There’s been a lot of talk about how “this has to be one of the worst 50 win seasons ever”. I think that being consistently good is just new to us and we should all take a deep breath (me included).
There are countless 50 win teams that aren’t real contenders or feel disappointing. The Lakers are a 50 win team that nobody thinks will win the championship. Rockets too. Last year the Suns won 48 and nobody was shocked they got swept out of the playoffs.
I think most of our collective anxiety is tied to our future flexibility, which we still have, albeit to a different extent. Whereas we used to be flush with movable picks, now we’re flush with movable talent.
Trying to talk myself into being rational over the next few weeks.
I'd be pleased to get past the pistons. However we need one of Dadiet or McCullers in the rotation next year for 3 and D with some size. We have no draft picks so it is these two or some free agent to be named.
Trying to keep things positive and big picture. The idea all along this year has been proof of concept, see what works, what doesn't, and adjust in the off-season. I still stick with that. I think we beat Detroit fairly easily - Cade meet OG - and lose to Boston.
I bet if you took a look at any Cavs fan blog/site roughly 2 seasons ago you would see the same messages. This stuff takes time. Players need to gel, coaching needs to adjust, rosters need to adjust. This is pretty much Year 1 for this team in this window and I would imagine things are going to look different in Year 2 and beyond.
All that said, time for the Knicks to step and get serious - which I have faith they will.
If the knicks do well in the playoffs all this if just a footnote, Melo on his podcast has said games in March/April when teams are locked into playoff spots are missing something so I can't take these games win or lose as some sort of barometer to the playoffs
Starting next weekend we will see if the FO vision was correct or not and if it isn't right, then changes will be made.
One thing I liked when JB was out was the ball movement. Feels like watching these last few games like the strategy of put a big guy on JB and bring a double ends up forcing more dribbling instead of having a plan. Surely we can find a way to anticipate and either swing quickly to Bridges or OG or hit Hart diving to the hoop. I want to see the OG and Bridges we saw when Brunson was out but it feels like a very different team. I want to see the cutting that we saw from Bridges and OG. Kind of seems like Brunson forces a kind of stagnation on the perimeter...is this just bad coaching?
It also seems like Josh’s knee is not right and he can’t bring the energy all night (shout out to Blue Chew (have they ever been a sponsor?)). His aggression on the offensive boards has diminished. So playing him as much as Thibs does is on Thibs. Josh will never say no to playing. It’s also on the coach to go 81 games and not try other lineups enough to find out if they work well enough in longer bursts (shout out to Blue Chew). Maybe we will find out in the playoffs, and that’s on me for wanting to see proof of concept in the regular season.
If anyone has turned on Josh, that’s on them. You can want him to see fewer minutes and more favorable matchups and still appreciate what he does bring.
Well, it’s not great. Talent aside, there’s just something about this team that doesn’t seem to hate losing quite enough. Yes, they have a lot to figure out from a match-up/execution standpoint, but they also need to decide, across the board, that they are NOT OKAY with another team taking it to them. Last year, we were the team that no one wanted to face in the playoffs. This year, we’re the team that everyone wants to face. Think about that. Detroit is psyched they got us in the first round. As I recall, that’s how Cleveland felt going into R1 in 23, and they found out. Maybe JB can impose his will on this team, get them to manifest an unrelenting winning attitude throughout. If that’s the case, Detroit will find out, and we’ll take it as far as we can with Boston. Otherwise, the unthinkable has suddenly become the quite possible. With all that said, I my gut still tells me we’re going to peak in the postseason.
The fact that we are even doubting the Knicks will not dominate the first round means either - the coach has failed or the front office has failed. The only teams that should be of concern at this point after ‘going for it’ with this past offseason, are the Celts/Cavs and the top 1/2 teams in the west. To have so badly judged that putting this group together would be in this position is either on the FO or Thibs. I understand it’s not a one year thing and I’m not enough of a cap guru to say who they can get to help this coming offseason. Hopefully I’m wrong.
In non -Greek speak, we are not cutting it. I had such a delightful idea of watching the Yankees clobber San Francisco, and my almost world championship Knicks destroying Cleveland last night. I hate when I wake up. We got a lot of splaining to do Lucy. We all expected this to be a growing year, but the last four games blowing those type of leads was just disgusting and I'm being kind .this summer and winter there has to be retooling or next year will look like the Rangers. I still have faith in Leon. I'm still worried about running out of gas in the fourth quarter and overuse and that's on Tibbs. As Yogi said, last night was déjà vu all over again.
There’s been a lot of talk about how “this has to be one of the worst 50 win seasons ever”. I think that being consistently good is just new to us and we should all take a deep breath (me included).
There are countless 50 win teams that aren’t real contenders or feel disappointing. The Lakers are a 50 win team that nobody thinks will win the championship. Rockets too. Last year the Suns won 48 and nobody was shocked they got swept out of the playoffs.
I think most of our collective anxiety is tied to our future flexibility, which we still have, albeit to a different extent. Whereas we used to be flush with movable picks, now we’re flush with movable talent.
Trying to talk myself into being rational over the next few weeks.
I think the issue is that for the first time, EVERY loss felt significant because of the expectations.
I'd be pleased to get past the pistons. However we need one of Dadiet or McCullers in the rotation next year for 3 and D with some size. We have no draft picks so it is these two or some free agent to be named.
Trying to keep things positive and big picture. The idea all along this year has been proof of concept, see what works, what doesn't, and adjust in the off-season. I still stick with that. I think we beat Detroit fairly easily - Cade meet OG - and lose to Boston.
I bet if you took a look at any Cavs fan blog/site roughly 2 seasons ago you would see the same messages. This stuff takes time. Players need to gel, coaching needs to adjust, rosters need to adjust. This is pretty much Year 1 for this team in this window and I would imagine things are going to look different in Year 2 and beyond.
All that said, time for the Knicks to step and get serious - which I have faith they will.
Their coach got fired…..
If the knicks do well in the playoffs all this if just a footnote, Melo on his podcast has said games in March/April when teams are locked into playoff spots are missing something so I can't take these games win or lose as some sort of barometer to the playoffs
Starting next weekend we will see if the FO vision was correct or not and if it isn't right, then changes will be made.
One thing I liked when JB was out was the ball movement. Feels like watching these last few games like the strategy of put a big guy on JB and bring a double ends up forcing more dribbling instead of having a plan. Surely we can find a way to anticipate and either swing quickly to Bridges or OG or hit Hart diving to the hoop. I want to see the OG and Bridges we saw when Brunson was out but it feels like a very different team. I want to see the cutting that we saw from Bridges and OG. Kind of seems like Brunson forces a kind of stagnation on the perimeter...is this just bad coaching?
Yes
Painfully true.
I hope I'm wrong, but I remember the Michael Ray Richardson quote.....
Dude, come on! The ship is just weathering some stormy waters. ⛈️ 🛥️
Let’s now turn our attention to supporting the team in the playoffs. Everything else can wait for the offseason
I hate that this coach has turned the fan base against JH. That’s on Thibs.
It also seems like Josh’s knee is not right and he can’t bring the energy all night (shout out to Blue Chew (have they ever been a sponsor?)). His aggression on the offensive boards has diminished. So playing him as much as Thibs does is on Thibs. Josh will never say no to playing. It’s also on the coach to go 81 games and not try other lineups enough to find out if they work well enough in longer bursts (shout out to Blue Chew). Maybe we will find out in the playoffs, and that’s on me for wanting to see proof of concept in the regular season.
If anyone has turned on Josh, that’s on them. You can want him to see fewer minutes and more favorable matchups and still appreciate what he does bring.
Well, it’s not great. Talent aside, there’s just something about this team that doesn’t seem to hate losing quite enough. Yes, they have a lot to figure out from a match-up/execution standpoint, but they also need to decide, across the board, that they are NOT OKAY with another team taking it to them. Last year, we were the team that no one wanted to face in the playoffs. This year, we’re the team that everyone wants to face. Think about that. Detroit is psyched they got us in the first round. As I recall, that’s how Cleveland felt going into R1 in 23, and they found out. Maybe JB can impose his will on this team, get them to manifest an unrelenting winning attitude throughout. If that’s the case, Detroit will find out, and we’ll take it as far as we can with Boston. Otherwise, the unthinkable has suddenly become the quite possible. With all that said, I my gut still tells me we’re going to peak in the postseason.
The fact that we are even doubting the Knicks will not dominate the first round means either - the coach has failed or the front office has failed. The only teams that should be of concern at this point after ‘going for it’ with this past offseason, are the Celts/Cavs and the top 1/2 teams in the west. To have so badly judged that putting this group together would be in this position is either on the FO or Thibs. I understand it’s not a one year thing and I’m not enough of a cap guru to say who they can get to help this coming offseason. Hopefully I’m wrong.
No comment until the play-offs.
In non -Greek speak, we are not cutting it. I had such a delightful idea of watching the Yankees clobber San Francisco, and my almost world championship Knicks destroying Cleveland last night. I hate when I wake up. We got a lot of splaining to do Lucy. We all expected this to be a growing year, but the last four games blowing those type of leads was just disgusting and I'm being kind .this summer and winter there has to be retooling or next year will look like the Rangers. I still have faith in Leon. I'm still worried about running out of gas in the fourth quarter and overuse and that's on Tibbs. As Yogi said, last night was déjà vu all over again.
In geek speak: “Talk is cheap. Show me the code.”
– Linus Torvalds
Playoffs will be the time to make such code or see if it's just talk. LGK.