NBA first round

[UConnTrumbull]

Your last sentence is why it needs to happen. You can't waste a year of the championship window with a coach and core that showed all year they were not on the same level as Boston/Cleveland/OKC

I get that argument. I just don’t see how that’s different than a year ago when Thibs got an extension. Is it Thibs’ fault that Bridges and KAT haven’t made the Knicks a title contender? It’s a genuine question I don’t actually know.

 

[Inyatkin]

Won a Mickey Mouse ring. I can’t believe people actually count that. Good on him for making the team draft his kid who wouldn’t start on a contending NCAA team as well.

I would hope he breaks records, it has taken him long enough

Were the other teams trying in the bubble? Was Boston trying? Miami? Denver?

If they were trying, the ring counts like any other

 

[navery12]

I get that argument. I just don’t see how that’s different than a year ago when Thibs got an extension. Is it Thibs’ fault that Bridges and KAT haven’t made the Knicks a title contender? It’s a genuine question I don’t actually know.

The difference is a year ago they were still a team with no expectations beyond being competitive in the playoffs. It's not Thibs fault that Bridges has disappointed (KAT has been everything they could have hoped for and more), but that also doesn't absolve him of blame either.

When you've had the same flaw for 20 years as a coach that you overuse your starters and as a result have a 2nd round ceiling, it's probably not going to suddenly change

 

[superjohn]

If this were any other player, I'd agree. But he really did set the bar high enough during that eight year stretch that I consider the last seven years of his career to be somewhat unnoteworthy from a team perspective. Obviously the fact that he's still this good at 40 solidifies his place on a very short list of all-time players. (I'm not a huge GOAT debate guy, but I think he's definitely in that tier)

1-4 against a team they were heavy betting favorites to beat. His counting stats were good this series but he was bad in the 4th quarters and they're now 2-12 in his last three playoff series. It isn't working. Despite his numbers he can't be the second best player on a championship team at this point. His longevity/minutes on his body is crazy but we all know he wants another championship and that isn't happening unless he creates another super team with a couple Hall of Famers where he's the third fiddle.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

The difference is a year ago they were still a team with no expectations beyond being competitive in the playoffs. It's not Thibs fault that Bridges has disappointed (KAT has been everything they could have hoped for and more), but that also doesn't absolve him of blame either.

When you've had the same flaw for 20 years as a coach that you overuse your starters and as a result have a 2nd round ceiling, it's probably not going to suddenly change

You may end up being right. I just think it would be pretty harsh on Thibs when Boston was a big title favorite even in the preseason. I think it’s fair to say that this Knicks roster should’ve at least been good enough for the 2 seed this year but Cleveland seemed to come out of nowhere as well. Again I’m not a huge NBA guy, especially regular season so my opinion ain’t worth much.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

1-4 against a team they were heavy betting favorites to beat. His counting stats were good this series but he was bad in the 4th quarters and they're now 2-12 in his last three playoff series. It isn't working. Despite his numbers he can't be the second best player on a championship team at this point. His longevity/minutes on his body is crazy but we all know he wants another championship and that isn't happening unless he creates another super team with a couple Hall of Famers where he's the third fiddle.

Can’t be the 2nd best player? He’s gonna be 2nd Team All-NBA. Are we serious right now?

 

[superjohn]

Can’t be the 2nd best player? He’s gonna be 2nd Team All-NBA. Are we serious right now?

Yes, can't be the second best player on a championship team. He played with an all-NBA second team Hall of famer last season and they lost 4-1 in the first round. His teammate this year was an all-NBA first teamer last year, NBA leading scorer last year, who took his team to the NBA finals last year and they lost 4-1 in the first round again.

 

[Inyatkin]

Yes, can't be the second best player on a championship team. He played with an all-NBA second team Hall of famer last season and they lost 4-1 in the first round. His teammate this year was an all-NBA first teamer last year, NBA leading scorer last year, who took his team to the NBA finals last year and they lost 4-1 in the first round again.

Did they switch the format to two-on-two?

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Yes, can't be the second best player on a championship team. He played with an all-NBA second team Hall of famer last season and they lost 4-1 in the first round. His teammate this year was an all-NBA first teamer last year, NBA leading scorer last year, who took his team to the NBA finals last year and they lost 4-1 in the first round again.

You’re genuinely ridiculous. A top 10 player can’t be the 2nd best player. Sometimes you just come up against better teams. Wolves were in the WCF last year, beat your beloved Jokic!

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Did they switch the format to two-on-two?

Let’s just go ahead and state unequivocally the guy that was 13th in ppg, 6th in apg, 8th in PER, 8th in BPM and 7th in VORP can, in fact, be the 2nd best player on a Championship team.

The combination of LeBron not playing well most of the 4th quarters, Luka and Reaves being cones on defense, and Minnesota just being quicker and more athletic lost this series.

 

[HooperScooper]

Knicks choking this away.

Maybe. Feels harsh though. Boston is miles ahead of NY and has been the whole year.

Seriously. I don't think it would be right to blame Thibs for losing to the Celtics. The rosters weren't even comparable to start the season. If you want to fire someone then fire the GM.

 

[gsmooth]

The difference is a year ago they were still a team with no expectations beyond being competitive in the playoffs. It's not Thibs fault that Bridges has disappointed (KAT has been everything they could have hoped for and more), but that also doesn't absolve him of blame either.

When you've had the same flaw for 20 years as a coach that you overuse your starters and as a result have a 2nd round ceiling, it's probably not going to suddenly change

Thibs has his flaws for sure and I never liked that he ran his starting players into the ground and I don't mean just game time minutes. His practices are known to do that as well.

However, the GM deserves blame, too, seeing how the Knicks' roster does not compare to the level of the Celtics roster or even the Cavs' roster.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Not necessarily playoff news but figured I’d throw this on here

 

[gsmooth]

Let’s just go ahead and state unequivocally the guy that was 13th in ppg, 6th in apg, 8th in PER, 8th in BPM and 7th in VORP can, in fact, be the 2nd best player on a Championship team.

The combination of LeBron not playing well most of the 4th quarters, Luka and Reaves being cones on defense, and Minnesota just being quicker and more athletic lost this series.

Lebron is still damn good even at age 40. I think there are better players than Lebron now, including Jokic, but after watching the Olympics last summer, it isn't unreasonable to think Lebron is the best player in the world-he was fantastic throughout the Olympics.

 

[superjohn]

Did they switch the format to two-on-two?

Nope, NBA basketball is played with 5 guys on the court for each team, there's two teams on the court. There's 15 roster spots, 5 starters and 10 bench guys. One team wins the NBA championship, at this point in his career Lebron needs to be the third best player on his team to win a championship. He's currently the second best player on his team and they just got smoked in the first round.

 

[superjohn]

Lebron is still damn good even at age 40. I think there are better players than Lebron now, including Jokic, but after watching the Olympics last summer, it isn't unreasonable to think Lebron is the best player in the world-he was fantastic throughout the Olympics.

It isn't unreasonable to think Lebron is the best player in the world? What??

 

[gsmooth]

It isn't unreasonable to think Lebron is the best player in the world? What??

I don't think he is the best player in the world anymore. However, no, I don't think it's unreasonable if someone only watched the Olympics last year if they thought that-Lebron was fantastic and clutch in the Olympics and was arguably the best player in the Olympics last year. He came up big when USA needed him the most.

 

[husky429]

Not necessarily playoff news but figured I’d throw this on here

We all knew it was coming with the guy pushing 80-years-old but it sucks to see the greats leave. You just don't see NBA coaches with 30 year careers much any more.

 

[navery12]

Knicks choking this away.

Seriously. I don't think it would be right to blame Thibs for losing to the Celtics. The rosters weren't even comparable to start the season. If you want to fire someone then fire the GM.

Firing the GM would legitimately, and there is not an ounce of exaggeration here, be the dumbest thing the Knicks have done in their entire existence. And they're a franchise almost exclusively known for dumb decisions

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Well that was fast!

 

[Inyatkin]

Nope, NBA basketball is played with 5 guys on the court for each team, there's two teams on the court. There's 15 roster spots, 5 starters and 10 bench guys. One team wins the NBA championship, at this point in his career Lebron needs to be the third best player on his team to win a championship. He's currently the second best player on his team and they just got smoked in the first round.

Denver might well lose in the first round. What does that say about Jokic and his ability to be the best player on a title-winning team at this stage of his career?

(The answer is nothing. It says nothing about that.)

 

[superjohn]

Denver might well lose in the first round. What does that say about Jokic and his ability to be the best player on a title-winning team at this stage of his career?

(The answer is nothing. It says nothing about that.)

It says Jokic needs some help. The way Denver has wasted Jokic's prime is one of the saddest things I've seen in sports.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Nope, NBA basketball is played with 5 guys on the court for each team, there's two teams on the court. There's 15 roster spots, 5 starters and 10 bench guys. One team wins the NBA championship, at this point in his career Lebron needs to be the third best player on his team to win a championship. He's currently the second best player on his team and they just got smoked in the first round.

So the fact that Luka and Reaves are cones defensively, the Lakers had no players over 6’8 play minutes, and the bench was literally non existent doesn’t matter. No, LeBron, the guy who is gonna be 2nd Team all NBA, has tremendous counting stats and legitimately was a very good defender pretty much all season, can’t be the 2nd best player.

You’re backing yourself into a corner defining who CAN be the 2nd best player on a championship team at this point.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Firing the GM would legitimately, and there is not an ounce of exaggeration here, be the dumbest thing the Knicks have done in their entire existence. And they're a franchise almost exclusively known for dumb decisions

This is a pretty high bar, especially considering what has occurred under Dolan's ownership, but you may be correct here At a minimum it would be a far worse move than letting Donnie Walsh go when he was on the cusp of building a competitive team while moving them out of salary cap purgatory.

 

[superjohn]

So the fact that Luka and Reaves are cones defensively, the Lakers had no players over 6’8 play minutes, and the bench was literally non existent doesn’t matter. No, LeBron, the guy who is gonna be 2nd Team all NBA, has tremendous counting stats and legitimately was a very good defender pretty much all season, can’t be the 2nd best player.

You’re backing yourself into a corner defining who CAN be the 2nd best player on a championship team at this point.

He can be the second best player, he was the second best player but he can't be the second best player if he wants to win a championship.

He was the second best player on his team this year and he lost 4-1 in the first round. He was the second best player on his team last year and he lost 4-1 in the first round.