Knicks · GameThread: Playoff Game#6, Knicks look to close out in Atlanta, 7pm ESPN (page 10)

martin @ 5/1/2026 12:02 PM
Vibes

martin @ 5/1/2026 12:03 PM
LOL math does not lie

I did the math.

At the start of the 4th quarter, the Knicks lead 117-64.

The Knicks could take a 24 second violation on every possession, let the Hawks dunk (assume 5 seconds of inbounding + transition time) and they would still win the game unless the Hawks fouled or shot and made a ton of 3s.

12:00 = 720 seconds
Each cycle: 24s burn + 5s dunk = 29s
720 / 29 ≈ 24 cycles

Possessions: 24 + 1 opening = 25
Max points: 25 × 2 = 50

Comeback cap = 50 → need 51
Lead here = 53

Game over.

BlueKnickers @ 5/1/2026 12:34 PM
What I love about the last two games is Brunson has finally seen the light and loosened his grip on the ball so everyone can take turns playmaking with KAT being the primary benefactor to his teammates.

It's wonderful, because now Brunson can go back to being dangerous without feeling the compulsion to carry the team on his back.

Brunson unlocked means he can lean in to his natural DNA as a player and focus on being the scorer he is without needing the ball as much to do it.

He's going to get so many more easy looks at the basket being a part of a daisy chain of passers instead of trying to always be the head of the snake.

Brunson was the bottleneck, not sure how anyone ever disputed this. He is so fantastic at what he does well that he did need to hand over the ball distribution keys to his colleagues and just be himself without the burden of being a point guard.

This team needs to run its passing game by committee. Anyone can bring the ball up the court. Everyone, including Brunson, just needs to keep moving off the ball and rotate around KAT like he's the center of their universe. KAT is the Sun and he will pass to the orbiting moons if they keep moving their feet, including Brunson.

Brunson's assist numbers may fluctuate more, but I doubt his averages will drop much. If anything, they may go up, because more movement means easier passes to cutters and less forced passes late in the clock from overdribbling.

If Brunson does this, then they should go to the Finals. This is everything I was asking for and this is the version of Brunson required to be a contender. Keep it up fellas.

martin @ 5/1/2026 12:44 PM
BlueKnickers wrote:What I love about the last two games is Brunson has finally seen the light and loosened his grip on the ball so everyone can take turns playmaking with KAT being the primary benefactor to his teammates.

It's wonderful, because now Brunson can go back to being dangerous without feeling the compulsion to carry the team on his back.

Brunson unlocked means he can lean in to his natural DNA as a player and focus on being the scorer he is without needing the ball as much to do it.

He's going to get so many more easy looks at the basket being a part of a daisy chain of passers instead of trying to always be the head of the snake.

Brunson was the bottleneck, not sure how anyone ever disputed this. He is so fantastic at what he does well that he did need to hand over the ball distribution keys to his colleagues and just be himself without the burden of being a point guard.

This team needs to run its passing game by committee. Anyone can bring the ball up the court. Everyone, including Brunson, just needs to keep moving off the ball and rotate around KAT like he's the center of their universe. KAT is the Sun and he will pass to the orbiting moons if they keep moving their feet, including Brunson.

Brunson's assist numbers may fluctuate more, but I doubt his averages will drop much. If anything, they may go up, because more movement means easier passes to cutters and less forced passes late in the clock from overdribbling.

If Brunson does this, then they should go to the Finals. This is everything I was asking for and this is the version of Brunson required to be a contender. Keep it up fellas.

This.

And wait until someone steps up enough to take over Harts starting position. It may be a while cause Hart absolutely raises his game when he needs to but I think he could even be more effective with relatively the same minutes off the bench.

Mo, you have like $20-$100M waiting for you from the Knicks if you can fill that position well enough. Opportunity of a life time.

JesseDark @ 5/1/2026 1:05 PM
If there was an MVP for round one I'd give it to OG. KAT was great once we started initiating through him but OG has been great throughout the entire series.
BlueKnickers @ 5/1/2026 1:22 PM
JesseDark wrote:If there was an MVP for round one I'd give it to OG. KAT was great once we started initiating through him but OG has been great throughout the entire series.

OG, Brunson & KAT at the top of their game is a championship core

martin @ 5/1/2026 1:24 PM
BlueKnickers @ 5/1/2026 1:28 PM
martin wrote:
BlueKnickers wrote:What I love about the last two games is Brunson has finally seen the light and loosened his grip on the ball so everyone can take turns playmaking with KAT being the primary benefactor to his teammates.

It's wonderful, because now Brunson can go back to being dangerous without feeling the compulsion to carry the team on his back.

Brunson unlocked means he can lean in to his natural DNA as a player and focus on being the scorer he is without needing the ball as much to do it.

He's going to get so many more easy looks at the basket being a part of a daisy chain of passers instead of trying to always be the head of the snake.

Brunson was the bottleneck, not sure how anyone ever disputed this. He is so fantastic at what he does well that he did need to hand over the ball distribution keys to his colleagues and just be himself without the burden of being a point guard.

This team needs to run its passing game by committee. Anyone can bring the ball up the court. Everyone, including Brunson, just needs to keep moving off the ball and rotate around KAT like he's the center of their universe. KAT is the Sun and he will pass to the orbiting moons if they keep moving their feet, including Brunson.

Brunson's assist numbers may fluctuate more, but I doubt his averages will drop much. If anything, they may go up, because more movement means easier passes to cutters and less forced passes late in the clock from overdribbling.

If Brunson does this, then they should go to the Finals. This is everything I was asking for and this is the version of Brunson required to be a contender. Keep it up fellas.

This.

And wait until someone steps up enough to take over Harts starting position. It may be a while cause Hart absolutely raises his game when he needs to but I think he could even be more effective with relatively the same minutes off the bench.

Mo, you have like $20-$100M waiting for you from the Knicks if you can fill that position well enough. Opportunity of a life time.

My wishlist for next season is to see Mo, Kolek and McCullar integrated into the rotation.

Mo may be a Hart replacement. It would certainly increase our size instead of putting Hart on bigs like we often do. But even as a guy off the bench without replacing Hart, he will need minutes.

Kolek should replace Alvarado, he's just a better player. Don't know if Brown or the FO favors Jose, but this is one thing I take issue with Brown over.

McCullar can replace either of Shamet or Deuce if they are moved or not re-signed. People are still asleep about his abilities, but he can dime much better than Deuce or Shamet, he's a superior defender than either of them (and they are pretty good defenders), his handle gives us another ball handler which we need and he can play the role of opportunistic scorer coming off the bench.

martin @ 5/1/2026 1:36 PM
BlueKnickers wrote:
martin wrote:
BlueKnickers wrote:What I love about the last two games is Brunson has finally seen the light and loosened his grip on the ball so everyone can take turns playmaking with KAT being the primary benefactor to his teammates.

It's wonderful, because now Brunson can go back to being dangerous without feeling the compulsion to carry the team on his back.

Brunson unlocked means he can lean in to his natural DNA as a player and focus on being the scorer he is without needing the ball as much to do it.

He's going to get so many more easy looks at the basket being a part of a daisy chain of passers instead of trying to always be the head of the snake.

Brunson was the bottleneck, not sure how anyone ever disputed this. He is so fantastic at what he does well that he did need to hand over the ball distribution keys to his colleagues and just be himself without the burden of being a point guard.

This team needs to run its passing game by committee. Anyone can bring the ball up the court. Everyone, including Brunson, just needs to keep moving off the ball and rotate around KAT like he's the center of their universe. KAT is the Sun and he will pass to the orbiting moons if they keep moving their feet, including Brunson.

Brunson's assist numbers may fluctuate more, but I doubt his averages will drop much. If anything, they may go up, because more movement means easier passes to cutters and less forced passes late in the clock from overdribbling.

If Brunson does this, then they should go to the Finals. This is everything I was asking for and this is the version of Brunson required to be a contender. Keep it up fellas.

This.

And wait until someone steps up enough to take over Harts starting position. It may be a while cause Hart absolutely raises his game when he needs to but I think he could even be more effective with relatively the same minutes off the bench.

Mo, you have like $20-$100M waiting for you from the Knicks if you can fill that position well enough. Opportunity of a life time.

My wishlist for next season is to see Mo, Kolek and McCullar integrated into the rotation.

Mo may be a Hart replacement. It would certainly increase our size instead of putting Hart on bigs like we often do. But even as a guy off the bench without replacing Hart, he will need minutes.

Kolek should replace Alvarado, he's just a better player. Don't know if Brown or the FO favors Jose, but this is one thing I take issue with Brown over.

McCullar can replace either of Shamet or Deuce if they are moved or not re-signed. People are still asleep about his abilities, but he can dime much better than Deuce or Shamet, he's a superior defender than either of them (and they are pretty good defenders), his handle gives us another ball handler which we need and he can play the role of opportunistic scorer coming off the bench.

I think a lot of what you are saying will come to fruition.

Re the Kolek versus Alvarado: I think GTA can just speed up the court under pressure better than Kolek right now and that was the one holdup? Plus general experience

nycericanguy @ 5/1/2026 1:45 PM
BlueKnickers wrote:
JesseDark wrote:If there was an MVP for round one I'd give it to OG. KAT was great once we started initiating through him but OG has been great throughout the entire series.

OG, Brunson & KAT at the top of their game is a championship core

100%

now add in Mikal, Hart, Deuce, Mitch, Clarkson, Jose & Shamet... this is a legit championship roster.

JesseDark @ 5/1/2026 2:06 PM
BlueKnickers wrote:
JesseDark wrote:If there was an MVP for round one I'd give it to OG. KAT was great once we started initiating through him but OG has been great throughout the entire series.

OG, Brunson & KAT at the top of their game is a championship core

No lies detected!

Panos @ 5/1/2026 2:07 PM
BlueKnickers wrote:
martin wrote:
BlueKnickers wrote:What I love about the last two games is Brunson has finally seen the light and loosened his grip on the ball so everyone can take turns playmaking with KAT being the primary benefactor to his teammates.

It's wonderful, because now Brunson can go back to being dangerous without feeling the compulsion to carry the team on his back.

Brunson unlocked means he can lean in to his natural DNA as a player and focus on being the scorer he is without needing the ball as much to do it.

He's going to get so many more easy looks at the basket being a part of a daisy chain of passers instead of trying to always be the head of the snake.

Brunson was the bottleneck, not sure how anyone ever disputed this. He is so fantastic at what he does well that he did need to hand over the ball distribution keys to his colleagues and just be himself without the burden of being a point guard.

This team needs to run its passing game by committee. Anyone can bring the ball up the court. Everyone, including Brunson, just needs to keep moving off the ball and rotate around KAT like he's the center of their universe. KAT is the Sun and he will pass to the orbiting moons if they keep moving their feet, including Brunson.

Brunson's assist numbers may fluctuate more, but I doubt his averages will drop much. If anything, they may go up, because more movement means easier passes to cutters and less forced passes late in the clock from overdribbling.

If Brunson does this, then they should go to the Finals. This is everything I was asking for and this is the version of Brunson required to be a contender. Keep it up fellas.

This.

And wait until someone steps up enough to take over Harts starting position. It may be a while cause Hart absolutely raises his game when he needs to but I think he could even be more effective with relatively the same minutes off the bench.

Mo, you have like $20-$100M waiting for you from the Knicks if you can fill that position well enough. Opportunity of a life time.

My wishlist for next season is to see Mo, Kolek and McCullar integrated into the rotation.

Mo may be a Hart replacement. It would certainly increase our size instead of putting Hart on bigs like we often do. But even as a guy off the bench without replacing Hart, he will need minutes.

Kolek should replace Alvarado, he's just a better player. Don't know if Brown or the FO favors Jose, but this is one thing I take issue with Brown over.

McCullar can replace either of Shamet or Deuce if they are moved or not re-signed. People are still asleep about his abilities, but he can dime much better than Deuce or Shamet, he's a superior defender than either of them (and they are pretty good defenders), his handle gives us another ball handler which we need and he can play the role of opportunistic scorer coming off the bench.


Maybe not the rebounder that Landry Fields was, but does he remind you a little bit of him?

martin @ 5/1/2026 2:40 PM
Didn't realize the mullet was still in fashion

Panos @ 5/1/2026 3:39 PM
It ain't.
SergioNYK @ 5/1/2026 4:03 PM
I still cannot believe we beat them by 52!
markvmc @ 5/1/2026 4:35 PM
Yeah, I keep expecting to wake up.
SergioNYK @ 5/1/2026 4:48 PM

NYKBocker @ 5/1/2026 5:01 PM
Panos @ 5/1/2026 6:32 PM
SergioNYK wrote:I still cannot believe we beat them by 52!

They didn't

martin @ 5/1/2026 6:36 PM
martin @ 5/1/2026 6:45 PM
Dayum

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