Cheers to a great season Jon. Now rest up, cuz we got a long summer of tinkering and thinkering to do about where we go from here. Fitting to end the season on exactly #53wins
I fell asleep last night composing a soliloquy around "You win or you learn."
While last night's loss stung, I think I finally put my finger one what, short of a surprise run to the final, I wanted from these Knicks this postseason. You win or your learn, but what do you learn?
In the playoffs, the variance on what you learn can vary from grade school content to the NBA equivalent of a PhD. If you're the Suns or the Bucks, you learn that even having one of the 5 best players in the league sometimes isn't enough. If you're the Cavs, you learn the same lesson as the 2021 Knicks: the regular season and the playoffs are different beasts.
So what did the Knicks learn? As you pointed out in today's newsletter, the Knicks learned how close they are. They learned that changes in the edges -- to their roster, their game plan, their execution -- are the difference between goodness and greatness. They learned enough that when they're back in the playoffs next year, we won't be talking about a team that hasn't been there before. And that, I realized, is what I wanted from this team this postseason. They gave us that and then some.
What a ride. Thanks for shepherding us through from beginning to end, Professor Macri & Co. Thanks, one more time, to this fucking team, for the most enjoyable Knicks season since many of us were children. The Knicks are dead, long live the Knicks.
Again thank you for everything Jon. This was beautifully written and your hard work is greatly appreciated!
I am in a surprisingly good mood this morning. Last night was tough but its hard not to be extraordinary excited and optimistic about this teams future. I cannot wait to see how the FO answer all of the offseason questions we have, and what their courses of action turn out to be. Its a great time to be a Knicks fan!
Thank you Jon for putting into words what we all feel and think. Along with my coffee, this newsletter has been a morning routine for me.
The arrow is pointing in the right direction... every team struggles and struggles before they reach the top of the mountain. Some say we have struggled for years... I say haha, that was suffering, this is struggling.
We talk about moving on from Julius, his post game comments were awful yesterday btw, and during the season we talked about moving on from RJ. But you said some very wise words a few days ago... and as someone with a degree in Economics, I totally agree. You said “the market will dictate to trade Julius or RJ”. There is so much to talk about and I hope we have mature conversations because the “the market” is not stupid either.
For now, take some time off... enjoy your family! As the kids get older and get summer jobs/internships it’s hard to have that family summer vacation. So enjoy them while they are young... Thank you KFS!
Truly appreciate that Hamdy, as well as your generosity through this season in so many ways. Totally agree on the arrow. Tough decisions ahead, but I think we have the right people making them.
Great season. Nothing but good things to look back on. It’s going to go under discussed because all teams deal with injuries (including the Heat), but we really went through it the past month or so. Multiple Randle injuries, Quickley, Grimes in and out of the lineup, Mitch and Brunson clearly banged up. If nothing else, we built up some calluses for next year.
I also don’t want to overreact. Randle isn’t a good fit with RJ, but the devil you know may be better than the devil you don’t know (KAT). It’s pretty comforting to know that without any improvement by any of our guys, we’re close to a 50 win team as is. I’m expecting RJ and Grimes to improve, and not for nothing, I’m also expecting Mitch to improve
This season, the Knicks were a team in search of a playoff berth. Which is what they have been for far too many years. Success was measured by simply getting into the playoffs. Anything else felt like gravy. It seems like they have achieved that - they are probably good enough to make the playoffs consistently.... ?
The question is whether they can make the transition to no longer having to worry about making the playoffs, and instead, become focused on success within the playoffs. I think that is a different mindset (one that Miami clearly has), and requires different strategies in-season and maybe different thoughts about player acquisition. Given the relative youth of the Knicks, it feels like the Knicks are a team on the cusp of that transition.
At least that is my hope. Should be an interesting summer.
Totally agree that planning for a team to win 16 games is different than planning for a team that can win the most out of 82. Good gall, and thank you for the kind words!
Thank you for the daily reason to open my computer Mr. Macri. Like all things, this loss dissipates even now into the great nothing. I have been blessed enough to watch the Yankees, Giants and Rangers win a Championship. Was but a toddler when Walt and Co. last made the eternal dream of every sports fan come true. Perhaps I will will get my chance before finally crossing the ol rainbow bridge. Perhaps not. This was a good Knicks year, and that in and of itself is worth celebrating, because such occasions are generally few and far between. I will lean on the wise words Mr. Jerry Garcia sang in the finest song describing the end of all humanity, the lovely "Morning Dew", which do always manage to bring me some solace in low times. "I guess it doesn't matter anyway." On to the future.
And, so it really begins. The march to contention. Thanks to this 22/23 NYK squad for the thrills and chills. Thanks to you, the KFS Crew, for your analysis, discussion, and passionate coverage of all things Knick. Thanks to the other fans, the larger circle of fans who may have our differences about this team, but are totally united in loving this team. This was a special space to watch the season unfold. And, I will joyously shout out that old Brooklyn Dodger refrain: Wait to Next Year!
Thank you Jon for yet another excellent piece! You are the Jalen Brunson of Substack writers.
And thank you KFS nation. I finally have the Knicks version of BBI and it is been a long time coming.
I love our daily conversations.
We have our franchise cornerstone and now the FO task is simple. Surround Brunson with players who fit with our superstar.
The task is simple in concept but the execution will be very difficult. Most crucial will be trading Randle. His style of play is anathema to today’s game and his moodiness is just not something you want to see on one of your core players.
So Jon, can we start discussing and analyzing the draft, free agency and trade marketplace. No surprise but you do an awesome job in this category of sports journalism.
"The task is simple in concept but the execution will be very difficult. " - truer words have never been spoken. A perfect one sentence summary of what lies ahead.
I do wish Brunson had pulled up for 3 on that last possession, but can't fault him for an otherwise flawless last two games. Unfortunately, felt like the game turned when Brunson and Randle sat in the second quarter. We really missed IQ there (or at least, regular season IQ).
The decisions coming up this off-season will be intense. I continue to think RJ is the keeper and Randle is the one to trade, though the rest of the league probably also would prefer RJ in a trade. Have to think Rose and co are at least looking at Mitch and IQ and Obi as movable pieces as well. Next year's team will look much much different. Glad we got to enjoy one last win with Game 5.
First and foremost thank you for my early morning, first reading before anything else during the season. Secondly, thank you for your wonderful writing during the year and as a lifetime, senior knick fan thoroughly enjoyable. A comment was made below, that if some of the players had played up to their regular season during the playoff, we should've won and I totally agree. I must respectfully still disagree on Barrett. He can be brilliant or he can be mediocre, but I do not think he's the key to the future. On the other hand, I say he's 21 and God knows the potential that can be unlocked so I'd be leery of letting him go. The girl with the curl is clearly Randell . at the same time watching him play when he's brilliant is watching a star that is worth following. I think the answer will come with what type of trades Leon has to look at. I totally disagree about trading I.Q.Maybe something happened when he lost the six man award and he was trying to hard but before Brunson he gave me more joy than any knick in a long time. His bobble head still sits on my shelf. Enjoy the rest of baseball season, even if your loyalty isn't to the Yankees, and your family and thank you again.
Thank you so much Mike. It is my PLEASURE to provide this content, and thank you so much for giving me a reason to spend so much time, energy and thought on it.
I also don't think RJ is THE key to the future, but as you imply, he can be A key.
Amazing, amazing Randle analogy. Going to steal and give you credit.
I still honestly believe that if a few of the guys played close to their regular season level, Julius, IQ, & Grimes, we would have won this series and had great chance to win the East
Many thanks, Jonathan, for your coverage to what turned out to be one of the more memorable seasons of my Knickerbocker fanhood. I’m a little down today, which is funny because I called what would happen earlier this week (not that it required any great insight to predict such).
Anyhow, congratulations to both the Knicks and KFS for a resoundingly successful season. The best part about it is that this really feels like more of a beginning than an end. Nice to listen to the sport talk radio in the car on a mid May morning today and hear it dominated by Knick chatter! Even my bride, who has no interest in sports (sans a little bit about football), remarked upon lhearing the talk this morning: “the Knicks were still playing? What’s that all about?” lol
Cheers to a great season Jon. Now rest up, cuz we got a long summer of tinkering and thinkering to do about where we go from here. Fitting to end the season on exactly #53wins
Thinkering...I'm going to steal that one
I fell asleep last night composing a soliloquy around "You win or you learn."
While last night's loss stung, I think I finally put my finger one what, short of a surprise run to the final, I wanted from these Knicks this postseason. You win or your learn, but what do you learn?
In the playoffs, the variance on what you learn can vary from grade school content to the NBA equivalent of a PhD. If you're the Suns or the Bucks, you learn that even having one of the 5 best players in the league sometimes isn't enough. If you're the Cavs, you learn the same lesson as the 2021 Knicks: the regular season and the playoffs are different beasts.
So what did the Knicks learn? As you pointed out in today's newsletter, the Knicks learned how close they are. They learned that changes in the edges -- to their roster, their game plan, their execution -- are the difference between goodness and greatness. They learned enough that when they're back in the playoffs next year, we won't be talking about a team that hasn't been there before. And that, I realized, is what I wanted from this team this postseason. They gave us that and then some.
What a ride. Thanks for shepherding us through from beginning to end, Professor Macri & Co. Thanks, one more time, to this fucking team, for the most enjoyable Knicks season since many of us were children. The Knicks are dead, long live the Knicks.
My absolute pleasure John, and I agree very much with the lessons you suggested came from this run. Necessary lessons, indeed.
"The Knicks are dead, long live the Knicks." - Amen to that!
Again thank you for everything Jon. This was beautifully written and your hard work is greatly appreciated!
I am in a surprisingly good mood this morning. Last night was tough but its hard not to be extraordinary excited and optimistic about this teams future. I cannot wait to see how the FO answer all of the offseason questions we have, and what their courses of action turn out to be. Its a great time to be a Knicks fan!
Thank YOU Jonas. Your comments here are always some of my favorites.
Thank you Jon for putting into words what we all feel and think. Along with my coffee, this newsletter has been a morning routine for me.
The arrow is pointing in the right direction... every team struggles and struggles before they reach the top of the mountain. Some say we have struggled for years... I say haha, that was suffering, this is struggling.
We talk about moving on from Julius, his post game comments were awful yesterday btw, and during the season we talked about moving on from RJ. But you said some very wise words a few days ago... and as someone with a degree in Economics, I totally agree. You said “the market will dictate to trade Julius or RJ”. There is so much to talk about and I hope we have mature conversations because the “the market” is not stupid either.
For now, take some time off... enjoy your family! As the kids get older and get summer jobs/internships it’s hard to have that family summer vacation. So enjoy them while they are young... Thank you KFS!
Truly appreciate that Hamdy, as well as your generosity through this season in so many ways. Totally agree on the arrow. Tough decisions ahead, but I think we have the right people making them.
And I will take some time off soon I promise :)
Great season. Nothing but good things to look back on. It’s going to go under discussed because all teams deal with injuries (including the Heat), but we really went through it the past month or so. Multiple Randle injuries, Quickley, Grimes in and out of the lineup, Mitch and Brunson clearly banged up. If nothing else, we built up some calluses for next year.
I also don’t want to overreact. Randle isn’t a good fit with RJ, but the devil you know may be better than the devil you don’t know (KAT). It’s pretty comforting to know that without any improvement by any of our guys, we’re close to a 50 win team as is. I’m expecting RJ and Grimes to improve, and not for nothing, I’m also expecting Mitch to improve
The KFS community rocks.
This season, the Knicks were a team in search of a playoff berth. Which is what they have been for far too many years. Success was measured by simply getting into the playoffs. Anything else felt like gravy. It seems like they have achieved that - they are probably good enough to make the playoffs consistently.... ?
The question is whether they can make the transition to no longer having to worry about making the playoffs, and instead, become focused on success within the playoffs. I think that is a different mindset (one that Miami clearly has), and requires different strategies in-season and maybe different thoughts about player acquisition. Given the relative youth of the Knicks, it feels like the Knicks are a team on the cusp of that transition.
At least that is my hope. Should be an interesting summer.
Totally agree that planning for a team to win 16 games is different than planning for a team that can win the most out of 82. Good gall, and thank you for the kind words!
Thank you for the daily reason to open my computer Mr. Macri. Like all things, this loss dissipates even now into the great nothing. I have been blessed enough to watch the Yankees, Giants and Rangers win a Championship. Was but a toddler when Walt and Co. last made the eternal dream of every sports fan come true. Perhaps I will will get my chance before finally crossing the ol rainbow bridge. Perhaps not. This was a good Knicks year, and that in and of itself is worth celebrating, because such occasions are generally few and far between. I will lean on the wise words Mr. Jerry Garcia sang in the finest song describing the end of all humanity, the lovely "Morning Dew", which do always manage to bring me some solace in low times. "I guess it doesn't matter anyway." On to the future.
Means the world to hear that, truly. It's all I ever wanted when I started writing this - for people to be genuinely excited to read it.
And you'll get to see that championship, I'm confident.
And, so it really begins. The march to contention. Thanks to this 22/23 NYK squad for the thrills and chills. Thanks to you, the KFS Crew, for your analysis, discussion, and passionate coverage of all things Knick. Thanks to the other fans, the larger circle of fans who may have our differences about this team, but are totally united in loving this team. This was a special space to watch the season unfold. And, I will joyously shout out that old Brooklyn Dodger refrain: Wait to Next Year!
You're incredibly welcome Jonathan. Thank you for your consistently thoughtful comments here. Here's to next year!
Great summary. Great season. Thank you for the wonderful coverage all year.
Thanks so much for being a part of it Andrew!
Thank you Jon for yet another excellent piece! You are the Jalen Brunson of Substack writers.
And thank you KFS nation. I finally have the Knicks version of BBI and it is been a long time coming.
I love our daily conversations.
We have our franchise cornerstone and now the FO task is simple. Surround Brunson with players who fit with our superstar.
The task is simple in concept but the execution will be very difficult. Most crucial will be trading Randle. His style of play is anathema to today’s game and his moodiness is just not something you want to see on one of your core players.
So Jon, can we start discussing and analyzing the draft, free agency and trade marketplace. No surprise but you do an awesome job in this category of sports journalism.
DBN, after that compliment, I can die in peace :)
"The task is simple in concept but the execution will be very difficult. " - truer words have never been spoken. A perfect one sentence summary of what lies ahead.
Much love to you Jon and to all us true fans. Been an amazing season and we are lucky to have you writing these fantastic pieces!
Thank you Dave!
Great season, great coverage by KFS. Thank you!
I do wish Brunson had pulled up for 3 on that last possession, but can't fault him for an otherwise flawless last two games. Unfortunately, felt like the game turned when Brunson and Randle sat in the second quarter. We really missed IQ there (or at least, regular season IQ).
The decisions coming up this off-season will be intense. I continue to think RJ is the keeper and Randle is the one to trade, though the rest of the league probably also would prefer RJ in a trade. Have to think Rose and co are at least looking at Mitch and IQ and Obi as movable pieces as well. Next year's team will look much much different. Glad we got to enjoy one last win with Game 5.
Thanks so much Sean! Appreciate you and your comments on here always. I hope they find a way to move Randle and keep RJ, even if it may be difficult.
First and foremost thank you for my early morning, first reading before anything else during the season. Secondly, thank you for your wonderful writing during the year and as a lifetime, senior knick fan thoroughly enjoyable. A comment was made below, that if some of the players had played up to their regular season during the playoff, we should've won and I totally agree. I must respectfully still disagree on Barrett. He can be brilliant or he can be mediocre, but I do not think he's the key to the future. On the other hand, I say he's 21 and God knows the potential that can be unlocked so I'd be leery of letting him go. The girl with the curl is clearly Randell . at the same time watching him play when he's brilliant is watching a star that is worth following. I think the answer will come with what type of trades Leon has to look at. I totally disagree about trading I.Q.Maybe something happened when he lost the six man award and he was trying to hard but before Brunson he gave me more joy than any knick in a long time. His bobble head still sits on my shelf. Enjoy the rest of baseball season, even if your loyalty isn't to the Yankees, and your family and thank you again.
Thank you so much Mike. It is my PLEASURE to provide this content, and thank you so much for giving me a reason to spend so much time, energy and thought on it.
I also don't think RJ is THE key to the future, but as you imply, he can be A key.
Amazing, amazing Randle analogy. Going to steal and give you credit.
I still honestly believe that if a few of the guys played close to their regular season level, Julius, IQ, & Grimes, we would have won this series and had great chance to win the East
Thanks Jon, great article to close out the season. Looking forward to all the speculation over the offseason.
Thank you! And same here.
Many thanks, Jonathan, for your coverage to what turned out to be one of the more memorable seasons of my Knickerbocker fanhood. I’m a little down today, which is funny because I called what would happen earlier this week (not that it required any great insight to predict such).
Anyhow, congratulations to both the Knicks and KFS for a resoundingly successful season. The best part about it is that this really feels like more of a beginning than an end. Nice to listen to the sport talk radio in the car on a mid May morning today and hear it dominated by Knick chatter! Even my bride, who has no interest in sports (sans a little bit about football), remarked upon lhearing the talk this morning: “the Knicks were still playing? What’s that all about?” lol
Here’s to a great summer!
You're a wise man Harris! Really appreciate those kind words. Agree this is the beginning.
Cheers to your bride, and the summer ahead!!