Donte chirping at the bench was something we never saw last season so clearly there are hard feelings that are still lingering. It’s all pretty sad as I never saw a team as close as last year’s team.
What’s the opposite of being on someone’s island? Like you see the island, dislike it aesthetically, and want to drown it like some mini Atlantis to improve your view?
Re Hart - not worried at all. When he stops kvetching, I’ll get worried. Kvetching (without alienating everyone) and rebounds are his superpowers.
Re Dante - of course he’s pissed. All his friends are here and he gets sent away. That’s gotta suck. Even if Minnesota is the best place in the world (narrator voice - it’s not) he CHOSE to be here, had all his buds here in the best city in the country, and was traded there. And of course he’s mad at Rick, who he’s known forever as an uncle/father figure, who had to have given input saying Jalen and the other nova Knicks would be ok. These are people, not widgets.
All kind of unusual to me, to be honest. Bad look all around, though not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things...
I DO like KAT going for 16 rebounds. I think we might see a big rebounding year from KAT with him back at the 5. And you gotta love Brunson just putting up numbers casually, game after game
To me it looked like the fastest Knicks team I've ever seen and Minnesota was right there. Both teams moving and rotating the ball so quickly and by far the most competitive preseason game I've ever seen too. Our defense, when they were going for it, looked very very good. A lot of times Wolves players just had no room to shoot, the rotations were that good and we were fighting for every board.
so much to cover after last night - you did a great job as always.
On the Donte side, honestly, f*** em - it's not show friends right? Dude can be salty all he wants, he's in another jersey at this point so he can go kick rocks as far as I'm concerned. Also, for anyone saying the Knicks "did him dirty" - they freaking traded him to a team that was in Western Conference Finals last year and has one of the brightest futures in the league. He didn't get shipped to Washington or Utah so maybe just shut up and play.
For the on the court stuff - man do I feel good after this one because we got to see how deep we are. Brunson did Brunson things as usual, and KAT showed why he's so talented by simply imposing his will a lot of times - and then you have OG and Bridges taking turns being the best player on the court. All of that and we got a pretty impressive rookie PG who can't even see the court right now based on our depth off the bench at that spot.
This is all good ish. Last point to make, by about 20 games in I bet Hokpo (easier name to type) takes Sims minutes.
I don't care about the extracurriculars this was a really good game. The trade is probably going to be a both teams win. NBA should go ahead and put both games on national TV and hype a potential finals match up.
Jonathan, I like what you said about Hart. I was going to say is he allergic to the basket:). Sims not only fouled out, he did it in 13 minutes. I didn't think that cud even be possible. Has this guy made any progress in the years he has been with the team? For my money, I wud give Hukporti more of a run than Sims. He did have some nice moments when he played the other game. Or is this Thibs just not wanting to play a rookie? As far as Kolek, I think he is going to be really good. However, with Deuce, Payne and Shamet, I can somewhat understand what's going on now. I think he will have to wait until somebody gets injured and then when he gets his chance, he will prove too difficult to remove from the rotation. Just my conjecture.
Not turning on Donte. Knicks did him dirty. He signed a below market value and then was traded after a year. He could have gotten the full mid level at minimum.
no one put a gun to his head to sign and this is a business. Knicks traded him to a team that was in the Western Conference Finals last year and has a bright future. Didn't send him to Washington or Utah. If that is considered "doing him dirty" then I think we need a new definition.
I could be wrong.. but it feels like he was convinced to take less for the good of the team. If said team then trades you away feels dirty to me. We can agree to disagree.
I don't think we did him dirty. He was a bench player that no one cared about and now he's headed to a team that really wants him. His stock was raised and so was his profile.
Not sure that Donte could be offered much of a salary increase with the Knicks so close to the 2nd Apron. If not for the Apron strings, Knicks could have kept Hartenstein and KAT trade may not have been seen as necessary.
Thibs not playing Kolek may be a way of telling him to bide his time, improve his defense, and pay no attention to your press clippings. Westchester is on Route I 95.
Didn't even realize that Shamet and Bridges had crossed paths at Phoenix before, reading that had me looking at old Suns rosters since I knew Payne and Mikal definitely had played together before. Now I'm *really* intrigued to see what the bench offense including Payne/Shamet/Mikal could look like.
I think Donte has a right to be feel upset. It’s a business but the Knicks were all about the Family. Donte learned you can be removed from the Family for reasons beyond your control.
Anyway - on the actual basketball ball front, I liked what I saw. The most interesting thing about the rotation I saw is that Precious was playing the four alongside a center. Sims, who looked terrible and fouled out in 12 min and Hukporti who looks promising but raw. The most interesting question to me is whether that hints at Mitch’s future role. He’d be quite an upgrade over Sims and Huk. Thibs is not playing anything close to a regular season rotation yet though. It’s something that I will be watching during the regular season though - does Thibs play Precious as the backup 4 alongside a traditional center. My guess is it’ll be matchup dependent somewhat. But I also think it would be a bit of a clue about whether Mitch has a role here in January and beyond.
What do you think Jon? Is top four a little off based as we get closer to season? Boston, OKC, Minnesota, and than New York. I think they are much deeper than Denver and Philadelphia well we haven't seen much from them in first two games but I get a sense that even after the trade we may still have the advantage in overall depth. Famous Last words but I am increasingly optimistic that they will hit the ground running starting next week.
Donte chirping at the bench was something we never saw last season so clearly there are hard feelings that are still lingering. It’s all pretty sad as I never saw a team as close as last year’s team.
If a certain KFS legend wasn’t in attendance the DDV and Rick drama would have never happened. Well done Alex!
What’s the opposite of being on someone’s island? Like you see the island, dislike it aesthetically, and want to drown it like some mini Atlantis to improve your view?
Hart NIMBY??
It ain’t Hart
I was just using him as an *example*
Re Hart - not worried at all. When he stops kvetching, I’ll get worried. Kvetching (without alienating everyone) and rebounds are his superpowers.
Re Dante - of course he’s pissed. All his friends are here and he gets sent away. That’s gotta suck. Even if Minnesota is the best place in the world (narrator voice - it’s not) he CHOSE to be here, had all his buds here in the best city in the country, and was traded there. And of course he’s mad at Rick, who he’s known forever as an uncle/father figure, who had to have given input saying Jalen and the other nova Knicks would be ok. These are people, not widgets.
"These are people, not widgets." might be my favorite thing you've ever said, and you've said a lot of things I love.
All kind of unusual to me, to be honest. Bad look all around, though not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things...
I DO like KAT going for 16 rebounds. I think we might see a big rebounding year from KAT with him back at the 5. And you gotta love Brunson just putting up numbers casually, game after game
To me it looked like the fastest Knicks team I've ever seen and Minnesota was right there. Both teams moving and rotating the ball so quickly and by far the most competitive preseason game I've ever seen too. Our defense, when they were going for it, looked very very good. A lot of times Wolves players just had no room to shoot, the rotations were that good and we were fighting for every board.
so much to cover after last night - you did a great job as always.
On the Donte side, honestly, f*** em - it's not show friends right? Dude can be salty all he wants, he's in another jersey at this point so he can go kick rocks as far as I'm concerned. Also, for anyone saying the Knicks "did him dirty" - they freaking traded him to a team that was in Western Conference Finals last year and has one of the brightest futures in the league. He didn't get shipped to Washington or Utah so maybe just shut up and play.
For the on the court stuff - man do I feel good after this one because we got to see how deep we are. Brunson did Brunson things as usual, and KAT showed why he's so talented by simply imposing his will a lot of times - and then you have OG and Bridges taking turns being the best player on the court. All of that and we got a pretty impressive rookie PG who can't even see the court right now based on our depth off the bench at that spot.
This is all good ish. Last point to make, by about 20 games in I bet Hokpo (easier name to type) takes Sims minutes.
Ive been going with "Huk"
I don't care about the extracurriculars this was a really good game. The trade is probably going to be a both teams win. NBA should go ahead and put both games on national TV and hype a potential finals match up.
Jonathan, I like what you said about Hart. I was going to say is he allergic to the basket:). Sims not only fouled out, he did it in 13 minutes. I didn't think that cud even be possible. Has this guy made any progress in the years he has been with the team? For my money, I wud give Hukporti more of a run than Sims. He did have some nice moments when he played the other game. Or is this Thibs just not wanting to play a rookie? As far as Kolek, I think he is going to be really good. However, with Deuce, Payne and Shamet, I can somewhat understand what's going on now. I think he will have to wait until somebody gets injured and then when he gets his chance, he will prove too difficult to remove from the rotation. Just my conjecture.
I think he's made *some* progress, but not as much as I would have expected after seeing him as a rookie
Not turning on Donte. Knicks did him dirty. He signed a below market value and then was traded after a year. He could have gotten the full mid level at minimum.
no one put a gun to his head to sign and this is a business. Knicks traded him to a team that was in the Western Conference Finals last year and has a bright future. Didn't send him to Washington or Utah. If that is considered "doing him dirty" then I think we need a new definition.
I could be wrong.. but it feels like he was convinced to take less for the good of the team. If said team then trades you away feels dirty to me. We can agree to disagree.
I don't think we did him dirty. He was a bench player that no one cared about and now he's headed to a team that really wants him. His stock was raised and so was his profile.
I hear that point
If this is the case why is he pissed at Rick ? Unless Rick was behind the KAT trade ?
Not sure that Donte could be offered much of a salary increase with the Knicks so close to the 2nd Apron. If not for the Apron strings, Knicks could have kept Hartenstein and KAT trade may not have been seen as necessary.
Rick also yapped a couple times at Donte throughout the game (after the free throw), FWIW
Thibs not playing Kolek may be a way of telling him to bide his time, improve his defense, and pay no attention to your press clippings. Westchester is on Route I 95.
Didn't even realize that Shamet and Bridges had crossed paths at Phoenix before, reading that had me looking at old Suns rosters since I knew Payne and Mikal definitely had played together before. Now I'm *really* intrigued to see what the bench offense including Payne/Shamet/Mikal could look like.
I was happy to see Mikal get some shots, particularly in the third quarter. He did not feel like part of the offense to me previously.
I think Donte has a right to be feel upset. It’s a business but the Knicks were all about the Family. Donte learned you can be removed from the Family for reasons beyond your control.
Anyway - on the actual basketball ball front, I liked what I saw. The most interesting thing about the rotation I saw is that Precious was playing the four alongside a center. Sims, who looked terrible and fouled out in 12 min and Hukporti who looks promising but raw. The most interesting question to me is whether that hints at Mitch’s future role. He’d be quite an upgrade over Sims and Huk. Thibs is not playing anything close to a regular season rotation yet though. It’s something that I will be watching during the regular season though - does Thibs play Precious as the backup 4 alongside a traditional center. My guess is it’ll be matchup dependent somewhat. But I also think it would be a bit of a clue about whether Mitch has a role here in January and beyond.
What do you think Jon? Is top four a little off based as we get closer to season? Boston, OKC, Minnesota, and than New York. I think they are much deeper than Denver and Philadelphia well we haven't seen much from them in first two games but I get a sense that even after the trade we may still have the advantage in overall depth. Famous Last words but I am increasingly optimistic that they will hit the ground running starting next week.
I think top 4 is absolutely reasonable and should be the goal.