Knicks · All things NBA 2025-2026....... (page 21)

Philc1 @ 1/6/2026 7:20 AM
nycericanguy wrote:PHO is 21-14 after trading their "star"... I sometimes think we'd be better without KAT and everything that comes with him. The constant whining and falling out of bounds taking himself out of plays. It was one thing when he was putting up 25 on 50/40, but this might be his worst season. Basically career low %'s and only 1.8 made 3's, lowest since 2018. In this era for him to be making less than 2 three's per game playing as many minutes as he does is really bad.

And it would be one thing if he were "not settling for the 3" and dominating inside, but he has a lower 2 pt fg% than Brunson who is 6 feet tall.

Not convince we will ever win anything with KAT.

Durant is a coach and locker room killing diva. KAT is constantly getting hacked and fouled driving to the basket and maybe once in a while gets a call. Look if we can package KAT and a couple other guys for Giannis I’m all for it.

Nalod @ 1/6/2026 9:25 AM
"Couple of other guys"...........

That matters. Who?
Forget the corleation with Durant. They also moved on from Beal and Jones. Gillespie is dong a very good job and they are playing defense.
No star power and they are doing a sort of collective team thing with good chemistry.

Plug and play? Knicks as frustrated fans calling for want Kat gone. Allstar and all NBA player last season. Strugging with new coach and system.
Will Giannis struggle also? New team, new city, new coach, new system and Mesh with a team already in place? If so, you migtt go backwards.
Trades are fans release and a quick fix. Yes, Giannis is better than KAT. Does somethings better, but there is the chemistry thing and schematics. How does it all fit together? We don't know. But "its worth a try". Type it into existance for sure.

What is the issue the since the "Stupid cup"? INjuries? Fatigue? Better competition? All the above?
Does a Giannis trade aggreagate to higher probablity for a chip? Doe a trade leave us with enough depth to succeed?

nycericanguy @ 1/6/2026 9:33 AM
probably too lil too late for WSH to fall out of bottom 8.
martin @ 1/6/2026 10:06 AM
nycericanguy wrote:probably too lil too late for WSH to fall out of bottom 8.

The odds are in that favor. On the other hand, they are literally 4 games behind the #8 seed.

Just gonna leave this here, again.

nycericanguy @ 1/6/2026 10:18 AM
Man Trae is being underrated/undervalued here. He's a unique player that requires a unique roster, but he's shown he can be a 30/10 #1 option that led a team to the ECF's.
martin @ 1/6/2026 10:27 AM
nycericanguy wrote:Man Trae is being underrated/undervalued here. He's a unique player that requires a unique roster, but he's shown he can be a 30/10 #1 option that led a team to the ECF's.

So, this is widely debated even amongst Hawk fans.

Outside of that particular ECF year, Hawks either didn't make the playoffs or lost in first round. So exactly zero rounds won every other year since 2018.

Their ECF year was the 2020-21 COVID season. It was the gonzo Randle year but with starters RJ Elf Reggie Randle Noel with Rose on fumes, Taj at 35 started too. It was the Ben Simmons I won't shoot year. And then it was the Giannis went down with injury during their series year but they still won.

So, is he a guy you can bank on to get you to ECF or is it that the Hawks get a lucky 1 year spurt and then NADA every other year of Trae's career?

I think the later.

nycericanguy @ 1/6/2026 10:30 AM
martin wrote:
nycericanguy wrote:Man Trae is being underrated/undervalued here. He's a unique player that requires a unique roster, but he's shown he can be a 30/10 #1 option that led a team to the ECF's.

So, this is widely debated even amongst Hawk fans.

Outside of that particular ECF year, Hawks either didn't make the playoffs or lost in first round. So exactly zero rounds won every other year since 2018.

Their ECF year was the 2020-21 COVID season. It was the gonzo Randle year but with starters RJ Elf Reggie Randle Noel with Rose on fumes, Taj at 35 started too. It was the Ben Simmons I won't shoot year. And then it was the Giannis went down with injury during their series year but they still won.

So, is he a guy you can bank on to get you to ECF or is it that the Hawks get a lucky 1 year spurt and then NADA every other year of Trae's career?

I think the later.

i get it but you cant take that away, was it a combination of both? probably, but he was still instrumental.

He never really had a solid #2, until JJ emerged and by then it was probably too late.

Nalod @ 1/6/2026 10:39 AM
His numbers are still good but Hawks not winning. The notion of "Small guys" carrying the team is in play here.
Brunson might be defying this trend but his salary is not at Trae's level so its interesting.
Small guys in large don't carry teams far. Not to say it does not happen, but in general.
Panos @ 1/6/2026 10:51 AM
martin wrote:
nycericanguy wrote:probably too lil too late for WSH to fall out of bottom 8.

The odds are in that favor. On the other hand, they are literally 4 games behind the #8 seed.

Just gonna leave this here, again.

That Indiana might win the lottery with Haliburton on DL makes me sick.

ToddTT @ 1/6/2026 8:16 PM
Hahahahahahahahahaha.

I was going to watch Timberwolves/Heat just now on League Pass.

It tells me I can only watch it on Peacock.

This is seriously fucked up.

ramtour420 @ 1/6/2026 8:28 PM
ToddTT wrote:Hahahahahahahahahaha.

I was going to watch Timberwolves/Heat just now on League Pass.

It tells me I can only watch it on Peacock.

This is seriously fucked up.

Just watch live streaming for free, who cares

ToddTT @ 1/6/2026 8:32 PM
ramtour420 wrote:
ToddTT wrote:Hahahahahahahahahaha.

I was going to watch Timberwolves/Heat just now on League Pass.

It tells me I can only watch it on Peacock.

This is seriously fucked up.

Just watch live streaming for free, who cares

Anything I have found for free has no audio, or gives my browser syphilis. Last season was easier.

martin @ 1/6/2026 8:53 PM
ramtour420 wrote:
ToddTT wrote:Hahahahahahahahahaha.

I was going to watch Timberwolves/Heat just now on League Pass.

It tells me I can only watch it on Peacock.

This is seriously fucked up.

Just watch live streaming for free, who cares

You referring to OF?

martin @ 1/6/2026 10:00 PM
nycericanguy wrote:probably too lil too late for WSH to fall out of bottom 8.

UPDATE: Wiz just beat Orlando.

BlueKnickers @ 1/6/2026 10:23 PM
martin wrote:
nycericanguy wrote:probably too lil too late for WSH to fall out of bottom 8.

The odds are in that favor. On the other hand, they are literally 4 games behind the #8 seed.

Just gonna leave this here, again.

Dum Dums coulda had Luka

martin @ 1/7/2026 2:50 PM
14th overall pick

MaTT4281 @ 1/7/2026 9:49 PM
Trae to Washington for McCollum and Kispert.
martin @ 1/9/2026 10:25 AM
I don't watch the Cavs or Suns enough to know this for sure, but Otts feels like he was the man behind the man in Cleveland. Team personnel no doubt was involved in this change too.

nycericanguy @ 1/9/2026 10:31 AM
CLE was so locked in last year and now they... just aren't. Same team. Crazy how that happens. I worry about this team sometimes being locked in, I'm not seeing it from KAT this year, he looks as unserious as ever. or even OG if we're being honest. And Mikal, has been solid but underwhelming, hasn't taken over any games like he did last year.
martin @ 1/9/2026 10:53 AM
nycericanguy wrote:CLE was so locked in last year and now they... just aren't. Same team. Crazy how that happens. I worry about this team sometimes being locked in, I'm not seeing it from KAT this year, he looks as unserious as ever. or even OG if we're being honest. And Mikal, has been solid but underwhelming, hasn't taken over any games like he did last year.

I have a slightly different take and it mostly has to do with expectations. OG and Mikal will never fulfill your expectation of being able to take over games in the way you may be suggesting or thinking, but let me not put words into your take, it's just my guess of understanding.

Can they thrive and take over a game on occupation within the right circumstance? Absolutely, Mikal did it 2 XMas ago. But that's not really what you may be thinking, like Mikal is not really able to just decide to play offensive engine and do it like Brunson or KAT, it's more like Mikal/OG are having a really good shooting day or set of games and thriving because of the structure and attention Brunson/KAT create, but Mikal/OG are not engines to the offense, they are high level role players that can feed off of a good system and THEN thrive in those occasions.

Both don't have that mentality nor the handle to execute offense at a high level.

Nalod @ 1/9/2026 12:10 PM
More times than not OG does his job when it needs to be done. Get the lose ball, make a steal, cause a jump ball, hit a corner shot when needed.
I concur with Martin, him and Mikal are not stars nor force the play. OG will lose the ball and get blocked but he also gets to the rim and dunks the ball thru traffic. Mikal is just solid. New Debuschere and Bradley! LOL.......
I liked that Dolan came out as being patient. Funny, he is and we have fans calling for the shiny new thing instead of him falling over himself for Giannis! No doubt Knicks were waiting for a Giannis window to open and lets be honest the summer rumors were likley legit. I have no doubt Leon inquired. Its his job to. But if the price gives up the ingredients for a legit run then why do it?
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