Reading some of the comments here as well as watching some Knick content, the vibes,and narratives surrounding this team remind me of the ‘99 knicks regular season. Both teams underachieved in the regular season.
We traded Oak and Starks before the season, the so-called heart of the team, and lots of fans and some in the media complained that we were soft as the season played-out. The regular season was underwhelming as we vastly underachieved. Van Gundy was on the hot seat and the consensus was that he would be fired after we ‘lost’ to the Heat. I remember Mike Francesa yelling to ‘back-up-the-truck’ and blow up the team.
The commentary is similar this year, some complaining that this team is soft. Coach Thibs can’t adjust his coaching style to accommodate a more skilled roster than he is used to coaching, similar to Van Gundy. Also, people are wondering if Thibs lost the locker room? If the Knicks didn’t advance in the playoffs, Van Gundy was a goner. Now, Thibs, who was an assistant on that ‘99 team, has slid down a few seats and is literally and figuratively, sitting squarely on Van Gundy’s hot seat.
The ‘99 knicks regular season was more of a disappointment because they finished as the 8th seed….But, when most fans think of the ‘’99 Knicks, it's the playoffs that evokes most of the good memories and nostalgia…The ‘25 Knicks have a chance to rewrite their story when the 2nd season begins next week.
Good comp. I think we overachieved in the regular season tho despite the crappy playbook, despite not boxing out and despite not running out to the 3 point shooters consistently. This team is more talented than the 99 team, I think. That's the reason we finished so high in the regular season ( I predicted 47 wins in the " hang your ass" thread. But because of the reasons stated above I am very sure that we are not getting past the second round. First round is 50/50. I predicted we would go to the Finals in the " hang your ass" thread. Oh boy
I mean, I hope. But this ain't no strike shortned year -- and there are many that believe that was the only reason we were able to make it to the Finals. We ain't no 8th seed. We ain't got no All NBAer and All Defensive First Team player that the entire league pretended wasn't an all star because he choked his coach...
I want you to be right but I don't see it
Its a nice thought to think we can make a run to the finals.
We do have the potential.
The '99 team? Different era and Earnie had constructed a team around speed to which JVG struggled coaching.
Similarities are new faces and chemistry needing to gel.
JVG getting to finals enacted a 2 year extension at 2mm per year which put him in the upper pay scale 25 years ago!
That was no typical 8th seed as they had the roster.
Im not sure this years team really underperformed like the 99' did. We have a yucky vibe as we did what most good teams do, can't do well vs. elite, beat the snot out of the losing teams, go about .500 vs teams at .500.
In the age of parity perhaps we did pretty good. Not great but around here its about fan expectations often than not setting the tone.
Not getting out of second round has a lot to do with Boston and Clev being there. 60 win teams healthy waiting there is not about "Knicks can't get out of second round" or hitting its ceiling. Its about a better team.
We got to within 2 games of boston but we got some injuries and they found another gear.
As for Thibs getting canned if we go out in the first round? As said by others: "Lets see whats broken and then what needs to be fixed". If its coaching schematics or he lost the confidence of the core roster than its a consideration. Its Disrespectful to simply say "fire the coach" until such disclosure.
Thats my take. Predication? Knicks in 5.
Nalod wrote:
Its a nice thought to think we can make a run to the finals.
We do have the potential.
The '99 team? Different era and Earnie had constructed a team around speed to which JVG struggled coaching.
Similarities are new faces and chemistry needing to gel.
JVG getting to finals enacted a 2 year extension at 2mm per year which put him in the upper pay scale 25 years ago!
That was no typical 8th seed as they had the roster.
Im not sure this years team really underperformed like the 99' did. We have a yucky vibe as we did what most good teams do, can't do well vs. elite, beat the snot out of the losing teams, go about .500 vs teams at .500.
In the age of parity perhaps we did pretty good. Not great but around here its about fan expectations often than not setting the tone. Not getting out of second round has a lot to do with Boston and Clev being there. 60 win teams healthy waiting there is not about "Knicks can't get out of second round" or hitting its ceiling. Its about a better team.
We got to within 2 games of boston but we got some injuries and they found another gear.
As for Thibs getting canned if we go out in the first round? As said by others: "Lets see whats broken and then what needs to be fixed". If its coaching schematics or he lost the confidence of the core roster than its a consideration. Its Disrespectful to simply say "fire the coach" until such disclosure.
Thats my take. Predication? Knicks in 5.
Surface level, there are some similarities between the '99 Knicks and this team....but the odds are against us making a run in the playoffs similar to the '99 team. Riley always managed to get those Heat teams to overachive but we matched up well against them. The Hawks, our second round match-up is nowhere near the same level as the Celts who are probably the favorites to win a chip....
However, I do think some of the narrarives surrounding this team can change even if we bow-out vs the Celts...The Knick players and teams that we fell in love with all made names for themselves in the playoffs. If we are able to beat the pistons and show some grit and fight against the Celts and push them, the vibes will feel different at the end of the playoffs vs how most are feeling now, at the end of the regular season.
