So...have we thought much about D-Rose going down for most of the season correlating to Julius' weak mindedness? I'd love to be a fly on the wall when D-Rose and Ju are in the same space. Can't imagine Thibs hasn't spoken to Rose & Taj with the central theme being "help me get this guy's mind back in the right headspace". I think we're stuck with Ju for the time being sadly and we can only hope that the return of some vet leadership in Rose and some minor additions via trades get us back in a winning flow to coax this guy out of his self-imposed "poor me" mindset. Remarkable how fast this story has turned from hero to heel with Julius in NY.
Feb 7, 2022·edited Feb 7, 2022Liked by Jonathan Macri
Thanks always to the KFS Crew. You are a light in dark basketball times. I would just say to the Knick Cosmos:
This is a mans' league not a league for wannabes, pretenders, fledglings, and neophytes. I, however, know where this team was before Thibs took over. Last season's premature success has many fans thinking this team is better than it is. A year ago, they over achieved and the League took them for patsies. You can win a lot of games when our opponents disrespect you.
This season, with teams playing them tougher because of their recent success, the endless NY hype, fucking bing bong, machine sticking in their craw, and Knick players reverting to their past performance levels, e tu Julius, they are a [slightly below] 500 club. I don't think the Reds [Auerbach and Holzman] reanimated and resurrected from the dead could turn this bunch into contenders. Take the bad with the good. The point guard play sucks they don't play a 48 minute game. But, the younger guys [except maybe IQ] are trending up.
A contender is not built in 2 seasons. They desperately need an infusion of physical talent, more skill, and an unconquerable WILL. For all who still believe in free agent heaven [the Heat with extraordinary Lebron are an EXCEPTION] --- just look across the East River at Brooklyn, please. A star driven team, without a strong foundation of players and substance [a philosophy/ethos/real culture developed over time] is a fragile thing. Thibs might not get the Knicks to the promised land. He's laying a foundation.
By the way---Michael Ray's nickname, Sugar, epitomized his game. For a man with rare physical gifts, his game could be silky smooth, sweet. He and Ray Williams made up an amazing back court. Reed put together a very talented squad. But, they were young and NY's streets and the allure of the fast life, clubbing and all, did them in. Coke wiped out so many people and players. It was a loss for them, users, and society. Michael also had the greatest Knick quote of all: The ship be sinking.
I am worried that Thibs is breaking IQ down instead of building him up. Some guys get their minutes whether they are hitting their shots or not. If you know you aren't going to play if you don't hit your shots, that leads to another layer of thinking in-game. I love to watch IQ. I am beginning to wonder if he would be better off being traded. That thought makes me sick.
Not a comment on your analysis which is always great. But an argument Jeremy made on the Podcast. Comparing Thibs to people dying from dehydration in the desert conserving water. I think he missed the point that the argument isn’t valid, because if people drank the water they still may have died because the water ran out
The tweet you just posted showing Randle going crazy on the Knicks bench is just another reason why the Knicks need to deal this guy before he totally goes off rail. And why Thibs continues to give Randle the run of the place, is just plain bizarre.
So...have we thought much about D-Rose going down for most of the season correlating to Julius' weak mindedness? I'd love to be a fly on the wall when D-Rose and Ju are in the same space. Can't imagine Thibs hasn't spoken to Rose & Taj with the central theme being "help me get this guy's mind back in the right headspace". I think we're stuck with Ju for the time being sadly and we can only hope that the return of some vet leadership in Rose and some minor additions via trades get us back in a winning flow to coax this guy out of his self-imposed "poor me" mindset. Remarkable how fast this story has turned from hero to heel with Julius in NY.
In your film studies Jon do you see more evidence of RJ finally looking the part of a shut down wing defender during his hot offensive run?
Thanks always to the KFS Crew. You are a light in dark basketball times. I would just say to the Knick Cosmos:
This is a mans' league not a league for wannabes, pretenders, fledglings, and neophytes. I, however, know where this team was before Thibs took over. Last season's premature success has many fans thinking this team is better than it is. A year ago, they over achieved and the League took them for patsies. You can win a lot of games when our opponents disrespect you.
This season, with teams playing them tougher because of their recent success, the endless NY hype, fucking bing bong, machine sticking in their craw, and Knick players reverting to their past performance levels, e tu Julius, they are a [slightly below] 500 club. I don't think the Reds [Auerbach and Holzman] reanimated and resurrected from the dead could turn this bunch into contenders. Take the bad with the good. The point guard play sucks they don't play a 48 minute game. But, the younger guys [except maybe IQ] are trending up.
A contender is not built in 2 seasons. They desperately need an infusion of physical talent, more skill, and an unconquerable WILL. For all who still believe in free agent heaven [the Heat with extraordinary Lebron are an EXCEPTION] --- just look across the East River at Brooklyn, please. A star driven team, without a strong foundation of players and substance [a philosophy/ethos/real culture developed over time] is a fragile thing. Thibs might not get the Knicks to the promised land. He's laying a foundation.
By the way---Michael Ray's nickname, Sugar, epitomized his game. For a man with rare physical gifts, his game could be silky smooth, sweet. He and Ray Williams made up an amazing back court. Reed put together a very talented squad. But, they were young and NY's streets and the allure of the fast life, clubbing and all, did them in. Coke wiped out so many people and players. It was a loss for them, users, and society. Michael also had the greatest Knick quote of all: The ship be sinking.
I am worried that Thibs is breaking IQ down instead of building him up. Some guys get their minutes whether they are hitting their shots or not. If you know you aren't going to play if you don't hit your shots, that leads to another layer of thinking in-game. I love to watch IQ. I am beginning to wonder if he would be better off being traded. That thought makes me sick.
Not a comment on your analysis which is always great. But an argument Jeremy made on the Podcast. Comparing Thibs to people dying from dehydration in the desert conserving water. I think he missed the point that the argument isn’t valid, because if people drank the water they still may have died because the water ran out
The tweet you just posted showing Randle going crazy on the Knicks bench is just another reason why the Knicks need to deal this guy before he totally goes off rail. And why Thibs continues to give Randle the run of the place, is just plain bizarre.
Why do people still think this is RJ’s ceiling, including people you have referenced as legit on this page ?