20 Comments

Said it before, but it bears repeating. Older fans like myself have been waiting for the next Clyde for decades. Ewing had a HOF career, as did King and Melo. None of them inspired the confidence we had in Walt Frazier in the 4th quarter (granted he had a far greater team around him). I still watch replays of the championship team and yell 'give the ball to Clyde'!

Jalen Brunson is the player we've been waiting for all these years. It's been worth the wait.

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It’s a bit frustrating, that with the arrival of KAT, too many Knick fans (and the media) seem to forget who the engine is that makes this team go. KAT has been excellent and has certainly surpassed my expectations (I was a skeptic regarding the deal), Mikal is finally coming around but his ceiling is a top quality role player and OG is one of the best defenders in the league.

But let’s remember who the is the Knicks’ MVP and maybe the MVP of the league (yes, I am completely biased). That is Jalen Brunson. The irreplaceable one. The Captain. The prince that was promised. The man who turned around the franchise on the court and off.

I think for the most part, this board understands this. But I hear and read too much from “experts” who seem to forget. As long as we have Jalen on the court, we have a chance to beat every team in the league.

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Probably no Poeltl tonight. Praying Olynyk doesn’t hurt KAT

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I like it that Kolek, Hukporti, Dadiet and hopefully one day McCuller are playing in the G League. Smart move on stacking up on young players now who I believe will have an impact sometime soon down the road, especially with their lack of draft picks for the next 5 years or so. And great for Kolek that he won the MVP

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Who shot the New Orleans Pelicans out of a cannon on Saturday night? Looking nothing like one of the worst teams in the NBA, they showed a defensive intensity that was a throwback to the ;90's (And thanks to the refs, were allowed to do so throughout the game!). Coming off the T-Wolves win, there was a great fear that the Knicks would come out sluggish & play to the level of the competition. And, unfortunately, they did! Throughout the first half & start of the 3rd, the game had a very ominous feel! But then...look up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Jalen Brunson! The Captain took it upon himself to right the ship, scoring 29 of his 39 points in the second half. He became a one man wrecking crew & turned a 13 point deficit into a 3 point lead going into the 4th quarter where they never again trailed & won 104-93. KAT was in a purple haze after his Minnesota triumph, getting in early foul trouble & finishing only with 11 points/10 rebounds (he did tie Patrick for 4th on the Knicks All Time list with 17 double/doubles in a row). The unsung hero was Jericho Sims, who in KAT's place, provided solid D & rebounding. All 5 starters scored in double digits, which was a good thing considering the bench contributed all of 6 points! Toronto Raptors tonight at MSG with old friends RJ Barrett (may play, didn't last night due to illness) & IQ (still out to injury). Hopefully, Josh will be able to keep his off color jokes out of the media this time around! lol Congrats to the Westchester Knicks on winning the G League Winter Showcase for the second year in a row & Tyler Kolek for winning the MVP. Welcome back Landry Shamet (We still need to add a big wing)!

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Pels had another outstanding effort for 3 quarters vs Denver last night as well

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During the game on Saturday, I told my wife that Brunson’s performance was Jordanesque. He was unstoppable

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Warranted

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It’s worth noting that the Pels took Denver to overtime last night. They are a fascinating team to watch at the trade deadline. Ingram, Zion storylines. Such a talented team if healthy, particularly since Missi looks like the real deal. They have a couple of wings I’d love (not those two) but I don’t see a match in what we have to give.

I am not quite ready to put Brunson on the Clyde level. Clyde was also a first team defender and a great rebounder. But being in the discussion is an achievement. I am also not willing to say worth the wait. I hope we don’t have to wait 50 years for a worthy successor to JB when that time comes.

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KAT’s first clunker in a while gave JB the chance to remind us how amazing he is. A “Brunson Barrage” as Breen called it served as a warning to the league…he’s starting to find HIS form. The floater seems to be dropping more frequently and his dog seems to be coming out more and more. This team is downright scary in their ceiling as every game we see their defensive connectivity improving and confidence in where each other is going to be crystallizing. These are the fun times.

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Shamet is welcome news. Do we have any idea how he healed from a dislocated shoulder so relatively quickly? I guess it was a mild form. Anyway I’ll feel better when the wings aren’t playing entire second halves but I know some don’t care.

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I think he’s fully healed

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Great news about Shamet. Looking forward to getting back to a 9-man rotation.

And congrats to future backup PG Tyler Kolek for balling out at the Showcase

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I was at the game and both teams were pretty bad, the Knicks being a worse version of themselves and I think the Pels being feisty, young. Trey Murphy III was pretty good. Knicks couldn't hit a bucket. I went by myself and got tickets for $14...nice. Met some really nice people and I thought, If the Pels win I'll be happy for my new friends, and then Brunson happened in the 3rd and it got WEIRD!!! They were just fans of the game and for that 3rd quarter I got to watch something really really fun and toward the end of his barrage, the crowd moaning, and I turned to my new friends with a shrug and we all had a laugh.

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That’s a great story David. Cool moment you got to share.

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I think Jonas said this in a separate comment about Minnesota, but NOP game showed -- again -- that the Knicks can play lockdown defense for spurts. That's a big development. You obviously want to see that for 48 minutes, but if you can keep things close and go on a run with shots eventually falling, we will win most games.

Shamet coming back is a big deal because the minutes aren't sustainable and outright ridiculous. The Hart/Bridges track records are also arguments for why it is ridiculous -- this doesn't last forever, why take these risks for games in December?

re: yesterday's pod

Abolish the DOJ! He's not our issue anymore. Like you and Jeremy literally said, if you don't see that Randle has issues playing consistent winning basketball & being held accountable, you aren't paying attention. Look at this 2 minute montage...from the game AFTER the Knicks: https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1hk5rjb/highlights_julius_randle_effort_film_vs_warriors/

Randle will be remembered much more positively in years to come because of counting stats and accolades, and nostalgia will make us be happy he did choose us & laid a foundation of raising the floor of the franchise with Thibs. But it doesn't mean we have to still defend Julius. The guy limits any contending team's ceiling.

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I’m less concerned with lockdown D for 48 minutes and more interested to see it for like multiple 10-minute spurts against a great offense.

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Lol I had something typed out about the comparison between this game and the Wolves game but you beat me to it!

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If the Knicks enter the new year 23-10, it's going to be euphoria all over again. I don't think it'll happen - and I'd sign for 21-12, honestly - but this is without a doubt the stretch to maximize

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Here's hoping they don't just sit Sims indefinitely.

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