Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: Messiah717 on June 01, 2025, 12:28:48 PMLet's be real when it comes to happy or unhappy.  This team hasn't won a title in over 50 years.  They were absolutely miserable for 20 years.  These last few years have been better obviously but nobody is going to be thrilled getting beaten by Indiana two years in a row.

I didn't say anyone should be thrilled. People can bitch and moan all they want... I could literally care less. I'm just simply noting that this team is progressing. With the exception of a year or two with Melo, they have been an absolute dumpster fire for 25 years until very recently.

They're not yet a championship team ... I get that. But they have shown solid improvement over the last few seasons, and to get to the ECF is a step forward for this team.

Quote from: spiderblue43 on June 01, 2025, 12:49:19 PMDave...

Semantics about the Knicks?  Tweak? Tne goal is that title away for 52 years
 I was there at the Garden as an 8 year old battling the Earl Monroe

Gus Johnson..Jack.Marin

 Wes Unseld. And the crowd. Defense defense

Point is chemistry they had. Knowledge on defending. This team is a joke

I get that this team is not as good as the team from over half a century ago. Never claimed or even remotely implied that it is. I certainly know I didn't.

Were you expecting a championship from this group? By losing in 6 in the ECF, did they fall short of your expectations? If so, I would respectfully suggest you were being pretty optimistic. Nothing wrong with that, but it's probably worth acknowledging.

I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed this season and congratulate them for getting to the playoffs and bouncing Boston. They are soooo much fun to watch...and it's been a long time since I can say that. Heck, I was just a young man back in those days, still trying to figure how I would make a living. Anyway, it's been a good year. This team is young. Our day is coming

OKC vs Indy. Yawn.  How many outside those city fans are going to watch The Finals?

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on June 01, 2025, 03:56:54 PMI get that this team is not as good as the team from over half a century ago. Never claimed or even remotely implied that it is. I certainly know I didn't.

Were you expecting a championship from this group? By losing in 6 in the ECF, did they fall short of your expectations? If so, I would respectfully suggest you were being pretty optimistic. Nothing wrong with that, but it's probably worth acknowledging.

Dave,

Not a championship..of course not. But the foundation for one like the Knicks showed in the 1968 season. They were on the cusp then. This team was fun and engaging .but outclassed..and defense trashed all year.

At some point .good is not good enough. They aren't great and it's a bball splinter in the mind. 53 years? 54?

Fun season, I get the NBA channel package to watch the knicks games. Seriously i am not a big basketball guy, or professing to have knowledge on the subject. When you pay your top 5 massive contracts and don't trust guys past rotation 7 you are gonna get smashed by a younger team. Your top 5 are good but they are old by NBA standards. The pacers have guys who will come in and grind. We don't, they aren't ready to play or even used to playing for that matter.

 When a team is playing physical, bodying people up and is younger with a bigger more dynamic rotation you getting smashed, sorry. Bridges stop all the silly fadeaways, fadeaway 6 foot layups gtfo. Whenever Josh Hart put hands on the ball it was like a Benny Hill Skit music playing. GTFO KAT is nice, but dude cannot jump over a phonebook. The defensive players robinson and Mcbride were nice. for 50m a year OG has to assert himself. He looks like Tim Thomas sometimes.Cool, you can guard and play every position but you aren't bringing any consistency at all, when everyone knows the play is going to him its a disaster. end rant:

Quote from: spiderblue43 on June 01, 2025, 06:17:14 PMDave,

Not a championship..of course not. But the foundation for one like the Knicks showed in the 1968 season. They were on the cusp then. This team was fun and engaging .but outclassed..and defense trashed all year.

At some point .good is not good enough. They aren't great and it's a bball splinter in the mind. 53 years? 54?

I hear you Spider. I was very frustrated with them in this series too. And I agree that at some point "good" is not enough. I'm just not sure I'm at that point yet given how bad the last 25 years have been overall. An ECF finals appearance is not the worst ending to the season in my mind. After they went out in the second round last year, if you told me that next year they'd get a round further, as much as I would love to see them win a championship in my lifetime as a fan (I am 50), I probably wouldn't have kicked and screamed either.

Rather than jettison coaches or players, I think the Knicks should focus on adding and having a willingness to go deeper into their bench during the entire season.  Add a hot outside shooting bench player, a wing who plays great perimeter defense and go 9-10 deep to spell starters or put say a defensive strong lineup out there for a few minutes.

Knicks looked tired running around all game against the Pacers.  Playing a deeper lineup helps solve that.

KAT is a defensive nightmare but he brings a lot offensively.  Maybe you play him with Robinson then toward end of game when you need defensive stops you send him to the bench.

The players love Thibs and are listening to him.

For a good number of years, Knick fans were bemoaning the fact that the Knicks were unable to bring in superstar players and the team was floundering.  We now have 2 superstars and some pretty good role players.  Our shortcomings are we need 1 or 2 more role players.  It won't be easy because of the apron issues but we have a smart GM with a plan, something we did not have for a very long time. 

It is much easier to find role players than superstars especially since NY is now a relevant and desirable team

Quote from: Philosophers on June 02, 2025, 07:35:51 AMRather than jettison coaches or players, I think the Knicks should focus on adding and having a willingness to go deeper into their bench during the entire season.  Add a hot outside shooting bench player, a wing who plays great perimeter defense and go 9-10 deep to spell starters or put say a defensive strong lineup out there for a few minutes.

Knicks looked tired running around all game against the Pacers.  Playing a deeper lineup helps solve that.

KAT is a defensive nightmare but he brings a lot offensively.  Maybe you play him with Robinson then toward end of game when you need defensive stops you send him to the bench.

The players love Thibs and are listening to him.

Great points. Definitely two superstars...and OG is pretty special, and Robinson would be a superstar if he could learn to shoot free throws. We have an exciting team, they just ran out of gas at the end...and to your point, need a better bench and actually using the bench to keep the starters fresh. The last game of the season, they just looked exhausted and whipped, and the Pacers uptempo did them in. But that's OK in my opinion, because I don't think we're there yet. But we are getting exciting basketball, and these guys are just getting started. If nothing else, it made my season just to see the Knicks send Celtic fans home in tears

I can see them using more Tyler Kolek as backup PG next year...giving Brunson some needed rest. Kolek's tenacious, smart, and has that endless youthful energy. He got the opportunity to see how the NBA works this season and some floor time with the big boys. He didn't fail in his debuts. I suspect by next year, him and Brunson will be a tag team

we also have last year's first round pick by the Knicks in Pacôme Dadiet, who is only 19 yrs old, and plays either forward position. There's also Kevin McCullar who fell in the draft because of an injury, but he's tearing up the G-League and was considered one of the (if not thee) best defensive players to come out of last year's draft. He can play SG or SF, and like the other younger guys, has youthful energy in spades. McCullar had back to back triple doubles. His play style reminds me of OG

So, I think we have some very special players who are getting their ears wet, while chomping at the bit to see time on the floor. They are talented. Now, Thibs just has to start giving them some floor time so they're ready for primetime come playoff time

Quote from: Jolly Blue Giant on June 02, 2025, 10:23:11 AMGreat points. Definitely two superstars...and OG is pretty special, and Robinson would be a superstar if he could learn to shoot free throws. We have an exciting team, they just ran out of gas at the end...and to your point, need a better bench and actually using the bench to keep the starters fresh. The last game of the season, they just looked exhausted and whipped, and the Pacers uptempo did them in. But that's OK in my opinion, because I don't think we're there yet. But we are getting exciting basketball, and these guys are just getting started. If nothing else, it made my season just to see the Knicks send Celtic fans home in tears

I can see them using more Tyler Kolek as backup PG next year...giving Brunson some needed rest. Kolek's tenacious, smart, and has that endless youthful energy. He got the opportunity to see how the NBA works this season and some floor time with the big boys. He didn't fail in his debuts. I suspect by next year, him and Brunson will be a tag team

we also have last year's first round pick by the Knicks in Pacôme Dadiet, who is only 19 yrs old, and plays either forward position. There's also Kevin McCullar who fell in the draft because of an injury, but he's tearing up the G-League and was considered one of the (if not thee) best defensive players to come out of last year's draft. He can play SG or SF, and like the other younger guys, has youthful energy in spades. McCullar had back to back triple doubles. His play style reminds me of OG

So, I think we have some very special players who are getting their ears wet, while chomping at the bit to see time on the floor. They are talented. Now, Thibs just has to start giving them some floor time so they're ready for primetime come playoff time

OMG what you said is so true.  We may not have to look outside for help with guys like Kolek and the others they drafted.  I'd be thrilled to clear some of the bench and put them there and commit.  You are right.  They are promising players.