Obviously they didn't know what Randle would be when they drafted Obi, but now he is blocking Obi. Maybe they overplayed their hand this summer by holding out for a better return on Randle, IDK, but the worst possible outcome is having them both on the roster for the entire season.
Until the Lakers move Westbrook, there's always a possibility of making a move there, but the chances of that happening are dwindling.
Hey Mac great work as always. I have a question Id like to pose. Do you see any parallels between the Crowder-Cam & the Fourn-Grimes situation?
Wouldn’t it make more sense that since we the NYK, aren’t* contending we would take a shot to run Grimes out there and see what we got; juxtaposed to the Suns who are contending-should would want to run Crowder out there (not Cam) since they are shooting for a chip right now?
Its frustrating that the Suns are employing a development strategy (knowing Crowder is going to be a FA influences their approach as well) while the Knicks are in a “mediocre now” team building approach.
Jon - another good article. But rather than high floor / low season, you could say great regular season coach and proven playoff loser. The playoffs are about making adjustments.
Since Thibs says he watches the games, do you think he watched the playoffs? Or do you think he just endlessly rewatches the Knicks games game on loop to confirm yep, he made the right decisions last year? No need for any new ideas?
Does he know that our new PG Jalen Brunson played for the Dallas Mavericks who employed a small ball lineup most of the time in the playoffs? Did he watch the NBA finals where the Warriors and Celtics played large stretches of the games with a small ball lineup without a traditional center? Does he envisage the Knicks making the playoffs? And if so, does he actually want to have a hope of winning any playoff series? Shouldn't he have a contingency plan if his traditional center / drop coverage / rim protection strategy team can't defend against 5 out small ball lineups?
This year playing Obi with Randle isn’t a “no brainer” last year particularly after the first month of the season it was. The team was struggling: The starters were terrible, Mitch was out shape, Noel was banged up/is close to useless at times when healthy, Gibson was his serviceable self, and Obi Toppin was dunking his way to 20 and 10 per 36 with one of the best Net Ratings in the league. On paper he was also the one guy that could help Randle get easier buckets. The team wasn’t hitting a high floor or close. Thibs didn’t adjust.
Tom decided long ago what he thinks the best way to achieve is. He does not see the need to adjust when confronted with context or personal that appears better served with different methods. He just blames execution. He had plenty of chances to prove us wrong here. He failed. His arrogance the other day just underscores that. “We are happy with Obi’s development, it’s not something we used a lot in the past, but we are open to all possibilities entering camp” would have been the of answer a less arrogant coach would have given but Thibs thinks he’s the star.
He needs to go. If Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson don’t come out playing like all stars this is likely to get ugly. I will not be surprised by Larry Brown levels of spectacle leading up to his departure.
Obviously they didn't know what Randle would be when they drafted Obi, but now he is blocking Obi. Maybe they overplayed their hand this summer by holding out for a better return on Randle, IDK, but the worst possible outcome is having them both on the roster for the entire season.
Until the Lakers move Westbrook, there's always a possibility of making a move there, but the chances of that happening are dwindling.
Hey Mac great work as always. I have a question Id like to pose. Do you see any parallels between the Crowder-Cam & the Fourn-Grimes situation?
Wouldn’t it make more sense that since we the NYK, aren’t* contending we would take a shot to run Grimes out there and see what we got; juxtaposed to the Suns who are contending-should would want to run Crowder out there (not Cam) since they are shooting for a chip right now?
Its frustrating that the Suns are employing a development strategy (knowing Crowder is going to be a FA influences their approach as well) while the Knicks are in a “mediocre now” team building approach.
Cheers to another season of mediocrity purgatory.
Jon - another good article. But rather than high floor / low season, you could say great regular season coach and proven playoff loser. The playoffs are about making adjustments.
Since Thibs says he watches the games, do you think he watched the playoffs? Or do you think he just endlessly rewatches the Knicks games game on loop to confirm yep, he made the right decisions last year? No need for any new ideas?
Does he know that our new PG Jalen Brunson played for the Dallas Mavericks who employed a small ball lineup most of the time in the playoffs? Did he watch the NBA finals where the Warriors and Celtics played large stretches of the games with a small ball lineup without a traditional center? Does he envisage the Knicks making the playoffs? And if so, does he actually want to have a hope of winning any playoff series? Shouldn't he have a contingency plan if his traditional center / drop coverage / rim protection strategy team can't defend against 5 out small ball lineups?
This year playing Obi with Randle isn’t a “no brainer” last year particularly after the first month of the season it was. The team was struggling: The starters were terrible, Mitch was out shape, Noel was banged up/is close to useless at times when healthy, Gibson was his serviceable self, and Obi Toppin was dunking his way to 20 and 10 per 36 with one of the best Net Ratings in the league. On paper he was also the one guy that could help Randle get easier buckets. The team wasn’t hitting a high floor or close. Thibs didn’t adjust.
Tom decided long ago what he thinks the best way to achieve is. He does not see the need to adjust when confronted with context or personal that appears better served with different methods. He just blames execution. He had plenty of chances to prove us wrong here. He failed. His arrogance the other day just underscores that. “We are happy with Obi’s development, it’s not something we used a lot in the past, but we are open to all possibilities entering camp” would have been the of answer a less arrogant coach would have given but Thibs thinks he’s the star.
He needs to go. If Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson don’t come out playing like all stars this is likely to get ugly. I will not be surprised by Larry Brown levels of spectacle leading up to his departure.