I think there are several reasons why many people really loved last year’s team vs this year’s team. Last year’s team was all spit and sweat, hustle and fight, and what all NY sports fans love and that’s a tough defensive-minded team. But also, that team felt like it had a big future. They were very close to making the ECF despite so many injuries PLUS they had all their assets to still improve the team. So it felt like a beginning.
This year’s team was an offensive juggernaut (at times) but also soft defensively. That is not the nature of a NY team. But also, this team feels more like it’s already baked since they traded almost all of their assets so instead of feeling like there is all this upside, this team is what it is. It won’t be easy to make many changes. So it doesn’t feel like a beginning.
Another reason for last year’s love and this year’s frustration is iHart and Towns. iHart was the MVP of last year’s team right after Jalen. Losing him was a monumental loss. It didn’t need to be if the Knicks went out and picked up a Mark Williams (with health) type player. But instead, they went out and acquired the exact opposite of iHart.
I remember all the newsletters last Summer where Jonathan wrote about the prospect of acquiring Towns. Some of us loved the idea. Others hated it with passion. Towns, unlike iHart could not have played for the sainted Red Holtzman Knicks or Pat Riley Knicks. (It’s still actually a shock that Thibs wanted him, if he did).
What happens next is anyone’s guess. Do they fire Thibs? I doubt it since Brunson seems to be 100% behind him coming back. Do they trade Towns for Durant (salaries match) and go out and get that Mark Williams-type? I doubt it because Phoenix can probably get a decent haul of draft picks for Durant.
My guess is they build the bench; hope Huk can be the center to Towns PF (Robinson will always be limited in minutes due to injuries) and hope Bridges plays like the guy the Knicks thought they were acquiring.
The way we feel is entirely tied to the Bridges trade. We felt comfortable the past 4 years because we had the security of our draft picks.
We were continuously building our house, and had a plot of land to do it. We are no longer building at this point, because we’ve used up all of our land. Instead, we’re in need of renovation (less than a year after we thought we finished the house). It’s an unnerving feeling. We’re now forced to operate within the confines of the physical structure we’ve built, and we have fewer options as a result. It doesn’t mean it cant be done, though.
One more analogy - the Knicks had a runner on second base with nobody out. That’s the dream, because you can score a run without getting a hit. The Knicks failed to get the runner over to third base, but we still have a runner in scoring position. It just will take another hit to do so, and we need Leon to drive in the runner from second.
I’m 74 grew up in the city went to Rice played ball, lived in Inwood, knew Alcindor, Meminger and others. I have seen it all- championships and misses. I have never subscribed to the fire the coach is the answer and detest people that do. I am disappointed in the negative media and really enjoy your work, keep it up. I do love this team but I also loved IQ, Mason and Starks. Just because they didn’t win this year doesn’t mean next year won’t be sweeter. This was one of my favorite teams but no it was not Clyde, Willis and the senator.
I appreciate the perspective here. But I do think a lot of the fan base is too tough on this team. It comes from a variety of factors - the expectations after the two big offseason moves, the fact that these were the “all-in” moves percolating since JB signed and became a star, many people probably didn’t like KAT’s game and reputation pre-trade and the lack of continuity on the team vs. last years team. If you add all of this up and combine it with an almost completely new roster, and it’s going to take time to emotionally attach. We had the honeymoon phase in the beginning, with historic offense and PnR that looked unstoppable but us NY’ers love strong D (Mitch starting the year healthy would have changed the perception of the team from the jump. O Boards and D). No one wanted to give Bridges time to adapt to a completely new role bc we mortgaged 5 first round picks. Then we hit January and 2 big losses to OKC + the narrative around losing to the best teams hits. I personally tried to not buy into that (I believe I have several comments on here comparing it to other teams who struggled against elite teams in reg season in first yr together), but the amount of Knicks fans who didn’t want to buy in from that was significant.
It was just a much different season than anyone could have imagined. And the identity of the team was significantly different than the last 3 years of underdog, O Boards and tough D. So there is an adjustment period. I think it was also difficult to see a coaching staff that has many great qualities, but also incredible inflexibility at maximizing the new roster.
But - the playoff run changed it all. If you’re a big Knicks fan and couldn’t grow to love this team the last 1.5 months then I feel badly for you. Maybe it’s tougher for the old schoolers because they lived through 70/73 and were adults during the Ewing years (I was just a kid). The KAT takeover Game 4 in DET was a Knicks moment. The Brunson series clinching 3 Game 6. He is our Ewing. Then the Boston series. The team stole our hearts. The city was ready to explode.
Then the Indiana series brings back some of the negative experiences from the 82 game roller coaster. The expectations were back - favorites to win the East. Weaknesses of a completely new core in their first season together are exposed by a master in Rick Carlisle. This is a long winded way of saying there is love for this team from many of us. But there will always be the slight disappointment of not reaching where we know it could have been.
The view from 35,000 feet tells me that there is much to believe in with this group. Through all these ups and downs, they still took down the defending champs. They still got 2 wins away from the finals. And they still haven’t maximized their roster. The Knicks have solidified themselves as a perennial contender in the NBA. We haven’t been able to say that this century. I do not envy Leon Rose’s position this summer. But there is no reason not to love and be excited about the 2025-26 Knicks + appreciate this season for something many of us experienced for the first time in our adult lives.
This may be the best newsletter you have ever wrote . Absolutely perfect capturing the feeling I and many other Knicks fans felt all season! Let’s hope for a good off-season! (I don’t even know what a “good off-season” is though tbh lol)
It has to be put in perspective that the New York Knicks are actually contenders, imperfect but still capable. This team was a teenager, have all the potential in the world but constantly making maddening decisions.
I am probably in the minority but I want to run it back, Mitch remains starter and Hart for 6th man of the year. Cheers to the most successful season in forever, cheers to this newsletter for encapsulating the quirky ride.
Even if Mitch was to remain fully healthy, I think the Knicks still need another rotation big they can rely on. I think they need the option of not playing KAT at the 5 at all.
I think it is that simple, the east will come down to Indiana and NY again barring major injuries next season. Mitch doesn’t need to play 35 minutes a game and Hart can produce a similar statistical performance off the bench. Clean up the obvious and develop the bench, if they can’t do it then make wholesale changes after next season
I'm with you on Mitch but I have serious concerns about Josh being the same player. The dude just turned 30 and his entire game is dependent on grit. He gets banged up more than ever and honestly his defense regressed all season long. Not saying he's not a key part of this team, but at 20-25 minutes per game, the days of 35 minutes plus need to be over.
It’s not that simple. It never is. Mitch plays how many games before we say, “ I knew he’d get hurt, hoe could Leon not move him when he had value”. Does Hart bring the offensive boost 6th men bring? This won’t be easy
Amazing piece! This team has bipolar disorder. I think a lot of it was caused by the roster not fitting Thibs. Thibs and towns didn’t work the first time in Minny why would it work here? Towns is simply not a guy who is going to hustle and play great defense. If the plan is to move forward with Brunson and Towns they need a coach who will enhance their offensive efficiency since the defense won’t be there.
0-4 Boston. 0-4 Cleveland. 0-2 OKC,Golden State, The Lakers. An entire season of nothing whenever you’d be hyped to see where the team actually was. Excited to see them grow into a TEAM. They never had it. Worse, they often came out flat. How do you love that.
DJ was absolutely right, “ a flawed team capable of great moments “. You can love a ream like that, except when the flaw is the chronic, pervasive, maddeningly inconsistency of both intensity and performance. Game 5 against the Pacers was the team we love firing on all cylinders. Game six was this teams reality. I challenge you to find the two games in a row this season with the intensity/performance of game 5, let alone find a streak of them. Did they string wins in a row? Yes. How many were the ugly Washington,New Orleans type. Hard to love a team like that.
Two observations. In scouting linebackers pro scouts use a phrase “ playing in space”. Can he defend and play in space? KAT would never be drafted in the NFL
Secondly, I’ve been attending Knick games since 1960. We took pride in being known as an insightful, knowledgeable crowd. As our lead and season was dissipating before our eyes in the closing moments in game 1 against Indiana, Garden Vision is showing Knicks fans, in full regalia, mugging it up for the camera, “ look at me, I’m on tv”. Sickening.
I love that last part. It's a sign of the times. I watch out of market games all the time where they show the in-arena feed and fans of the home team in the midst of a collapse are just so delighted to be on screen. Or they want their free t-shirt. Maddening. We're doomed.
As to the playoffs remember both Porzingis and Holiday were shells of themselves. They played great in both game 4 and 6. The first two wins in Boston were payback from the basketball gods for some good deed we probably did as kids. On a whole they displayed the same madding inconsistency they exhibited all year. That’s my gripe. Why isn’t there the intensity and performance on a night in night out basis.
If the Knicks can learn to bring that intensity and performance every night, they will be true championship contenders. Either they'll get there or they won't and there will be changes made. I don't know, I think seeing that play over the next few years is exciting, but I get that it's maddening, especially when Josh or KAT make a backbreaking turnover or KAT makes a bone-headed defensive play.
On the bright side, if we had advanced to play OKC we might have set a record for most turnovers in a series.
Smart, tough, dependable. We failed all three. Dependable was well discussed in the newsletter. There were spurts of tough and persistence, but often we awarded toughness points because they were successful in digging out of self inflicted holes.
Smart was glaringly missing. To me, the story of the series was not Game 1, but unforced errors that led to lots of Pacers points. Some of that was uncharacteristic (I’m looking at you Josh and Jalen) and some of it has been the troubling case for ten years (Kat). And some caused by what I think is their greatest need on offense, a second creator.
Jalen’s great footwork that produces shots against taller defenders and double teams is not useful at creating passes. And we have no other creator passers except Kolek and he can’t play with JB.
The best answer would be to find that creation in a forward but those are hard to find- Joker, Lebron, Jimmy Butler and Julius come to mind. But they are not coming to the Knicks.
Maybe a shooting guard like Booker, who has also played point. But again, a difficult get.
I won’t comment much on the defense. We know who the weak links are and Brunson is not going anywhere. Reports that Kat did not communicate or carry out his assignments on that end of the court are very believable to me.
It is early for mock trades (though I have started looking).
Now for a major digression as I roll back the clock to make myself feel a little better about the season ending. for me the two biggest reasons I did not fall in love with this team were IQ and defense. Those 70 and 73 Knicks Jon referenced remain the smartest team I ever saw. I think partly because they had all played other positions. DeBusschere had been a point guard and player coach for the Pistons (youngest coach ever). Bradley was a guard before moving to small forward (not to mention a Rhodes Scholar). Willis Reed was a power forward before moving to Center. They were all undersized for their positions and often overmatched physically but made up for it with smarts and toughness (as well as guards like Frazier who averaged 7.3 rebounds a game as the point guard during the 73 championship season and Monroe who had played center in college). Maybe I will watch some reruns of them to make myself feel better.
Love? The infatuation stage of puppy love that comes from something new and exciting. When that is allowed to grow, a first love can blossom organically while being nurtured and encouraged. True love developed over time, through the test of trials and tribulations will emerge. A forever love evolves with understanding, maturity and acceptance of each other’s flaws. Love is not perfect and isn’t for the weak, because it’s not always instant gratification. Love is blind. Love is patience.
We never had to worry about last year's team being unserious, which is a word that's been used to describe this year's team on more than one occasion.
The Jekyll/Hyde act got old, especially because you knew the team wasn't playing to its full potential. Whether that's more on coaching or the players, it was frustrating because you knew the team was capable of more. It was hard for me to get *too* excited ahead of Game 6 because I had no idea what team was gonna show up.
That's why Game 1 hurt me so much. This team did the one thing it was built to do: beat Boston. And they did it in such a way I started to believe that maybe something clicked at the right time. For 45 minutes, it looked like I was right and then the end of that game happened. I emotionally checked out after that.
I find it quite alarming that a team coached by Tom Thibodeau found it necessary to have multiple players only meetings *during the playoffs* to discuss the importance of playing seriously. That tells me something was really off. The benefit of having Thibs as coach is you're gonna be super prepared and play hard for 48 minutes. Intensity on every possession. But that wasn't true this year. If it was, there's no way they blow Game 1 like they did. I don't know if Thibs' message to the team wasn't landing or what. They need to figure out what went wrong there this summer.
And still, that they made it this far despite whatever chemistry issues and locker room stuff was going on is a testament to everything this organization has built. If we can just be serious all year next season, we can go all the way.
I'm as guilty of this as anyone, but I think we as Knicks fans would rather win 97-93 than 121-117. We love the Grit and Grind more than the high scoring flash.
Trust takes more than a year to build. I love this team. I cant wait to root for them again, with Tyler Kolek as the backup PG and Hukporti backing up Center!
Jon, totally agree with your thoughts in this newsletter. There is just something about this team that I had trouble connecting with all season - and I think you are right - it was the inconsistency and not knowing what to expect night to night.
I knew there would be ups and downs with KAT, he’s always been a polarizing player, but I expected more consistency out of Bridges. It felt like Thibs never really figured out how to get the most out of him this year - he was always too much of an afterthought rather than a true third option. I actually felt like OG was given more of an opportunity to play the role on offense that would have been better suited for Bridges. Whatever the reason, it just felt like something with the mix of this team never fit.
I do think the one thing you missed in the newsletter is how much this team, and the fan base, missed Divencenzo. He brought so much heart, and delivered in some huge moments. He brought an eff you attitude to the team that they seemed to lack this year. I also think they sorely missed his ball handling and shooting, especially in the Indiana series. I wish there was a way they could have done the KAT trade while holding on to Donte, but they didn’t really have many other options.
100% on Donte...I didn't mention him specifically because it felt like once I-Hart left, the magic sauce was gone, and it made them all the more comfortable moving Donte because in for a penny, in for a pound.
I wrote about Leon Rose last week & the word I used was impatience. Impatience to get to the ECF. Impatience to get to The Finals. After last season where the words "if only" & "maybe" were predominant after the Game #7 loss, most Knicks fans had a committed love for the 2024-25 incarnation of the team. Then shortly after the Fourth of July, fireworks started with the trade for Mikal Bridges. There had always been talk about maybe one day reuniting all 4 Nova players, but I don't believe anyone saw this coming. Certainly not with the Knicks giving up 5 1st round draft picks. Were we getting the Phoenix or Brooklyn edition? But, in Leon we trusted, so he became the missing link added to this team. But, we still heard a lot of talk about Leon having conversations with Utah about Walker Kessler, who would give us a strong defensive presence in the middle & could eventually be paired up with Mitch as a two-headed monster. The only problem there was Danny Ainge & his outrageous demands for players. So, we hoped for, but didn't have high hopes that it would come to fruition!
Then, on October 2nd, came the trade that rocked the Knicks. KAT acquired, Randle & DDV gone! Most Knicks fans were flabbergasted by this move. Had we acquired the softest big man in the NBA? ( I took back my soft label for KAT on the physical end, but am more convinced than ever, that it fits the mental part!) Again, Impatient Leon struck. I don't know about most of you, but I was content for the center spot to be manned by Randle/Sims while we waited for Mitch's return. And, with the possibility of adding another big man somewhere down the road (We never did!)!
No need to recap the regular season/playoffs, as we all know the result. Many on social media are just happy we made it to the ECF. First time in 25 years, Whoopie Damn Do! I just keep thinking about if we had kept the 2024-25 team intact (minus IHart, yes I know, a big piece) with only the Bridges addition & maybe adding another big man. Now, as we go into the off season, the 2 major questions are Thibs & KAT, Well, to my dismay, Thibs isn't going anywhere. His extension kicks in this year & he has the backing of Leon & JB. Only Dolan stands in the way & he has complete faith in Leon! KAT, the highest paid player on the roster ($53+ million, $14 million more than OG) and the reason the word enigma was created. Do I want him back next season? No,No,No! I keep reading that after a year of adjustment, he'll be a better player & understand the Knicks system better? Really? He's a 10 year vet, he's not changing anything. Why do you think the T-Wolves traded for Gobert? But, because Impatient Leon made the moves he did last season, the ability to correct his mistake(s) aren't very good. If they stand pat & maybe add a couple of low priced vets (Chris Paul?), I fear we'll be back here lamenting the same things next season. I still wonder what Leon was thinking when he added KAT. He had to know that by doing so, 40% of his starting lineup would be defensively deficient. Yet he impatiently did it! SMH
Jon, my choice for a song would have been Springsteen's (who else would I choose? lol) Your Own Worst Enemy. "Your own worst enemy has come to town. Everything is falling down. Your own worst enemy has come to town, Your flag, it flew so high. It drifted into the sky." So, more of the same next season or drastic changes? Now is the time to continue to be impatient Leon! LGK!
I think what made this team hard to love was everything you mentioned, Jon, but also the expectations that came with the "all-in" moves (I think we still have moves we can make, but that's how they were talked about). Last year's Knicks were easy to love, because just as the expectations were building in January, the rug was pulled out from under those expectations in the form of injuries to Randle and OG. They battled and scrapped and did more than we ever felt was possible after Randle was ruled out for the season. This year's team was saddled with far higher expectations and for the most part they actually met them, but left the unsettling feeling that there was meat on the bone. For most teams in the league, this would be viewed as a successful first year for the roster remake with some obvious, easy areas of improvement. Leon Rose and co clearly have some tough decisions to make, but I have little doubt next year's team will be better. I'm kind of mystified at all the people who are so angry and upset about the best year this franchise has had in a quarter century. This team is set up for a multi-year run and there will be options to pivot away from one or more of the starters, if needed. This is the good stuff, folks. Take a step back and try to enjoy it. That pain you feel is hopes dashed. Things can get far, far worse. Like having no hopes.
I think there are several reasons why many people really loved last year’s team vs this year’s team. Last year’s team was all spit and sweat, hustle and fight, and what all NY sports fans love and that’s a tough defensive-minded team. But also, that team felt like it had a big future. They were very close to making the ECF despite so many injuries PLUS they had all their assets to still improve the team. So it felt like a beginning.
This year’s team was an offensive juggernaut (at times) but also soft defensively. That is not the nature of a NY team. But also, this team feels more like it’s already baked since they traded almost all of their assets so instead of feeling like there is all this upside, this team is what it is. It won’t be easy to make many changes. So it doesn’t feel like a beginning.
Another reason for last year’s love and this year’s frustration is iHart and Towns. iHart was the MVP of last year’s team right after Jalen. Losing him was a monumental loss. It didn’t need to be if the Knicks went out and picked up a Mark Williams (with health) type player. But instead, they went out and acquired the exact opposite of iHart.
I remember all the newsletters last Summer where Jonathan wrote about the prospect of acquiring Towns. Some of us loved the idea. Others hated it with passion. Towns, unlike iHart could not have played for the sainted Red Holtzman Knicks or Pat Riley Knicks. (It’s still actually a shock that Thibs wanted him, if he did).
What happens next is anyone’s guess. Do they fire Thibs? I doubt it since Brunson seems to be 100% behind him coming back. Do they trade Towns for Durant (salaries match) and go out and get that Mark Williams-type? I doubt it because Phoenix can probably get a decent haul of draft picks for Durant.
My guess is they build the bench; hope Huk can be the center to Towns PF (Robinson will always be limited in minutes due to injuries) and hope Bridges plays like the guy the Knicks thought they were acquiring.
Boy, was I wrong about Thibs.
You’re so good at this, Jon. lol
The way we feel is entirely tied to the Bridges trade. We felt comfortable the past 4 years because we had the security of our draft picks.
We were continuously building our house, and had a plot of land to do it. We are no longer building at this point, because we’ve used up all of our land. Instead, we’re in need of renovation (less than a year after we thought we finished the house). It’s an unnerving feeling. We’re now forced to operate within the confines of the physical structure we’ve built, and we have fewer options as a result. It doesn’t mean it cant be done, though.
One more analogy - the Knicks had a runner on second base with nobody out. That’s the dream, because you can score a run without getting a hit. The Knicks failed to get the runner over to third base, but we still have a runner in scoring position. It just will take another hit to do so, and we need Leon to drive in the runner from second.
I like the baseball analogy
I’m 74 grew up in the city went to Rice played ball, lived in Inwood, knew Alcindor, Meminger and others. I have seen it all- championships and misses. I have never subscribed to the fire the coach is the answer and detest people that do. I am disappointed in the negative media and really enjoy your work, keep it up. I do love this team but I also loved IQ, Mason and Starks. Just because they didn’t win this year doesn’t mean next year won’t be sweeter. This was one of my favorite teams but no it was not Clyde, Willis and the senator.
I appreciate the perspective here. But I do think a lot of the fan base is too tough on this team. It comes from a variety of factors - the expectations after the two big offseason moves, the fact that these were the “all-in” moves percolating since JB signed and became a star, many people probably didn’t like KAT’s game and reputation pre-trade and the lack of continuity on the team vs. last years team. If you add all of this up and combine it with an almost completely new roster, and it’s going to take time to emotionally attach. We had the honeymoon phase in the beginning, with historic offense and PnR that looked unstoppable but us NY’ers love strong D (Mitch starting the year healthy would have changed the perception of the team from the jump. O Boards and D). No one wanted to give Bridges time to adapt to a completely new role bc we mortgaged 5 first round picks. Then we hit January and 2 big losses to OKC + the narrative around losing to the best teams hits. I personally tried to not buy into that (I believe I have several comments on here comparing it to other teams who struggled against elite teams in reg season in first yr together), but the amount of Knicks fans who didn’t want to buy in from that was significant.
It was just a much different season than anyone could have imagined. And the identity of the team was significantly different than the last 3 years of underdog, O Boards and tough D. So there is an adjustment period. I think it was also difficult to see a coaching staff that has many great qualities, but also incredible inflexibility at maximizing the new roster.
But - the playoff run changed it all. If you’re a big Knicks fan and couldn’t grow to love this team the last 1.5 months then I feel badly for you. Maybe it’s tougher for the old schoolers because they lived through 70/73 and were adults during the Ewing years (I was just a kid). The KAT takeover Game 4 in DET was a Knicks moment. The Brunson series clinching 3 Game 6. He is our Ewing. Then the Boston series. The team stole our hearts. The city was ready to explode.
Then the Indiana series brings back some of the negative experiences from the 82 game roller coaster. The expectations were back - favorites to win the East. Weaknesses of a completely new core in their first season together are exposed by a master in Rick Carlisle. This is a long winded way of saying there is love for this team from many of us. But there will always be the slight disappointment of not reaching where we know it could have been.
The view from 35,000 feet tells me that there is much to believe in with this group. Through all these ups and downs, they still took down the defending champs. They still got 2 wins away from the finals. And they still haven’t maximized their roster. The Knicks have solidified themselves as a perennial contender in the NBA. We haven’t been able to say that this century. I do not envy Leon Rose’s position this summer. But there is no reason not to love and be excited about the 2025-26 Knicks + appreciate this season for something many of us experienced for the first time in our adult lives.
This may be the best newsletter you have ever wrote . Absolutely perfect capturing the feeling I and many other Knicks fans felt all season! Let’s hope for a good off-season! (I don’t even know what a “good off-season” is though tbh lol)
Wow...thank you Dan. Really appreciate that.
It has to be put in perspective that the New York Knicks are actually contenders, imperfect but still capable. This team was a teenager, have all the potential in the world but constantly making maddening decisions.
I am probably in the minority but I want to run it back, Mitch remains starter and Hart for 6th man of the year. Cheers to the most successful season in forever, cheers to this newsletter for encapsulating the quirky ride.
Mitch plays an average of 48 games a season. I can’t see depending upon him at all. At best, he’s now a 15-17m player.
Even if Mitch was to remain fully healthy, I think the Knicks still need another rotation big they can rely on. I think they need the option of not playing KAT at the 5 at all.
I think Hukporti can take 10 minutes from Mitch and be very effective.
Completely agree!
I think it is that simple, the east will come down to Indiana and NY again barring major injuries next season. Mitch doesn’t need to play 35 minutes a game and Hart can produce a similar statistical performance off the bench. Clean up the obvious and develop the bench, if they can’t do it then make wholesale changes after next season
I'm with you on Mitch but I have serious concerns about Josh being the same player. The dude just turned 30 and his entire game is dependent on grit. He gets banged up more than ever and honestly his defense regressed all season long. Not saying he's not a key part of this team, but at 20-25 minutes per game, the days of 35 minutes plus need to be over.
It’s not that simple. It never is. Mitch plays how many games before we say, “ I knew he’d get hurt, hoe could Leon not move him when he had value”. Does Hart bring the offensive boost 6th men bring? This won’t be easy
Amazing piece! This team has bipolar disorder. I think a lot of it was caused by the roster not fitting Thibs. Thibs and towns didn’t work the first time in Minny why would it work here? Towns is simply not a guy who is going to hustle and play great defense. If the plan is to move forward with Brunson and Towns they need a coach who will enhance their offensive efficiency since the defense won’t be there.
0-4 Boston. 0-4 Cleveland. 0-2 OKC,Golden State, The Lakers. An entire season of nothing whenever you’d be hyped to see where the team actually was. Excited to see them grow into a TEAM. They never had it. Worse, they often came out flat. How do you love that.
DJ was absolutely right, “ a flawed team capable of great moments “. You can love a ream like that, except when the flaw is the chronic, pervasive, maddeningly inconsistency of both intensity and performance. Game 5 against the Pacers was the team we love firing on all cylinders. Game six was this teams reality. I challenge you to find the two games in a row this season with the intensity/performance of game 5, let alone find a streak of them. Did they string wins in a row? Yes. How many were the ugly Washington,New Orleans type. Hard to love a team like that.
Two observations. In scouting linebackers pro scouts use a phrase “ playing in space”. Can he defend and play in space? KAT would never be drafted in the NFL
Secondly, I’ve been attending Knick games since 1960. We took pride in being known as an insightful, knowledgeable crowd. As our lead and season was dissipating before our eyes in the closing moments in game 1 against Indiana, Garden Vision is showing Knicks fans, in full regalia, mugging it up for the camera, “ look at me, I’m on tv”. Sickening.
I love that last part. It's a sign of the times. I watch out of market games all the time where they show the in-arena feed and fans of the home team in the midst of a collapse are just so delighted to be on screen. Or they want their free t-shirt. Maddening. We're doomed.
I seem to remember them beating Boston a few times
As to the playoffs remember both Porzingis and Holiday were shells of themselves. They played great in both game 4 and 6. The first two wins in Boston were payback from the basketball gods for some good deed we probably did as kids. On a whole they displayed the same madding inconsistency they exhibited all year. That’s my gripe. Why isn’t there the intensity and performance on a night in night out basis.
If the Knicks can learn to bring that intensity and performance every night, they will be true championship contenders. Either they'll get there or they won't and there will be changes made. I don't know, I think seeing that play over the next few years is exciting, but I get that it's maddening, especially when Josh or KAT make a backbreaking turnover or KAT makes a bone-headed defensive play.
On the bright side, if we had advanced to play OKC we might have set a record for most turnovers in a series.
Smart, tough, dependable. We failed all three. Dependable was well discussed in the newsletter. There were spurts of tough and persistence, but often we awarded toughness points because they were successful in digging out of self inflicted holes.
Smart was glaringly missing. To me, the story of the series was not Game 1, but unforced errors that led to lots of Pacers points. Some of that was uncharacteristic (I’m looking at you Josh and Jalen) and some of it has been the troubling case for ten years (Kat). And some caused by what I think is their greatest need on offense, a second creator.
Jalen’s great footwork that produces shots against taller defenders and double teams is not useful at creating passes. And we have no other creator passers except Kolek and he can’t play with JB.
The best answer would be to find that creation in a forward but those are hard to find- Joker, Lebron, Jimmy Butler and Julius come to mind. But they are not coming to the Knicks.
Maybe a shooting guard like Booker, who has also played point. But again, a difficult get.
I won’t comment much on the defense. We know who the weak links are and Brunson is not going anywhere. Reports that Kat did not communicate or carry out his assignments on that end of the court are very believable to me.
It is early for mock trades (though I have started looking).
Now for a major digression as I roll back the clock to make myself feel a little better about the season ending. for me the two biggest reasons I did not fall in love with this team were IQ and defense. Those 70 and 73 Knicks Jon referenced remain the smartest team I ever saw. I think partly because they had all played other positions. DeBusschere had been a point guard and player coach for the Pistons (youngest coach ever). Bradley was a guard before moving to small forward (not to mention a Rhodes Scholar). Willis Reed was a power forward before moving to Center. They were all undersized for their positions and often overmatched physically but made up for it with smarts and toughness (as well as guards like Frazier who averaged 7.3 rebounds a game as the point guard during the 73 championship season and Monroe who had played center in college). Maybe I will watch some reruns of them to make myself feel better.
Beautiful piece about a beautiful time for the Knicks. It didn’t hurt that we were young, hopeful and the world was still all in front of us.
Love? The infatuation stage of puppy love that comes from something new and exciting. When that is allowed to grow, a first love can blossom organically while being nurtured and encouraged. True love developed over time, through the test of trials and tribulations will emerge. A forever love evolves with understanding, maturity and acceptance of each other’s flaws. Love is not perfect and isn’t for the weak, because it’s not always instant gratification. Love is blind. Love is patience.
I don't expect I can get there. I need more NEW YORK TOUGHNESS.
Me too.
Tough love is letting them learn from their mistakes and is sometimes the best way to learn.
Beautiful
We never had to worry about last year's team being unserious, which is a word that's been used to describe this year's team on more than one occasion.
The Jekyll/Hyde act got old, especially because you knew the team wasn't playing to its full potential. Whether that's more on coaching or the players, it was frustrating because you knew the team was capable of more. It was hard for me to get *too* excited ahead of Game 6 because I had no idea what team was gonna show up.
That's why Game 1 hurt me so much. This team did the one thing it was built to do: beat Boston. And they did it in such a way I started to believe that maybe something clicked at the right time. For 45 minutes, it looked like I was right and then the end of that game happened. I emotionally checked out after that.
I find it quite alarming that a team coached by Tom Thibodeau found it necessary to have multiple players only meetings *during the playoffs* to discuss the importance of playing seriously. That tells me something was really off. The benefit of having Thibs as coach is you're gonna be super prepared and play hard for 48 minutes. Intensity on every possession. But that wasn't true this year. If it was, there's no way they blow Game 1 like they did. I don't know if Thibs' message to the team wasn't landing or what. They need to figure out what went wrong there this summer.
And still, that they made it this far despite whatever chemistry issues and locker room stuff was going on is a testament to everything this organization has built. If we can just be serious all year next season, we can go all the way.
I'm as guilty of this as anyone, but I think we as Knicks fans would rather win 97-93 than 121-117. We love the Grit and Grind more than the high scoring flash.
Trust takes more than a year to build. I love this team. I cant wait to root for them again, with Tyler Kolek as the backup PG and Hukporti backing up Center!
Jon, totally agree with your thoughts in this newsletter. There is just something about this team that I had trouble connecting with all season - and I think you are right - it was the inconsistency and not knowing what to expect night to night.
I knew there would be ups and downs with KAT, he’s always been a polarizing player, but I expected more consistency out of Bridges. It felt like Thibs never really figured out how to get the most out of him this year - he was always too much of an afterthought rather than a true third option. I actually felt like OG was given more of an opportunity to play the role on offense that would have been better suited for Bridges. Whatever the reason, it just felt like something with the mix of this team never fit.
I do think the one thing you missed in the newsletter is how much this team, and the fan base, missed Divencenzo. He brought so much heart, and delivered in some huge moments. He brought an eff you attitude to the team that they seemed to lack this year. I also think they sorely missed his ball handling and shooting, especially in the Indiana series. I wish there was a way they could have done the KAT trade while holding on to Donte, but they didn’t really have many other options.
100% on Donte...I didn't mention him specifically because it felt like once I-Hart left, the magic sauce was gone, and it made them all the more comfortable moving Donte because in for a penny, in for a pound.
Thank you for mentioning Donte.
Yep, we miss you, Big Ragu.
I wrote about Leon Rose last week & the word I used was impatience. Impatience to get to the ECF. Impatience to get to The Finals. After last season where the words "if only" & "maybe" were predominant after the Game #7 loss, most Knicks fans had a committed love for the 2024-25 incarnation of the team. Then shortly after the Fourth of July, fireworks started with the trade for Mikal Bridges. There had always been talk about maybe one day reuniting all 4 Nova players, but I don't believe anyone saw this coming. Certainly not with the Knicks giving up 5 1st round draft picks. Were we getting the Phoenix or Brooklyn edition? But, in Leon we trusted, so he became the missing link added to this team. But, we still heard a lot of talk about Leon having conversations with Utah about Walker Kessler, who would give us a strong defensive presence in the middle & could eventually be paired up with Mitch as a two-headed monster. The only problem there was Danny Ainge & his outrageous demands for players. So, we hoped for, but didn't have high hopes that it would come to fruition!
Then, on October 2nd, came the trade that rocked the Knicks. KAT acquired, Randle & DDV gone! Most Knicks fans were flabbergasted by this move. Had we acquired the softest big man in the NBA? ( I took back my soft label for KAT on the physical end, but am more convinced than ever, that it fits the mental part!) Again, Impatient Leon struck. I don't know about most of you, but I was content for the center spot to be manned by Randle/Sims while we waited for Mitch's return. And, with the possibility of adding another big man somewhere down the road (We never did!)!
No need to recap the regular season/playoffs, as we all know the result. Many on social media are just happy we made it to the ECF. First time in 25 years, Whoopie Damn Do! I just keep thinking about if we had kept the 2024-25 team intact (minus IHart, yes I know, a big piece) with only the Bridges addition & maybe adding another big man. Now, as we go into the off season, the 2 major questions are Thibs & KAT, Well, to my dismay, Thibs isn't going anywhere. His extension kicks in this year & he has the backing of Leon & JB. Only Dolan stands in the way & he has complete faith in Leon! KAT, the highest paid player on the roster ($53+ million, $14 million more than OG) and the reason the word enigma was created. Do I want him back next season? No,No,No! I keep reading that after a year of adjustment, he'll be a better player & understand the Knicks system better? Really? He's a 10 year vet, he's not changing anything. Why do you think the T-Wolves traded for Gobert? But, because Impatient Leon made the moves he did last season, the ability to correct his mistake(s) aren't very good. If they stand pat & maybe add a couple of low priced vets (Chris Paul?), I fear we'll be back here lamenting the same things next season. I still wonder what Leon was thinking when he added KAT. He had to know that by doing so, 40% of his starting lineup would be defensively deficient. Yet he impatiently did it! SMH
Jon, my choice for a song would have been Springsteen's (who else would I choose? lol) Your Own Worst Enemy. "Your own worst enemy has come to town. Everything is falling down. Your own worst enemy has come to town, Your flag, it flew so high. It drifted into the sky." So, more of the same next season or drastic changes? Now is the time to continue to be impatient Leon! LGK!
I think what made this team hard to love was everything you mentioned, Jon, but also the expectations that came with the "all-in" moves (I think we still have moves we can make, but that's how they were talked about). Last year's Knicks were easy to love, because just as the expectations were building in January, the rug was pulled out from under those expectations in the form of injuries to Randle and OG. They battled and scrapped and did more than we ever felt was possible after Randle was ruled out for the season. This year's team was saddled with far higher expectations and for the most part they actually met them, but left the unsettling feeling that there was meat on the bone. For most teams in the league, this would be viewed as a successful first year for the roster remake with some obvious, easy areas of improvement. Leon Rose and co clearly have some tough decisions to make, but I have little doubt next year's team will be better. I'm kind of mystified at all the people who are so angry and upset about the best year this franchise has had in a quarter century. This team is set up for a multi-year run and there will be options to pivot away from one or more of the starters, if needed. This is the good stuff, folks. Take a step back and try to enjoy it. That pain you feel is hopes dashed. Things can get far, far worse. Like having no hopes.
Expectations were 100% a massive part of it.