the Knicks
I was thinking it was going to be freakin Tim Hardaway Jr going off and here comes Mr Playoff choke job Malik Beasley in with 7 3's.
Muddafugga
Are we done with Jericho yet ---- he was brutal and even Thibs couldn't take it?
On this squad everyone healthy he's probably 5th string center Kat/Mitch/Precious/Huck and #5 Jericho --- is that unfair???
Watching that game I felt like it was game 5 and 6 against Pacers and we were on our last legs.
That is about the 5th time we've looked dead legged this year IMO
Thought Bridges was awful and box score shows decent shooting and a +1 on +/-.
Precious was with 10 boards, 4 assists, a block and a steal with a +6 in 28 minutes - he was good.
Thought Huck looked ok though he was a -9 thought perimeter D was a sieve on both penetration and covering 3
Hart took the night off - he's done that particularly on D quite a few times this year.
Yes...yes he's played great offense against his career #s but his D/intensity on that end fluctuates heavily depending on the opponent.
Starting to think reason Mikal can play all these consecutive games is that he plays soft as hell.
Not taking any contact offensively, not getting into guys defensively, soft around screens, fades away shooting, doesn't get to line, doesn't rebound a lick BUT outside of those things he's a DAWG 
It can be both, a lack of focus and some poor defensive schemes. I've pointed it out before, we double-team too often when it isn't needed, which often doesn't lead to a steal. OG gets most of his steals on his own. They were so fluid last year doing the bad scheme that it worked more often than not. With new players, it takes time, but in the end, it is a poor scheme. Stay with your man, instead of doubling, cut into passing lanes. A double at this point should only be used to get the ball out of Cunningham's hand and they should stop letting JB or Deuce switch on the PnR on Cade, that is exactly what he wanted and abused all night. Often Mikal was the picked guy and let JB take Cade, but OG in the same situation tried to fight through the pick and stay on Cade, his D IQ is off the charts. The only issue is with how Mikal does it, it leaves JB confused about what to do when it is OG doing the right thing, which left Beasley open after a pass or 2.
So, focus and some poor defensive schemes were disastrous, and you can't start Sims. Some might argue the same with Mitch. Precious starts this game with HUK as his backup, I think we pull this game out. Thibs has to adjust, he did too late on Sims and some timeouts, but he is usually too stubborn to make major scheme changes when he sees improvement and thinks it is just execution. Besides new pieces, there is a reason the team is not top 10 on D. A talented team has made it look even better than it really is.
Not having KAT jammed up the spacing and running the ball through Sims doesn't work. IMO at this point, Sims is only good for a defensive sub on a possession or garbage time. I believe his offense has regressed, he lacks confidence. Had a few nice games, but as a backup. I hated seeing JB get smacked around, often without calls, in a loss like this. They need to bring it in the next 2 games. Let's go Knicks.
Clean wrote:https://bsky.app/profile/shwinnypooh.bsk...
People are now constantly seeing the problem with our defense but they are not yet noticing that its not a lack of focus. This is our defensive scheme and has been for Thibs entire coaching career with us.
Over help to protect the paint even if its a trash player attacking and the help can't actually help stop him because it is too far away on the weakside. Leave the shooters open and scramble to the shooters after the kickout. It all depends on those shooters missing open shots or not killing our now constantly scrambling defense.
If the team was fully healthy, he isn't even on my squad. No need for a 5th center, I agree. Right now he is G-League talent.
LivingLegend wrote:Are we done with Jericho yet ---- he was brutal and even Thibs couldn't take it?On this squad everyone healthy he's probably 5th string center Kat/Mitch/Precious/Huck and #5 Jericho --- is that unfair???
The long game with Sims is to get him valuable enough the with the advanced defensive metrics to have him provide some value in a trade. His 3mm contract can be stacked with Mitch or Precious for something useful - or together with Ryan and /or Shamet for some mid player.
So many posts to chime in on, haha. I don't think it was as bad as those playoff games with a skeleton crew. This game was winnable. Bridges was not terrible, except on his play on PnR for Cade and forced fade-aways. I also wish he would stop talking smack to opponent benches just because he finally hits a 3. You shot 30% 3-9 on 3s, just get back on defense. He has shot over 33% on 3s just once in the last 6 games, he needs to stop celebrating.
Precious was very good, HUK was solid and his +/- wasn't his fault. I think Hart was playing too emotional, but he and JB as sick of the lack of calls(especially at MSG) and inconsistencies of what is a foul or tech. He has played so over expectations, that 17 pts, 6 rebs, 3 assists, and a steal seems disappointing, but he didn't take the night off, lol. You can't expect a triple-double every night for a guy who would be the 6th man on some teams.
Not sure if Mikal is soft, but like Cade, he mostly plays without emotions and seems to be coasting. He needs more Sprewell in his game for mentality. And stop fading away on shots you don't need to. When he forces the fade, his numbers drop a lot, compared to his set shots.
I think most of this smooths out, but Thibs and the team has a lot of work to do to reach the top contender tier. The talent is mostly there, so this might be the year before that happens.
LivingLegend wrote:Watching that game I felt like it was game 5 and 6 against Pacers and we were on our last legs.That is about the 5th time we've looked dead legged this year IMO
Just letting everyone know, got some family stuff to deal with so I’ll be behind in my normal but I’ll dip in when I can. Thanks for patience.
martin wrote:Just letting everyone know, got some family stuff to deal with so I’ll be behind in my normal but I’ll dip in when I can. Thanks for patience.
Take care Martin. Well hold it down to get get things squared away
Rookie wrote:martin wrote:Just letting everyone know, got some family stuff to deal with so I’ll be behind in my normal but I’ll dip in when I can. Thanks for patience.
Take care Martin. Well hold it down to get get things squared away
Ditto. We look forward to you getting back to normal levels of slacking. 
VDesai wrote:The long game with Sims is to get him valuable enough the with the advanced defensive metrics to have him provide some value in a trade. His 3mm contract can be stacked with Mitch or Precious for something useful - or together with Ryan and /or Shamet for some mid player.
Agree on the idea of building value to trade him -- unless it's Mitch.
Panos wrote:martin wrote:Just letting everyone know, got some family stuff to deal with so I;ll be behind in my normal but Ill dip in when I can. Thanks for patience.
Sending positive vibes
I'll pass along my thanks to you, the Bot, Ewing, Rookie and everyone else. Just at the phase of life where we got to drop everything from time to time and do the thing for the parents when they need it. And I'm already doubly behind with myself too. Phew.
