Fournier’s defense has been concerning. I feel like Randle low key called him out in the post game a few times now. I really wish we’d pushed harder for Lonzo Ball in FA. The Bulls have elite perimeter defense and it’s based on guys we could’ve gone after in FA. Imagine if this team had gotten DeRozan, Ball, and Caruso last summer? I feel like we’d be where the Bulls are now.
Going forward - please god get us Myles Turner. Perfect complement to Randle, if we’re sticking with Randle.
I really wonder how much of this comes down to RJ. If we're keeping it 100, he's been a disappointment. As for Ball and DeRozan, you know you're preaching to the choir there :)
Enough already. It is clear there are a number of players who spent the off-season sleeping with their press clippings. It starts with Randle (who has not seen a ball he can’t turnover) to RJ (we thought hard work would separate him, he thinks it will be the magic of playing in the media capital) to Noel, who takes four games off when he sneezes to Mitch (there is a reason he will a UFA) who looks slow and lazy. It sure as heck looks like they are trending toward the lottery so why not find minutes for Deuce, more minutes for Grimes, Q and Obi. At least they will give 100% effort from the minute they step on the court to the minute they are off.
Hate to say it, but it’s back to the “same old Knicks” that fans of other teams and the national media enjoy so much.
I don't disagree with any of this individually...here's my one thing that provides me hope: Thibs. I think he'll go scorched earth before he fails in this job. Not saying that will necessarily be the right thing, but I would be very surprised if this season went the way of the dinosaur.
That's my hope too but as you have said, "it's getting late, early." It's clear signing Four was a mistake and guys like Noel need to be on one-year deals. The front office also showed way too much over confidence in trading down multiple times instead of up. The FO committed what is often a fatal mistake in way overrating their roster. The team had a ton of money under the cap and two firsts. Came out of it with Fournier, Burks, Noel, and Kemba. Just awful. My main hope is that Grimes and Deuce are better than Thibs seems to think and their Euros turn out to be players.
From friends I have at MSG, the Knicks will be aggressively looking to make trades starting on December 15th. The coach and front office are livid.
Myles Turner? The big man who has been called out by Charles, Shaq and the Jet for his lack of rebounding-playing small. The man who consistently puts one or two big scoring nights around a slew of uninspired on-show scoring nights. We do not need someone who has motivation problems and, as a result, cannot be depended on to show-up each night.This trade would be so typical of the Knicks, a desperate fix-all trade that is all in the eyes of the Knicks. I am sure it would cost a slew of youngsters-Grimes, Obi and McBride and draft picks - Carmelo all over again. Why would the Pacers be willing to give up such a gem. He has Sabonis and Brogdon to work with and has limited success. I'd start by giving Grimes and McBride some minutes and giving Obi more minutes-at the cost of minutes to others. If I was to make a trade, I'd offer Quickly ( with his perpetual 39% shooting inside the arc and fear of the rim) and RJ, for a point guard or wing who is athletic and shoots. We have too many unathletic players who can't shoot, drive or elevate well. As a result, we miss out on easy points and kick out passes.
Excellent newsletter and yes, we are sick pups to continue to devour content about this team that at times looks like it doesn't give a shit. I'm not an "I told you so" kinda guy but...early in the season when they were firing 3's and IQ came out with that quote about them just getting started (just wait), that got me VERY nervous. That was the early clue that they had forgotten what got them there and is their identity (D-Fence). They've got to reconnect to what made them special or they will take 2 steps back. Their offense is not good enough to not care on D. Second, I hate to say this but negative thoughts are starting to creep in (not takeover) about Thibs and how he burns teams out. His history is getting teams fired up to compete at first and then grinding down physically and emotionally to the point that they tune him out. Hope this isn't an accelerated version of his past, but believe that he's smart enough to avoid that in every way. I've run out of fingers to cross at this point, but am eternally (perhaps blindly) hopeful.
Fournier’s defense has been concerning. I feel like Randle low key called him out in the post game a few times now. I really wish we’d pushed harder for Lonzo Ball in FA. The Bulls have elite perimeter defense and it’s based on guys we could’ve gone after in FA. Imagine if this team had gotten DeRozan, Ball, and Caruso last summer? I feel like we’d be where the Bulls are now.
Going forward - please god get us Myles Turner. Perfect complement to Randle, if we’re sticking with Randle.
I really wonder how much of this comes down to RJ. If we're keeping it 100, he's been a disappointment. As for Ball and DeRozan, you know you're preaching to the choir there :)
Oh I know. You were right about DeRozan. I was skeptical. Lonzo I thought we had to get.
RJ… yeah. I get most bummed about the team when he looks off. And he looks lost.
Hopefully the wakeup call works
Enough already. It is clear there are a number of players who spent the off-season sleeping with their press clippings. It starts with Randle (who has not seen a ball he can’t turnover) to RJ (we thought hard work would separate him, he thinks it will be the magic of playing in the media capital) to Noel, who takes four games off when he sneezes to Mitch (there is a reason he will a UFA) who looks slow and lazy. It sure as heck looks like they are trending toward the lottery so why not find minutes for Deuce, more minutes for Grimes, Q and Obi. At least they will give 100% effort from the minute they step on the court to the minute they are off.
Hate to say it, but it’s back to the “same old Knicks” that fans of other teams and the national media enjoy so much.
I don't disagree with any of this individually...here's my one thing that provides me hope: Thibs. I think he'll go scorched earth before he fails in this job. Not saying that will necessarily be the right thing, but I would be very surprised if this season went the way of the dinosaur.
That's my hope too but as you have said, "it's getting late, early." It's clear signing Four was a mistake and guys like Noel need to be on one-year deals. The front office also showed way too much over confidence in trading down multiple times instead of up. The FO committed what is often a fatal mistake in way overrating their roster. The team had a ton of money under the cap and two firsts. Came out of it with Fournier, Burks, Noel, and Kemba. Just awful. My main hope is that Grimes and Deuce are better than Thibs seems to think and their Euros turn out to be players.
From friends I have at MSG, the Knicks will be aggressively looking to make trades starting on December 15th. The coach and front office are livid.
Myles Turner? The big man who has been called out by Charles, Shaq and the Jet for his lack of rebounding-playing small. The man who consistently puts one or two big scoring nights around a slew of uninspired on-show scoring nights. We do not need someone who has motivation problems and, as a result, cannot be depended on to show-up each night.This trade would be so typical of the Knicks, a desperate fix-all trade that is all in the eyes of the Knicks. I am sure it would cost a slew of youngsters-Grimes, Obi and McBride and draft picks - Carmelo all over again. Why would the Pacers be willing to give up such a gem. He has Sabonis and Brogdon to work with and has limited success. I'd start by giving Grimes and McBride some minutes and giving Obi more minutes-at the cost of minutes to others. If I was to make a trade, I'd offer Quickly ( with his perpetual 39% shooting inside the arc and fear of the rim) and RJ, for a point guard or wing who is athletic and shoots. We have too many unathletic players who can't shoot, drive or elevate well. As a result, we miss out on easy points and kick out passes.
Excellent newsletter and yes, we are sick pups to continue to devour content about this team that at times looks like it doesn't give a shit. I'm not an "I told you so" kinda guy but...early in the season when they were firing 3's and IQ came out with that quote about them just getting started (just wait), that got me VERY nervous. That was the early clue that they had forgotten what got them there and is their identity (D-Fence). They've got to reconnect to what made them special or they will take 2 steps back. Their offense is not good enough to not care on D. Second, I hate to say this but negative thoughts are starting to creep in (not takeover) about Thibs and how he burns teams out. His history is getting teams fired up to compete at first and then grinding down physically and emotionally to the point that they tune him out. Hope this isn't an accelerated version of his past, but believe that he's smart enough to avoid that in every way. I've run out of fingers to cross at this point, but am eternally (perhaps blindly) hopeful.