I know Giannis is Giannis, but seeing the way the team is playing now, I don’t want to make an earth shattering trade mid season. Flip Yabu for a 9th man and keep the core intact for at least the rest of the year. They’ve earned that right bouncing back from the 2-9 stretch. Plus the Giannis calf injuries scare me.
Very impressed with the way we’ve turned things around when it looked like it was over. That’s that New York toughness and spirit we like to see. Keep it up!
We are reminded that basketball is a team game. It’s about chemistry. Remember, Giannis won a championship with Jrue. Then Jrue won a championship without Giannis. Where is Giannis’ championship without Jrue? There is such a thing as basketball royalty. They get the credit but the unbroken and egalitarian team wins the game.
I’ll take this version of JB any day. He was outstanding in running the point. 13 assists can never be considered an off night. He was their clear floor general, and a JB running the floor was precisely what the Lakers were missing last night. Kudos to the entire team. Hats off to Kolek. Marcus Smart is no longer the force of nature he once was, but Kolek didn’t shrink, and didn’t back off. Hey, I even agreed with KAT, he was fouled a number of times. KAT kept it together though. Great job. OG can be a force of nature, can’t he.
First, as a regular Kat basher, I will say that I will take this version. Rebounding, passing and giving effort and decent compete level on defense. Yes, th shot isn’t entirely there even on some gimmes. But both JB and Kat are showing some real compete level.
One thing I have noticed about this stretch of defense is that they are generally letting one player kill them and shutting down everyone else. In Philly, it was Embiid. DeRozan in Sacramento. Ingram in Toronto. Sharpe for Portland. Last night 30 for Doncic. Maxey’s and LeBrons 22 are the only second scorers over 20 in that stretch. I don’t know if it is part of the scheme to do that as we have certainly seen attempts to double team the ones going off on us. But we are not getting killed by the Julian Champagnies and Max Christies, the Precious’ or Moses Moody’s line we did when we were losing.
A really fun night at MSG. I was a little nervous that the first quarter was a sign that the defense - which during this streak hadn’t exactly faced top-flight offenses - might have been a little fraudulent. In fact, there were some frustrating decisions the entire first half, especially sending doubles at LeBron when OG was on him. But that second half restored the faith that maybe this defensive turn is real.
As a season-ticket holder, I have to admit I was tempted to sell, given the secondary market for a Lakers game. But I figured it was a Sunday and my daughter was available. In the end I got to see LeBron and Luka lose, while also getting giveaway ‘bucket hats’ which I’ll forever tell myself are worth hundreds of dollars 😄.
The effort is back and a joy to watch. They took their foot off the gas post-Christmas (understandably so) and went into a tailspin. But they woke up and are really meshing.
I’m hyped! Team was ENERGIZED on D. I loved seeing Brunson’s competitiveness when guarding Luka.
Maybe Mikal didn’t have the greatest game but he seems to have several plays per game where he gets behind the defense, streaking toward the basket full speed, receives a pass and lays it in, all in one motion. That’s very hard to do! He’s a press breaking, zone breaking weapon and I’d hate to see him go.
Not personality-wise, but in terms of the fluidity of motion, quickness, and deceptive strength, OG reminds me of Ali a little bit. Brunson, he’s Mike Tyson lol. As for LeBron, at this point, he’s like Apollo Creed in that bicentennial top hat. Showbiz.
It’s never going to be perfect, but this version of the Knicks can get to the NBA Finals without playing its best.
KAT/JB/Mikal combined for 33 points on 14 for 38 shooting in this 12 point win over a pretty good team. They overcame those offensive performances because everyone was engaged and making multiple efforts on defense, they had 6 guys in double figures, dished out 30 assists, had 14 offensive rebounds. It would be interesting to know their record when they have 5+ guys in double figures, 25 assists, and 12+ offensive rebounds.
Three more days until we can all relax about who’s on the team for the post All-Star Break run, and hope for even more continuity and good health heading into the playoffs.
There will never be a night when the entire rotation is offensively on. Recognizing who’s on and helping them stay hot, assisting, screening, running your defender into the ground so he can’t double team ( an underrated Bridges skill ) is vital to a winning team. Between KAT and Mitch a combined 30 rebound night is terrific. A focused team D. These all add up. It’s not all in the box score.
Speaking of Kat getting on the All-star team, and maybe in the hall of fame someday, this is why I kind of despise the whole All-star thing. A lot of times, the things that will get you on the all-star team are in opposition to the things that produce wins against quality opponents.
We won a game against a quality opponent despite our two all-stars having sub-par games in terms of scoring. But were their games sub-par? JB got 13 assists and played spirited defense to the point where I really noticed his effort on that end of the floor. And Kat's supposedly 'Sub-par season' has also included his best ever defensive metrics, plus he's leading the league in rebounding. He made some really good plays last night. Flowers deserved.
And OG, Josh and Shamet really killed it last night. Will they make an all-star team? If they did, would they be entertaining? Probably not. Do they care? They shouldn't. No one should.
We thought we got rid of Reggie but he’s come back even more brutal on NBC. Let our boy JC cook a little on the broadcast !!
Another nice win. The second half defense was just superb. Can see the effort and communication from the starting 5 just funnel its way down the lineup. To be doing this without one of our best defenders (Deuce) is even more impressive. KAT picked up 2 fouls early including 1 very bad one but held his own, only getting 1 more the rest of the game. His patience on offense combined with good passing and his always awesome REB work, can see his buy in to contributing without his normal offensive brilliance. Brunson was maybe a little too passive but great to see his passing ability on display.
The meat of the schedule coming up after Washington. Denver, Detroit, Boston. Let’s see how this rebirth continues. Loving every second of this team again !! Keep the good vibes going.
I know Reggie is annoying, but isn’t it kind of nice that the Knicks won after his LeBrorgasm? It’s like they beat LeBron, Luka, AND Reggie all on the same night?
Okay, there are two things that give me life: Joel Embiid tears and Reggie Miller shutting the f@(k up. And now I just feel sorry for Trae being a would-be punk who is now just salary-dumped irrelevance.
OK, the response was written before I had watched the full game with the audio on (it was much easier to tolerate with the audio off, though I used sound off and the radio broadcast with Tyler and Monica for a much better experience through the playoffs last season).
To be fair, after the LeBrorgasm after the dunk, I don’t think Reggie was being a complete pill. He was talking up Luka and LeBron, who did put up some nice acrobatic shots (though they didn’t score that many times in the fourth quarter, and nobody else did, either), but he was also talking up Landry Shamet and observing (perhaps to his surprise) that the Knicks were playing quality defense in the fourth quarter, and the Lakers weren’t.
I was also surprised when the Shaq/Kenny/Chuck crew was commenting after a game (Sixers game?), and Chuck actually made a cogent comment about the Knicks’ defense being crucial to their victories. That he actually apparently watched the game and wasn’t just using the usual cheap shot against the Knicks caused my jaw to hit the ground.
Whenever Reggie serves as a commentator during NBA/Knicks games, consider turning the sound off and listen to Monica M. on radio or other podcasters on YouTube.
To alter my dad's phrase slightly, "Hey LeBron, here's your hat. What's your hurry?" If I never see him against the Knicks again, I'll be happy. Reggie can take his hat and hurry off as well. But to actual basketball: the spiritual opposite of "entitlement" is gratitude. And as Clyde says, "Sharing is caring." Knicks have been sharing the load on offense and defense. I loved the Ian Begley analysis. Now on to this "trap game" against the Wizards before that talented stable groomer shows up.
As painful as that 2-9 stretch was, it also reminds us that these players are humans, and like us they go through all types of stuff. We can go through our day thinking we're working hard and giving it our all, and then something happens, like an opposing player getting hot from 3, or a potty-training granddaughter having another accident. We think to ourselves, "Aw, I got the last one, someone else handle it". And then something else happens, like losing the game, or like my wife throwing her back out, and suddenly, I am responsible for everything with both granddaughters plus taking care of my now-couchridden spouse, and just like that, I realize that I am capable of handling way more than I thought I was, and if I had just put in that kind of extra effort in the first place, we would be absolutely dominating this grandparenting game on both ends of the floor!
Responding to Bill's great post "When We Were Kings" is an absolute must watch for any sports fan. Narrated by literary sports legends like Norman Mailer and George Plimpton. My God what a film! It's not just about Ali, Foreman was a killing machine before the fight, and after he was a shell of his former bad self. Ali just destroyed his mind until he came back many years later when he ran out of money and wanted to reopen his inner city Houston gym for youth. His recent doc is also a good watch for sports fans but WWWK is in a class by itself. Literally everyone said Ali was going to get killed in the ring, including his good friend Howard Cosell, and watching Big George destroy his extra large bag in training you believe it. Big lesson in there for us Knicks fans as well. The power of belief!
The first ever major event held in Africa performed by African Americans including James Brown performing as the headliner for three days. To watch the locals mouths hang open while watching these amazing performers sing and dance and fight is something I'll never forget. As President of Zaire Mobutu was a murderous tyrant but he did something that changed Africa forever when he brought all those Americans over for many weeks. The first of many black group pilgrimages to the home continent.
"Boy, this is the first free feeling I ever had in a long time. Ain't this something, flying in an airplane with all black pilots, all black crew. This is strange to the American negro. We never dreamed of this. And every time we watch television, they show us Tarzan and the natives and the jungles. They never told us that Africans were more intelligent than we are. They speak English. They speak English, French and African. We can't even speak English good. - Muhammed Ali visiting the cockpit in flight on a commercial jet in Zaire, Africa 1974
KAT has done mostly what's been asked of him in the last few games and hasn't forced it outside of a few drives here and there, which is great from a buy-in standpoint.... but I'm not sure what he's doing right now is all that valuable. Our offense has been fine but unspectacular over this winning streak and his individual offensive impact has cratered, I think if this is the vision the coach has in mind moving forward, they should just trade him for someone more suited to execute a role where the main asks are defense/rebounding and some work as a hub on offense (essentially the IHart role lol). AD I think would do well although that's Giannis dependent, some roleplayer guys like Goga or Timelord come to mind if there was salary matching to be done with another piece. My concern is just that you're not getting nearly enough offensive pop from KAT for 50+ million and while the team defense can definitely be good, I'm not sure you can rely on it being elite to make up for that drop-off.
KAT is giving the team solid low post play on both ends of the court. He’s more than holding his own on D. Is he a fifty mil player, no. However he no longer is hurting us with stupid fouls ( a few are acceptable), logo threes without being set, and his patented flailing fall down drives. Stick to rebounding, screening, taking what the D give you and playing within himself. We’ll be ok
And sure, him being paid more than his contributions to winning would indicate could be a problem going forward as the Knicks try to improve their roster. But his value to this team is pretty much the same as his value around the league, so what you can get in return is probably going to have similar issues. Sure - if we could exchange him for an iHart type of big and a great defending backup point guard maybe that would make sense, but is that deal out there? I'm leaning toward holding onto him.
The gravity is definitely still there and he's been using it as a passer, but is that enough? If the formula is to have an elite offense, JUST the gravity doesn't seem to be enough to me, I think you'd need 2 great offensive players, right now it feels like we have 1. I'm higher on KAT's defense than most but am I sure we can count on him to be a pretty good defender to make it worth it again? I feel like that's a different player at this point.
I agree with this. At some point - and definitely in the playoffs - we will need that reliable second option. I have little confidence KAT will provide that.
NBC portrayed this game like it was the 7th game of the NBA Finals. And yes, having to listen/watch Reggie Miller go "cuckoo for cocoa puffs" was irritating as well (Perhaps once he has a few games under his belt with Tirico & Miller, Jamal Crawford will become more vocal!)! Great games by OG & Shamet & a nice first half for Kolek (If they keep him, he desperately needs to get in the weight room, as teams throw him around on defense like a ragdoll!). JB/KAT with double/doubles although neither was sharp last night! Down the stretch, every time the Lakers scored, the Knicks had an answer (Shamet mostly!) & those answers won the game! Congrats to KAT on making the AS Game for a 6th time. Hopefully, it raises his trade value!
Jon, please don't compare LBJ to Ali. The Champ was one of my 2 idols growing up (Mantle was the other!). Ali took on every challenge, even when it was to the deficit of his life & career. LBJ wouldn't even come to the Knicks, because rather than take the challenge, he took the easy way out! I idolized Muhammad Ali & Lebron James is no Muhammad Ali! #TheGreatest
Four days away from the trade deadline & you have to wonder if this winning streak will keep Leon from making moves. Bridges was back in his Invisible Man mode last night. KAT has scored 14,10,17,8,14,11 in his last 6 games. I believe, contrary to internet reports, that KAT's value is higher now than it will ever be in the future. He needs to be moved. Hopefully moved for Giannis, but more realistically, for players who will better fit this chemistry, both short & long term! Should be an interesting week, as after the Wizards tomorrow (Don't look ahead!), the Nuggets & Pistons are on the schedule Wednesday & Friday. #LGK
He's a 30 year old who just made his 6th All Star team. Do you really see his value rising over the next few years? Our major issue started on the day that Leon traded for him. It isn't getting better, so Leon needs to take the loss & salvage what he can get for him, as the return will only lessen in coming years!
It's true that in the last 6 games he hasn't scored 20 or more points (Knicks won all 6, right?), but his rebounding has been more than solid. And add the AS nod & there will still be a team or two willing to take a chance that they can unlock KAT (Leon thought that too!). They really need to move him by Thursday, although I'm pretty sure they won't. Might be time for you to do a piece on Leon Rose. Everyone still sings his praises, but besides signing JB (that was a layup) & the OG trade, what positives has he brought? Two bad trades in Bridges & KAT, 2 bad off season pickups in Yabusele & Clarkson,, gave I-Hart a contract he easily got out of & the Knicks couldn't match, still hasn't signed Mitch, has screwed up our drafts for the foreseeable future, along with trading away picks that would have brought in young talent. If they stand pat because "They Believe In This Team", & they fail to make the ECF again, his ass should be out of MSG. Then maybe he'll have a press conference!
Which could then wind up being another revolving door, because who's coming to a team with no draft picks, no cap space. Which, is why you would then think, Leon realizes this as well & would do everything in his power to make changes by Thursday so they get back to the ECF!
Co-sign on not comparing LeWhine to Ali. Ali didn't back off from a challenge. Watch "When We Were Kings" to see a shaken and scared Ali preparing to face off against an almost video-game-like George Foreman, and not ducking the smoke, not running away, but facing his challenge. Versus LeFLop, LeWhine, and LeManipulate James.
The WWE liked to call HHH "The Cerebral Assassin", but Ali truly was. He strategized each of his fights, with no fight more apparent in doing that than the Foreman fight, where he rope a doped to victory!
Nice! While we missed flipping water bottles on the bench, I’ll take the win. A few thoughts:
1) Reggie miller is an impotent and ineffectual schmuck who gets off on glazing superstars and ragging on the Knicks. The Trey of his time. He’s an attitudinal micropenis. I want him in turtlenecks so he looks like a dry shit turtleheading w enormous ears.
2) you had a great line in there that got me -
“But being the NBA historian that he is, James would be the first to tell you that great players don’t win games in this sport. Not by themselves, they don’t.” It makes me wonder WHY THE FUCK WE CHASE THEM ALL THE TIME? I prefer a coherent team to a collection of individual talents. But we seem willing to blow up teams and suffer for years in pursuit of superstars. From Grant Hill to Lebron to KD and Kyrie we keep doing this shit. We barely survived acquiring MB and KAT, and it’s left us with an empty larder. Now we should blow that up for Giannis?
I know Giannis is Giannis, but seeing the way the team is playing now, I don’t want to make an earth shattering trade mid season. Flip Yabu for a 9th man and keep the core intact for at least the rest of the year. They’ve earned that right bouncing back from the 2-9 stretch. Plus the Giannis calf injuries scare me.
Very impressed with the way we’ve turned things around when it looked like it was over. That’s that New York toughness and spirit we like to see. Keep it up!
We are reminded that basketball is a team game. It’s about chemistry. Remember, Giannis won a championship with Jrue. Then Jrue won a championship without Giannis. Where is Giannis’ championship without Jrue? There is such a thing as basketball royalty. They get the credit but the unbroken and egalitarian team wins the game.
I’ll take this version of JB any day. He was outstanding in running the point. 13 assists can never be considered an off night. He was their clear floor general, and a JB running the floor was precisely what the Lakers were missing last night. Kudos to the entire team. Hats off to Kolek. Marcus Smart is no longer the force of nature he once was, but Kolek didn’t shrink, and didn’t back off. Hey, I even agreed with KAT, he was fouled a number of times. KAT kept it together though. Great job. OG can be a force of nature, can’t he.
First, as a regular Kat basher, I will say that I will take this version. Rebounding, passing and giving effort and decent compete level on defense. Yes, th shot isn’t entirely there even on some gimmes. But both JB and Kat are showing some real compete level.
One thing I have noticed about this stretch of defense is that they are generally letting one player kill them and shutting down everyone else. In Philly, it was Embiid. DeRozan in Sacramento. Ingram in Toronto. Sharpe for Portland. Last night 30 for Doncic. Maxey’s and LeBrons 22 are the only second scorers over 20 in that stretch. I don’t know if it is part of the scheme to do that as we have certainly seen attempts to double team the ones going off on us. But we are not getting killed by the Julian Champagnies and Max Christies, the Precious’ or Moses Moody’s line we did when we were losing.
A really fun night at MSG. I was a little nervous that the first quarter was a sign that the defense - which during this streak hadn’t exactly faced top-flight offenses - might have been a little fraudulent. In fact, there were some frustrating decisions the entire first half, especially sending doubles at LeBron when OG was on him. But that second half restored the faith that maybe this defensive turn is real.
As a season-ticket holder, I have to admit I was tempted to sell, given the secondary market for a Lakers game. But I figured it was a Sunday and my daughter was available. In the end I got to see LeBron and Luka lose, while also getting giveaway ‘bucket hats’ which I’ll forever tell myself are worth hundreds of dollars 😄.
It’s not even on my bucket hat list
The effort is back and a joy to watch. They took their foot off the gas post-Christmas (understandably so) and went into a tailspin. But they woke up and are really meshing.
Exciting times
I’m hyped! Team was ENERGIZED on D. I loved seeing Brunson’s competitiveness when guarding Luka.
Maybe Mikal didn’t have the greatest game but he seems to have several plays per game where he gets behind the defense, streaking toward the basket full speed, receives a pass and lays it in, all in one motion. That’s very hard to do! He’s a press breaking, zone breaking weapon and I’d hate to see him go.
Not personality-wise, but in terms of the fluidity of motion, quickness, and deceptive strength, OG reminds me of Ali a little bit. Brunson, he’s Mike Tyson lol. As for LeBron, at this point, he’s like Apollo Creed in that bicentennial top hat. Showbiz.
Ha. I definitely appreciate that last reference :)
It’s never going to be perfect, but this version of the Knicks can get to the NBA Finals without playing its best.
KAT/JB/Mikal combined for 33 points on 14 for 38 shooting in this 12 point win over a pretty good team. They overcame those offensive performances because everyone was engaged and making multiple efforts on defense, they had 6 guys in double figures, dished out 30 assists, had 14 offensive rebounds. It would be interesting to know their record when they have 5+ guys in double figures, 25 assists, and 12+ offensive rebounds.
Three more days until we can all relax about who’s on the team for the post All-Star Break run, and hope for even more continuity and good health heading into the playoffs.
There will never be a night when the entire rotation is offensively on. Recognizing who’s on and helping them stay hot, assisting, screening, running your defender into the ground so he can’t double team ( an underrated Bridges skill ) is vital to a winning team. Between KAT and Mitch a combined 30 rebound night is terrific. A focused team D. These all add up. It’s not all in the box score.
And great teams have a lot of different ways to get a win. I love to see that.
even KAT gets flowers/
Speaking of Kat getting on the All-star team, and maybe in the hall of fame someday, this is why I kind of despise the whole All-star thing. A lot of times, the things that will get you on the all-star team are in opposition to the things that produce wins against quality opponents.
We won a game against a quality opponent despite our two all-stars having sub-par games in terms of scoring. But were their games sub-par? JB got 13 assists and played spirited defense to the point where I really noticed his effort on that end of the floor. And Kat's supposedly 'Sub-par season' has also included his best ever defensive metrics, plus he's leading the league in rebounding. He made some really good plays last night. Flowers deserved.
And OG, Josh and Shamet really killed it last night. Will they make an all-star team? If they did, would they be entertaining? Probably not. Do they care? They shouldn't. No one should.
We thought we got rid of Reggie but he’s come back even more brutal on NBC. Let our boy JC cook a little on the broadcast !!
Another nice win. The second half defense was just superb. Can see the effort and communication from the starting 5 just funnel its way down the lineup. To be doing this without one of our best defenders (Deuce) is even more impressive. KAT picked up 2 fouls early including 1 very bad one but held his own, only getting 1 more the rest of the game. His patience on offense combined with good passing and his always awesome REB work, can see his buy in to contributing without his normal offensive brilliance. Brunson was maybe a little too passive but great to see his passing ability on display.
The meat of the schedule coming up after Washington. Denver, Detroit, Boston. Let’s see how this rebirth continues. Loving every second of this team again !! Keep the good vibes going.
Please remove Reggie's vocal chords or ban him from announcing Knick games. Great game.
I know Reggie is annoying, but isn’t it kind of nice that the Knicks won after his LeBrorgasm? It’s like they beat LeBron, Luka, AND Reggie all on the same night?
Okay, there are two things that give me life: Joel Embiid tears and Reggie Miller shutting the f@(k up. And now I just feel sorry for Trae being a would-be punk who is now just salary-dumped irrelevance.
OK, the response was written before I had watched the full game with the audio on (it was much easier to tolerate with the audio off, though I used sound off and the radio broadcast with Tyler and Monica for a much better experience through the playoffs last season).
To be fair, after the LeBrorgasm after the dunk, I don’t think Reggie was being a complete pill. He was talking up Luka and LeBron, who did put up some nice acrobatic shots (though they didn’t score that many times in the fourth quarter, and nobody else did, either), but he was also talking up Landry Shamet and observing (perhaps to his surprise) that the Knicks were playing quality defense in the fourth quarter, and the Lakers weren’t.
I was also surprised when the Shaq/Kenny/Chuck crew was commenting after a game (Sixers game?), and Chuck actually made a cogent comment about the Knicks’ defense being crucial to their victories. That he actually apparently watched the game and wasn’t just using the usual cheap shot against the Knicks caused my jaw to hit the ground.
It's not love hate. It's hate hate and the time he played us and now he's so annoying.
Whenever Reggie serves as a commentator during NBA/Knicks games, consider turning the sound off and listen to Monica M. on radio or other podcasters on YouTube.
Great suggestion. Tnx. Love Monica.
To alter my dad's phrase slightly, "Hey LeBron, here's your hat. What's your hurry?" If I never see him against the Knicks again, I'll be happy. Reggie can take his hat and hurry off as well. But to actual basketball: the spiritual opposite of "entitlement" is gratitude. And as Clyde says, "Sharing is caring." Knicks have been sharing the load on offense and defense. I loved the Ian Begley analysis. Now on to this "trap game" against the Wizards before that talented stable groomer shows up.
Is it possible they're now collectively "grateful" for the opportunity they have before them? One can only hope.
As painful as that 2-9 stretch was, it also reminds us that these players are humans, and like us they go through all types of stuff. We can go through our day thinking we're working hard and giving it our all, and then something happens, like an opposing player getting hot from 3, or a potty-training granddaughter having another accident. We think to ourselves, "Aw, I got the last one, someone else handle it". And then something else happens, like losing the game, or like my wife throwing her back out, and suddenly, I am responsible for everything with both granddaughters plus taking care of my now-couchridden spouse, and just like that, I realize that I am capable of handling way more than I thought I was, and if I had just put in that kind of extra effort in the first place, we would be absolutely dominating this grandparenting game on both ends of the floor!
GREAT READ!!!!! 👏👏👏👏
Responding to Bill's great post "When We Were Kings" is an absolute must watch for any sports fan. Narrated by literary sports legends like Norman Mailer and George Plimpton. My God what a film! It's not just about Ali, Foreman was a killing machine before the fight, and after he was a shell of his former bad self. Ali just destroyed his mind until he came back many years later when he ran out of money and wanted to reopen his inner city Houston gym for youth. His recent doc is also a good watch for sports fans but WWWK is in a class by itself. Literally everyone said Ali was going to get killed in the ring, including his good friend Howard Cosell, and watching Big George destroy his extra large bag in training you believe it. Big lesson in there for us Knicks fans as well. The power of belief!
The first ever major event held in Africa performed by African Americans including James Brown performing as the headliner for three days. To watch the locals mouths hang open while watching these amazing performers sing and dance and fight is something I'll never forget. As President of Zaire Mobutu was a murderous tyrant but he did something that changed Africa forever when he brought all those Americans over for many weeks. The first of many black group pilgrimages to the home continent.
"Boy, this is the first free feeling I ever had in a long time. Ain't this something, flying in an airplane with all black pilots, all black crew. This is strange to the American negro. We never dreamed of this. And every time we watch television, they show us Tarzan and the natives and the jungles. They never told us that Africans were more intelligent than we are. They speak English. They speak English, French and African. We can't even speak English good. - Muhammed Ali visiting the cockpit in flight on a commercial jet in Zaire, Africa 1974
Have never seen it, will make it a point to do so ASAP
KAT has done mostly what's been asked of him in the last few games and hasn't forced it outside of a few drives here and there, which is great from a buy-in standpoint.... but I'm not sure what he's doing right now is all that valuable. Our offense has been fine but unspectacular over this winning streak and his individual offensive impact has cratered, I think if this is the vision the coach has in mind moving forward, they should just trade him for someone more suited to execute a role where the main asks are defense/rebounding and some work as a hub on offense (essentially the IHart role lol). AD I think would do well although that's Giannis dependent, some roleplayer guys like Goga or Timelord come to mind if there was salary matching to be done with another piece. My concern is just that you're not getting nearly enough offensive pop from KAT for 50+ million and while the team defense can definitely be good, I'm not sure you can rely on it being elite to make up for that drop-off.
KAT is giving the team solid low post play on both ends of the court. He’s more than holding his own on D. Is he a fifty mil player, no. However he no longer is hurting us with stupid fouls ( a few are acceptable), logo threes without being set, and his patented flailing fall down drives. Stick to rebounding, screening, taking what the D give you and playing within himself. We’ll be ok
And sure, him being paid more than his contributions to winning would indicate could be a problem going forward as the Knicks try to improve their roster. But his value to this team is pretty much the same as his value around the league, so what you can get in return is probably going to have similar issues. Sure - if we could exchange him for an iHart type of big and a great defending backup point guard maybe that would make sense, but is that deal out there? I'm leaning toward holding onto him.
this can't be all there is with KAT. Has to be this plus a certain level of offensive production.
I hear that, but KAT still carries a lot of gravity and creates spacing with his shooting ability; regardless of whether his shot is falling.
Funny, ive thought the same thing, but ihart is almost 1 of 1. Not many guys are hubs, rebounder and rim protectors.
The gravity is definitely still there and he's been using it as a passer, but is that enough? If the formula is to have an elite offense, JUST the gravity doesn't seem to be enough to me, I think you'd need 2 great offensive players, right now it feels like we have 1. I'm higher on KAT's defense than most but am I sure we can count on him to be a pretty good defender to make it worth it again? I feel like that's a different player at this point.
I agree with this. At some point - and definitely in the playoffs - we will need that reliable second option. I have little confidence KAT will provide that.
NBC portrayed this game like it was the 7th game of the NBA Finals. And yes, having to listen/watch Reggie Miller go "cuckoo for cocoa puffs" was irritating as well (Perhaps once he has a few games under his belt with Tirico & Miller, Jamal Crawford will become more vocal!)! Great games by OG & Shamet & a nice first half for Kolek (If they keep him, he desperately needs to get in the weight room, as teams throw him around on defense like a ragdoll!). JB/KAT with double/doubles although neither was sharp last night! Down the stretch, every time the Lakers scored, the Knicks had an answer (Shamet mostly!) & those answers won the game! Congrats to KAT on making the AS Game for a 6th time. Hopefully, it raises his trade value!
Jon, please don't compare LBJ to Ali. The Champ was one of my 2 idols growing up (Mantle was the other!). Ali took on every challenge, even when it was to the deficit of his life & career. LBJ wouldn't even come to the Knicks, because rather than take the challenge, he took the easy way out! I idolized Muhammad Ali & Lebron James is no Muhammad Ali! #TheGreatest
Four days away from the trade deadline & you have to wonder if this winning streak will keep Leon from making moves. Bridges was back in his Invisible Man mode last night. KAT has scored 14,10,17,8,14,11 in his last 6 games. I believe, contrary to internet reports, that KAT's value is higher now than it will ever be in the future. He needs to be moved. Hopefully moved for Giannis, but more realistically, for players who will better fit this chemistry, both short & long term! Should be an interesting week, as after the Wizards tomorrow (Don't look ahead!), the Nuggets & Pistons are on the schedule Wednesday & Friday. #LGK
if his value is higher now than it'll ever be, we have major issues
He's a 30 year old who just made his 6th All Star team. Do you really see his value rising over the next few years? Our major issue started on the day that Leon traded for him. It isn't getting better, so Leon needs to take the loss & salvage what he can get for him, as the return will only lessen in coming years!
I think I was more thinking about how down his numbers are right now
It's true that in the last 6 games he hasn't scored 20 or more points (Knicks won all 6, right?), but his rebounding has been more than solid. And add the AS nod & there will still be a team or two willing to take a chance that they can unlock KAT (Leon thought that too!). They really need to move him by Thursday, although I'm pretty sure they won't. Might be time for you to do a piece on Leon Rose. Everyone still sings his praises, but besides signing JB (that was a layup) & the OG trade, what positives has he brought? Two bad trades in Bridges & KAT, 2 bad off season pickups in Yabusele & Clarkson,, gave I-Hart a contract he easily got out of & the Knicks couldn't match, still hasn't signed Mitch, has screwed up our drafts for the foreseeable future, along with trading away picks that would have brought in young talent. If they stand pat because "They Believe In This Team", & they fail to make the ECF again, his ass should be out of MSG. Then maybe he'll have a press conference!
Oh i think if they fail to make the ECF, you're getting a change of leadership
Which could then wind up being another revolving door, because who's coming to a team with no draft picks, no cap space. Which, is why you would then think, Leon realizes this as well & would do everything in his power to make changes by Thursday so they get back to the ECF!
Co-sign on not comparing LeWhine to Ali. Ali didn't back off from a challenge. Watch "When We Were Kings" to see a shaken and scared Ali preparing to face off against an almost video-game-like George Foreman, and not ducking the smoke, not running away, but facing his challenge. Versus LeFLop, LeWhine, and LeManipulate James.
The WWE liked to call HHH "The Cerebral Assassin", but Ali truly was. He strategized each of his fights, with no fight more apparent in doing that than the Foreman fight, where he rope a doped to victory!
Nice! While we missed flipping water bottles on the bench, I’ll take the win. A few thoughts:
1) Reggie miller is an impotent and ineffectual schmuck who gets off on glazing superstars and ragging on the Knicks. The Trey of his time. He’s an attitudinal micropenis. I want him in turtlenecks so he looks like a dry shit turtleheading w enormous ears.
2) you had a great line in there that got me -
“But being the NBA historian that he is, James would be the first to tell you that great players don’t win games in this sport. Not by themselves, they don’t.” It makes me wonder WHY THE FUCK WE CHASE THEM ALL THE TIME? I prefer a coherent team to a collection of individual talents. But we seem willing to blow up teams and suffer for years in pursuit of superstars. From Grant Hill to Lebron to KD and Kyrie we keep doing this shit. We barely survived acquiring MB and KAT, and it’s left us with an empty larder. Now we should blow that up for Giannis?
"attitudinal micropenis"
this needs to be on a hat or t-shirt
You’re welcome to it, along with the Josh Hart Venn Diagram image :)