NYKBocker wrote:That was one of the worst officiating crew we have seen this year.
It was really bad, but we did get 30(!) FT vs their 15. Fouls just were not being called all night.
The egregious call was the Whitmore 3 in the 3rd that broke our momentum and got them going. I mean clear as day up and down call. I also think the quick trigger on the 5 second call, and then not applying the same late in the game vs. Houston was also rough to take. Really difficult conclusion on the Brunson turnover that was reviewed as well. We took a gamble to review that vs. getting a jump ball, but it looked like a foul on replay.
Last 2 min report is mostly a joke, but we'll get one for this game and see what the interpretation is on review.
The jump ball worked in our favor. Not sure it should have been re-tipped, but Josh jumped early and that might have been part of why Adams was thrown off. Maybe there was something to call, maybe there wasn't. Wound up being the pivotal play in the game.
I enjoyed this one! Felt like a 90s game! We earned it!
Another freaking classic legendary game by Brunson who put the team on his back and refused to let his team lose! How lucky are we to have this guy? He's everything and even more that we could have hoped for! 42 and 10 and scored 11 points in the last 2 minutes! And he did it against Amen Thompson who is a stud defensively!
Started to getting a little annoyed with KAT's foul issues. I know it's been a weakness his entire career but lately it seems like he's picking up the dumbest unnecessary fouls. And of course he gets no love at the other end when he's driving to the hoop and getting mugged. But we need him on the floor. His 3pt shot is still cold too with that thumb but he's got to keep letting it fly. We need that spacing. But KAT still finished with 22 and 9 and got going in the 4th to spark the comeback. Hart with his usual hustle game and him poking and talking to the ball was hilarious! Bridges with 22 and made some timely shots and played good defense on Green including that nice block!
Bench was awful again. Payne did nothing, Shamet did nothing, Deuce made some shots but wasn't much of a factor either. Hukporti got his chance and had a nice block and played hard with energy but picked up fouls like crazy. He needs experience. But I hope Leon can somehow find a cheap vet to add to this group cause it's just not good or consistent enough.
We're really going to miss OG. He's irreplaceable. We got nobody who can do what he does and we drop a tier overall without him. But thankfully it's just a mild sprain and he's day to day but we really need to keep this guy fresh. Same with Mitch! Bring him along slowly and keep him fresh for April-June.
Kudos to Houston! Undermanned and they made us earn it. I really like how hard they play! That Thompson kid is a stud and a future star! Someone like Whitmore here off the bench would be nice!
Deuce isn't shooting as well as he did early in the year, but I think he's bringing a lot defensively. He can get over screens and brings ball pressure and hustle. He does that without limiting our spacing offensively. I wish he would learn how to finish from Josh. He always wants to go vertical and gets blocked too easily (OG sometimes guilty of the same). You watch Josh and he's one of the best finishers in the league despite his size, because he doesn't shy away from contact, can finish with 2 hands/switch hands, can go up and under and thus, finishes through contact. Deuce is built like a tank and needs to get more physical instead of thinking he can jump over people. He has great hops, but at his size plenty of defenders can meet him vertically.
Rockets got in early foul trouble in the 4th and that helped.
I Think Deuce did great in spurts and carried us in first half.
Fact is the lead never got out of hand and thus the glass was half full.
Kudos to Udoka for the job he is doing with that team. They need to consolidate at some point and get its stars aligned.
VDesai wrote:Deuce isn't shooting as well as he did early in the year, but I think he's bringing a lot defensively. He can get over screens and brings ball pressure and hustle. He does that without limiting our spacing offensively. I wish he would learn how to finish from Josh. He always wants to go vertical and gets blocked too easily (OG sometimes guilty of the same). You watch Josh and he's one of the best finishers in the league despite his size, because he doesn't shy away from contact, can finish with 2 hands/switch hands, can go up and under and thus, finishes through contact. Deuce is built like a tank and needs to get more physical instead of thinking he can jump over people. He has great hops, but at his size plenty of defenders can meet him vertically.
Man Josh is so unique. I think he has sneaky athleticism and strength, although it's constantly on display and fairly obvious too, in a strange way. I think it's his combination of timing and IQ along with the athleticism and strength that separates him from pretty much everyone. He is not lightening quick, but in a straight line, he is as good as anyone.
VDesai wrote:NYKBocker wrote:That was one of the worst officiating crew we have seen this year.
It was really bad, but we did get 30(!) FT vs their 15. Fouls just were not being called all night.
The egregious call was the Whitmore 3 in the 3rd that broke our momentum and got them going. I mean clear as day up and down call. I also think the quick trigger on the 5 second call, and then not applying the same late in the game vs. Houston was also rough to take. Really difficult conclusion on the Brunson turnover that was reviewed as well. We took a gamble to review that vs. getting a jump ball, but it looked like a foul on replay.
Last 2 min report is mostly a joke, but we'll get one for this game and see what the interpretation is on review.
The jump ball worked in our favor. Not sure it should have been re-tipped, but Josh jumped early and that might have been part of why Adams was thrown off. Maybe there was something to call, maybe there wasn't. Wound up being the pivotal play in the game.
L2M is always a joke because (a) they try and cover their ass and (b) they never consider it from the perspective of consistency -- which is what every player and coach want. Also why are the L2M worth more than first two or middle two. Blown calls are blown calls. League supposedly tracks every play we're told but they are not transparent. I will say the refs were not obnoxious. there was a lot of complaining and the refs let them because they knew the game was getting away from them. I saw one portion where Jalen actually went up to a ref during a break and grabbed the refs arm which caught the ref off guard, but Jalen was trying to explain how he was being grabbed and clutched all the time. Ref didn't raise a stink and let him have his say. I'm convinced it's becoming an increasingly popular strategy to be ultra aggressive and dare the refs to call all the fouls. They have too, or it will increase. Houston does play tough D and they have some great athletes but there was a lot of handsy stuff. Even near the end of the game when Knicks challenged the out of bounds on Jalen, there were two fouls. Thompson pushed with his left hand to get Jalen off balance, and IMO fouled with his right when slapping at the ball. Can't believe on review they gave the ball to Houston
on the jump ball, Adams was miffed at i believe Brooks because they had already communicated where he would tip it to, and Brooks muffed it.
Adams got away with a lot of crap yesterday; lots of movement on screens, grabbing players in transition. I like the guy but Udoka has all of those guys playing over the top
Just an observation on Achiuwa - Brunson I think had 3 turnovers throwing the ball to Achiuwa. Fault on both sides, but Achiuwa's hands/awareness unfortunately is cut from the Noel/Robinson cloth.
Hukpootie, I love that lol
VDesai wrote:Just an observation on Achiuwa - Brunson I think had 3 turnovers throwing the ball to Achiuwa. Fault on both sides, but Achiuwa's hands/awareness unfortunately is cut from the Noel/Robinson cloth.
Precious has limitations which is why he was moved on from Toronto. At the right price he serves us really well and he mostly plays within boundaries. In Toronto he was playing for his next contract a bit and had to demonstrate value. Its a tough business.
I don't know if he is in our long term plans and what his market value will be.
Read that Ex Thibian players don't succeed as they did here. Short example is Randles Rise in NY under him and his (Short sample) issues in Minny. He is out with a "Groin Strain" for a few games or its "bench him while trades are being initiated".
I know DDV has been out with a injury
He had no offers and we signed him for 6mm. His offense is limited. Think of Bobby POrtis. He avg salary is 12mm. has another year after this one. He has a nice 3pt shot with good defensive chops.
they really nailed in the post game. Rockets were fantastic and very tough. The difference was we have one of the best closers in the game. Tonight while he went nuts we also got great support in the qtr from KAT with 11 on 4-5 and Josh as well.
Just the best win of the year right next to Christmas. This was one was wild because it showed we could withstand 3 qtrs of beating and literally out hustle and muscle a younger team.
Has anyone mentioned the Knicks were stronger down the stretch because they are conditioned that way? You know... playing lots of minutes?
Wins like this don't come from policing minutes I'll you that much. This is why our guys are tough. Really showed it tonight.
Long live Thibs 
I don't understand basketball.
How was this not a delay of game?
