I appreciate the article Jon. Most of us diehard Knicks fans can turn away from a loss like yesterday and what it might point to for the rest of the series but unfortunately your position requires that you have to sit with the loss and analyze it while also having gone through the same shared experience as that loss. Can't be easy.
I've said and continue to say that I am proud of this team regardless of where this season goes at this point. This team has fought all year and continues to fight regardless of circumstances and never lets reasons and challenges become excuses. It's next man up, we have what we need, we can be better - Championship Culture. This team is being forged through the fire and it is the experiences that the core of this team is going through this year that will build their resolve next year and beyond. What the Knicks are going through right now is the answer to the question many of us were asking at the beginning of the year - what does a successful season look like? For me at this point - it looks like this.
For those of us that like to use "We" and "Our" Knicks when we never step foot on the court, draw up a play or make team decisions our role (IMO) in this run to the Chip is to support this team and give them whatever energy we can in expressing our pride for what they give us. Even more so after a game like yesterday. I've loved this team since the days of Bernard King and I can truthfully say that while I have fond memories of the 90s teams I have never been prouder of a Knicks team in my lifetime as a fan as I have been of this year's team. It's all in front of them and I absolutely have no doubt that they will go get it. LFGK.....
This is where I'm at. They're etched in stone in my book as an all time Knicks team, regardless of what happens between now and Monday. And I appreciate the kind words at the top. On some days, writing this is as much therapy for me as anything else.
In 1984 the Lakers beat the Celtics by 33 points in a finals game. Boston won the series.
In 1985 Boston beat L.A. by 34 in a finals game. The Lakers won the series.
Our heroes are short 3 starters, and 4 rotation players but they are the toughest team in the league mentally and physically. It won't be easy, but if anyone can do it they can.
In 2024 the Wolves beat the Nuggets by 26 to take a 2-0 lead back to Minnesota. Denver won the next 2 games. This all boils down to Jalen’s health. If can approximate what he did during the regular season, Knicks can win. If not, no chance.
This team is not losing 4 games in a row. We had enough to beat them without OG in the 4th quarter of Game 2. We had enough to build a 9 point lead in Game 3 without OG and should have won that one. We’re getting back on track tomorrow
I don’t mean for this to sound like a eulogy, but it’s just what I’m feeling at the moment. This team obviously deserves every benefit of the doubt.
I can’t decide how upset to be or what to be upset about. I’ve lived and died by every game this season more than any other, but right now I’m kind of numb. The Knicks have already accomplished the preseason goal I set for them. I didn’t really care what round we made it to, so long as we stepped forward as a franchise. We undoubtedly did, and I think we’re one of a handful of teams who, when healthy, are a true title caliber team.
It really hurts to see Brunson struggle through injury, and the attrition of the roster has made it so there’s no room for even a 15% drop off in his game. I think we all knew that our title hopes effectively ended on 1/27 when Randle went down, but it sucks to see it play out.
If we lose this series, it’s going to hurt seeing the Pacers waltz to the ECF having beat two crippled teams.
It really shows how hard it is to win a championship. Denver took their lumps for years waiting for their final roster to be healthy. I just hope we get there
Randle, Mitch, OG, Bogey all out for the season, Hartenstein & Jalen are walking wounded, and everyone else is dealing with wear and tear from a short-staffed rotation.
If you told me at the start of this season we'd be have an 8-6 record in the playoffs with only one blowout loss with the roster as it stands now, I would have:
1. respectfully asked how you had managed to physically synthesize copium
2. followed-up with what your ratio of copium to meth is
3. then asked your preferred hardware to smoke it in
4. and finally, asked for a metric ton of your product, because I'd need to be high on all of it at once to believe you
If there's any team that can brute force a rabbit out of a beat up old hat, it's this one. I'll be happy as long as there's effort, but damn to I believe in these Knicks and their drive to win. Best of 3 series now, let's get it.
Sport is weird. You get crushed one day and win the next. Teams with less talent beat all-time greats. It's an uphill climb for the Knicks, with the primary bench scorers are now Duece, who has never played meaningful minutes in a playoff game, and Burks, who has ... I'll leave it at that. No one thought a human could climb Mount Everest until Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay did it in 1953, without oxygen. The battered Knicks are running on fumes, but I like to think they have one more climb in them.
Thanks for a great newsletter Jon once again. It had to be very difficult to find the correct words to summarize yesterday's Massacre. It might be a one off, it might not be. I'll wait until ten pm tomorrow to decide if the season is in trouble. Granted it doesn't look great and no real help is on its way. Time after time again these Knicks get doubted on and they come back 10x stronger. That is the teams ethos from player to coach. Why stop believing, now?
It’s heartbreaking to watch these guys give all their blood, sweat and tears and tears and still sink as they have had more injuries than any NBA team in memory (other than those tanking and those are “injuries” not injuries. Healthy, this team beats Indiana in 5 and gives Boston all they can handle.
I’d like to say, “we’ll get ‘em next year” but the Knicks must figure out how to construct a roster with two featured players — Mitchell and OG — averaging roughly playing only half their games in their careers.” This is not yet the time to delve into next season but this will be a very important topic for 2024/25.
And Indiana gets to the ECF by beating two teams that were shadows of themselves. I hope the Celtics beat them in 4.
Will be in the building and feeling very confident for Game 5. These lopsided losses always seem to boomerang. We fought all year for home court and the Pacers will have to win at least one in our building to move on. Don’t think they will do that.
It’s not yesterday’s result that bothers me. It’s the reality of what we are currently able to put on the floor. This is the same lineup that struggled in February, only now, we have a compromised Brunson. It’s so unfortunate that in late January we found ourselves without Randle, Mitch and OG and here we are again.
If any team can overcome this, though, it’s this one. I’m sure the Pacers will feel the Knicks on Tuesday, unlike yesterday. Hopefully we can find a way to generate enough offense.
Well said. I can only add a hearty fuck the pacers, fuck the state of indiana, fuck rick carlisle, fuck obi toppin ( i said what i said) and as always fuck reggie miller.
I wasn't surprised by anything that occurred. If one team is hitting and the other missing, it's what happens. No excuses but the Knicks have been decimated almost completely by other teams rolling over our players encroachment on 3 point shots, you name it. I'm so proud of our still standing players.
I'm sure I'm caught up in the moment but I can honestly say I hate this Pacers team. The amount of shit-talking and mean mugging against a squad that is literally down 4 key players and their best player is playing hurt is a joke. I'm all for celebrating - seriously go nuts with whatever sideline routines, hand gestures, etc that you want - but Haliburton is carrying on like he's beating the 1984 Celtics and it's so corny. Sentiment on Twitter seems to be the same. Can't believe I'm saying this but at least the 76ers knew how to carry on without making fools of themselves.
Amen. I hope we get to revenge this series in the playoffs next year, against this Pacer team but with Julius, OG, Mitch, Bogs, a quality back up PG and the rest of the squad healthy. Knicks in four.
I appreciate the article Jon. Most of us diehard Knicks fans can turn away from a loss like yesterday and what it might point to for the rest of the series but unfortunately your position requires that you have to sit with the loss and analyze it while also having gone through the same shared experience as that loss. Can't be easy.
I've said and continue to say that I am proud of this team regardless of where this season goes at this point. This team has fought all year and continues to fight regardless of circumstances and never lets reasons and challenges become excuses. It's next man up, we have what we need, we can be better - Championship Culture. This team is being forged through the fire and it is the experiences that the core of this team is going through this year that will build their resolve next year and beyond. What the Knicks are going through right now is the answer to the question many of us were asking at the beginning of the year - what does a successful season look like? For me at this point - it looks like this.
For those of us that like to use "We" and "Our" Knicks when we never step foot on the court, draw up a play or make team decisions our role (IMO) in this run to the Chip is to support this team and give them whatever energy we can in expressing our pride for what they give us. Even more so after a game like yesterday. I've loved this team since the days of Bernard King and I can truthfully say that while I have fond memories of the 90s teams I have never been prouder of a Knicks team in my lifetime as a fan as I have been of this year's team. It's all in front of them and I absolutely have no doubt that they will go get it. LFGK.....
This is where I'm at. They're etched in stone in my book as an all time Knicks team, regardless of what happens between now and Monday. And I appreciate the kind words at the top. On some days, writing this is as much therapy for me as anything else.
In 1984 the Lakers beat the Celtics by 33 points in a finals game. Boston won the series.
In 1985 Boston beat L.A. by 34 in a finals game. The Lakers won the series.
Our heroes are short 3 starters, and 4 rotation players but they are the toughest team in the league mentally and physically. It won't be easy, but if anyone can do it they can.
In 2024 the Wolves beat the Nuggets by 26 to take a 2-0 lead back to Minnesota. Denver won the next 2 games. This all boils down to Jalen’s health. If can approximate what he did during the regular season, Knicks can win. If not, no chance.
This team is not losing 4 games in a row. We had enough to beat them without OG in the 4th quarter of Game 2. We had enough to build a 9 point lead in Game 3 without OG and should have won that one. We’re getting back on track tomorrow
I don’t mean for this to sound like a eulogy, but it’s just what I’m feeling at the moment. This team obviously deserves every benefit of the doubt.
I can’t decide how upset to be or what to be upset about. I’ve lived and died by every game this season more than any other, but right now I’m kind of numb. The Knicks have already accomplished the preseason goal I set for them. I didn’t really care what round we made it to, so long as we stepped forward as a franchise. We undoubtedly did, and I think we’re one of a handful of teams who, when healthy, are a true title caliber team.
It really hurts to see Brunson struggle through injury, and the attrition of the roster has made it so there’s no room for even a 15% drop off in his game. I think we all knew that our title hopes effectively ended on 1/27 when Randle went down, but it sucks to see it play out.
If we lose this series, it’s going to hurt seeing the Pacers waltz to the ECF having beat two crippled teams.
It really shows how hard it is to win a championship. Denver took their lumps for years waiting for their final roster to be healthy. I just hope we get there
Randle, Mitch, OG, Bogey all out for the season, Hartenstein & Jalen are walking wounded, and everyone else is dealing with wear and tear from a short-staffed rotation.
If you told me at the start of this season we'd be have an 8-6 record in the playoffs with only one blowout loss with the roster as it stands now, I would have:
1. respectfully asked how you had managed to physically synthesize copium
2. followed-up with what your ratio of copium to meth is
3. then asked your preferred hardware to smoke it in
4. and finally, asked for a metric ton of your product, because I'd need to be high on all of it at once to believe you
If there's any team that can brute force a rabbit out of a beat up old hat, it's this one. I'll be happy as long as there's effort, but damn to I believe in these Knicks and their drive to win. Best of 3 series now, let's get it.
Thanks for the humor and the reality, all rolled into one. This is priceless :)
LOL...this was great
Sport is weird. You get crushed one day and win the next. Teams with less talent beat all-time greats. It's an uphill climb for the Knicks, with the primary bench scorers are now Duece, who has never played meaningful minutes in a playoff game, and Burks, who has ... I'll leave it at that. No one thought a human could climb Mount Everest until Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay did it in 1953, without oxygen. The battered Knicks are running on fumes, but I like to think they have one more climb in them.
This was perfectly written Ray, thank you.
Thanks for a great newsletter Jon once again. It had to be very difficult to find the correct words to summarize yesterday's Massacre. It might be a one off, it might not be. I'll wait until ten pm tomorrow to decide if the season is in trouble. Granted it doesn't look great and no real help is on its way. Time after time again these Knicks get doubted on and they come back 10x stronger. That is the teams ethos from player to coach. Why stop believing, now?
Thanks Dom. I know...shit happens. I think those are the only words lol.
It’s heartbreaking to watch these guys give all their blood, sweat and tears and tears and still sink as they have had more injuries than any NBA team in memory (other than those tanking and those are “injuries” not injuries. Healthy, this team beats Indiana in 5 and gives Boston all they can handle.
I’d like to say, “we’ll get ‘em next year” but the Knicks must figure out how to construct a roster with two featured players — Mitchell and OG — averaging roughly playing only half their games in their careers.” This is not yet the time to delve into next season but this will be a very important topic for 2024/25.
And Indiana gets to the ECF by beating two teams that were shadows of themselves. I hope the Celtics beat them in 4.
They're not there yet!
Will be in the building and feeling very confident for Game 5. These lopsided losses always seem to boomerang. We fought all year for home court and the Pacers will have to win at least one in our building to move on. Don’t think they will do that.
It’s not yesterday’s result that bothers me. It’s the reality of what we are currently able to put on the floor. This is the same lineup that struggled in February, only now, we have a compromised Brunson. It’s so unfortunate that in late January we found ourselves without Randle, Mitch and OG and here we are again.
If any team can overcome this, though, it’s this one. I’m sure the Pacers will feel the Knicks on Tuesday, unlike yesterday. Hopefully we can find a way to generate enough offense.
Well said. I can only add a hearty fuck the pacers, fuck the state of indiana, fuck rick carlisle, fuck obi toppin ( i said what i said) and as always fuck reggie miller.
I wasn't surprised by anything that occurred. If one team is hitting and the other missing, it's what happens. No excuses but the Knicks have been decimated almost completely by other teams rolling over our players encroachment on 3 point shots, you name it. I'm so proud of our still standing players.
I'm sure I'm caught up in the moment but I can honestly say I hate this Pacers team. The amount of shit-talking and mean mugging against a squad that is literally down 4 key players and their best player is playing hurt is a joke. I'm all for celebrating - seriously go nuts with whatever sideline routines, hand gestures, etc that you want - but Haliburton is carrying on like he's beating the 1984 Celtics and it's so corny. Sentiment on Twitter seems to be the same. Can't believe I'm saying this but at least the 76ers knew how to carry on without making fools of themselves.
I hate Haliburton specifically.
Amen. I hope we get to revenge this series in the playoffs next year, against this Pacer team but with Julius, OG, Mitch, Bogs, a quality back up PG and the rest of the squad healthy. Knicks in four.