I have been looking forward to this game ever since the Knicks lost to the Hawks. The Knicks have spent most of the last month feeding on the dregs of the league and it's finally time for the big test to see how the Knicks compete against one of the league's top 3 teams. Both teams enter the game on massive win streaks.
Not an overload of drama but there's enough there with IHart moving to the Thunder in the summer. One reason I was ok with Hart going was his obvious struggle containing Embiid in the playoffs. I'm hoping KAT gives him similar struggles. It will be on Bridges and OG to slow down the deadly duo of SGA and Jaylin (sic) Williams. I'm guessing it will be a playoff type atmosphere. OKC might be one of the few road games without the usual 10-25% of Knicks fans. It will be tough.
Milwaukee showed a pretty good blue print on how to beat the Thunder: rebounds and 3's. The biggest threat will be early foul trouble with KAT. OKC had a breezer against LAC last night so both teams will be well rested. A win in OKC tonight will be the strongest evidence yet that the Knicks are a contender.
gradyandrew wrote:I have been looking forward to this game ever since the Knicks lost to the Hawks. The Knicks have spent most of the last month feeding on the dregs of the league and it's finally time for the big test to see how the Knicks compete against one of the league's top 3 teams. Both teams enter the game on massive win streaks. Not an overload of drama but there's enough there with IHart moving to the Thunder in the summer. One reason I was ok with Hart going was his obvious struggle containing Embiid in the playoffs. I'm hoping KAT gives him similar struggles. It will be on Bridges and OG to slow down the deadly duo of SGA and Jaylin (sic) Williams. I'm guessing it will be a playoff type atmosphere. OKC might be one of the few road games without the usual 10-25% of Knicks fans. It will be tough.
Milwaukee showed a pretty good blue print on how to beat the Thunder: rebounds and 3's. The biggest threat will be early foul trouble with KAT. OKC had a breezer against LAC last night so both teams will be well rested. A win in OKC tonight will be the strongest evidence yet that the Knicks are a contender.
Embiid was MVP long before iHart "struggled" vs him. Joel when healthy is a top 3 talent on the planet. Nobody really stops him. His body is breaking down.
In a series vs. KAT im not sure he does better if Embiid is healthy. They are very similar talents if you think of their skill set. Embiid has range and goes to the rim similar to KAT. Question is can either stop each other?
gradyandrew wrote:I have been looking forward to this game ever since the Knicks lost to the Hawks. The Knicks have spent most of the last month feeding on the dregs of the league and it's finally time for the big test to see how the Knicks compete against one of the league's top 3 teams. Both teams enter the game on massive win streaks. Not an overload of drama but there's enough there with IHart moving to the Thunder in the summer. One reason I was ok with Hart going was his obvious struggle containing Embiid in the playoffs. I'm hoping KAT gives him similar struggles. It will be on Bridges and OG to slow down the deadly duo of SGA and Jaylin (sic) Williams. I'm guessing it will be a playoff type atmosphere. OKC might be one of the few road games without the usual 10-25% of Knicks fans. It will be tough.
Milwaukee showed a pretty good blue print on how to beat the Thunder: rebounds and 3's. The biggest threat will be early foul trouble with KAT. OKC had a breezer against LAC last night so both teams will be well rested. A win in OKC tonight will be the strongest evidence yet that the Knicks are a contender.
Totally agree this is a barometer game - are we really good? Like solid, elite level good.
Right now - most of us are picking this as a loss - me included- though I might just change it up.
They did play last night - looking at the box score - not entirely sure I would call it a breezer - they kinda looked like they had a typical Knick game where they had a slow start in the first- picked it up in the 2nd and then moved away in the 3rd. Unlike the Knicks and Thibs, it does look like their starters got the 4th quarter off.
Nalod, I strongly disagree. Robinson was able to win his minutes against Embiid during that series despite just coming back from injury.
In babe form, Knicks at OKC:
Gonna be tough to keep iHart off the boards.
Wow OKC is up for a long 2 week stretch
2024 Finals preview. Love it.
Have to find a way to control pace but run selectively/effeciently. Hopefully Brunson doesn't completely bog down against OKC man pressure.
Need to shrink the paint and make OKC beat us from 3 OR stay home on everyone and just go 1 V 1 with Shae while limiting everyone else.
Have to take care of ball and REBOOUND --- hopefully no role players like Joe/Dort/Wallace go off for career nights.
Shrink floor on IHart - don't give him the floater or back-door passes -- make him a shooter past foul line. Basically sink to middle of lane and take away his floater and back-door passes. Maybe Kat gets a good whistle or 2 tonight and gets IHart in foul trouble (doubt it).
martin wrote:
I like that they are also on a streak -- what I don't like is their defenders Wallace/Dort/JWill and apparently Shae now defending at very high level.
If Knicks can play GREAT defensive game we have a shot otherwise I'm a tad worried about Shae shooting 30 foul shots tonight and Kat on bench in foul trouble 3 minutes into game.
ramtour420 wrote:2024 Finals preview. Love it.
I really don't like that their is such a huge gap between 1st & 2nd place and 3rd & 4th place in the East.
Right now -- going to be very tough for us to either get to #1 or #4 and a likely 2nd round match-up with Celtics.
i like this OKC team BUT NOT TONIGHT
Go time!!
martin wrote:
This is basically the top offensive efficiency (Knicks) vs top defensive efficiency (OKC).
OKC is also ranked 10th in offense while knicks are ranked 13th in defensive.
OKC feeds off of turnovers. And their 3pt shooting numbers are down compared to last year.
So it seems like the way to win (which is the case against most teams), reduce the TO's and make them beat us from deep. (Sorry if this was already said)
Get ya popcorn ready. Knicks win by 4! KAT is a problem. And WINGSTOP is in full effect. Mikal, OG, Hart....Their defense will be key.
And please, please, please......NO MORE JUMP PASSES! Or we lose and this will be a blowout quick.
I believe we will win, I believe we will win, I believe we will win... USMNT chant
LivingLegend wrote:martin wrote:In babe form, Knicks at OKC:
Playing at ELITE level.
Whose the blonde with the boobs, next to the Cubana ?
