Quick Recap: Knicks 99 Sixers 87

Remember all those games over the last few years you watched as a Knick fan where New York would lose by double digits to a mediocre team?

Well this is what it’s like to be on the opposite side of that. Enjoy it Knick fans. It’s nice to be out of the toilet.

* We are not this good. The Sixers are this bad.

* Philly is the skinniest team in the league. Seriously, sit these guys down to watch Rocky then get them in a weight room.

* HAHAHAHA

2015-16 Game Thread: Knicks vs. Sixers

So the Knicks are:

A. home
B. playing against a team that has lost 18 of their first 19 games this season
C. playing against a team that has lost 18 of their first 19 games this season but won their last one, so they’re not even trying to avoid a crazy losing streak anymore
D. playing against a team that suspended their #1 pick this year for two games for fighting (leading the Sixers to note, “Oh yeah, maybe we should have someone around this guy when he is out at night”).

So this sure darn well better be an easy win for the Knicks.

Which is good, because they’ve lost their last four games so they could definitely use some easy wins.

Let’s go Porzingis!!

Oh, okay, let’s also go Knicks!

Knicks Offensive Woes: The Triangle or the Underachievers?

The Knicks are on a 4 game slide. Normally this wouldn’t feel abnormal to their fans, but New York’s promising start has given hope where there previously was none. As we look to the stats for the answers, it’s clear that the offense should be doing better given the four factors. Offensively, the ‘Bockers are top 7 in terms of turnovers and rebounding and their free throw shooting is just above average. However the shooting has been abysmal with an eFG% of .462%; only 3 teams are worse.

Play Ball?
Play Ball?

A simple explanation would be to point to the underachieving players as the cause of the problem. ‘Melo (.457 eFG%), the team’s prima shooter, is 25 points below his career mark. However, Anthony isn’t the only one with shooting problems. The Knicks have a trio of big men that are under-performing. Robin Lopez is -91 points. Kyle O’Quinn is -74. Kevin Seraphin is -36. Additionally, Sasha Vujacic and Jerian Grant are at .311 and .399, which would be awesome if they were middle infielders.

So wait until these guys rebound to their career average and problem solved, right Knickeristas?

Not really if the issues isn’t with the players, but the scheme. It’s well known that the Knicks are running the archaic triangle offense. The league has changed since the days of Jordan and Shaq. Today the style of offensive in the NBA mostly involves screens and picks in lieu of straight up ball movement. In essence New York is bringing a tank to a guerrilla war.

tank

The biggest reduction for this year’s Knicks squad seems to be in easy baskets. I decided to compare this year’s team with their 2014 counterparts. Way back in ’14, 11 players had an eFG% of .600 or better from inside 3 feet, and 6 of those played 1,000 minutes or more. This year there are only 5 Knicks with .600 or better, and only 3 of them are on pace to hit 1,000 minutes. For our yesteryear Knicks, only the seldom used Earl Clark had a percentage under .536. There are 3 current Knicks under that mark, all rotation players (‘Melo, Grant, and Galloway). In simpler terms, the team isn’t getting easy dunks and layups.

Which again begs the question: is it the system or the players? That ’14 team had awesome inside scorers like Tyson Chandler, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Cole Aldrich. And better shooting guards like J.R. Smith and Hardaway (that year at least). Perhaps even Carmelo Anthony isn’t the same as his former self.

Hence New Yorkers are stuck in the proverbial chicken or egg argument. Maybe the players are just having a down year. Or maybe the triangle offense needs to be scrapped for something that better fits today’s players. Tastes Great. Less Filling.

Knicks Morning News (2015.12.02)

  • [New York Times] Matthews Returns and Mavs Defeat Trail Blazers 115-112 in OT (Wed, 02 Dec 2015 07:00:36 GMT)

    First, Wesley Matthews appreciated the ovation. Then he appreciated the win.

  • [New York Times] Wall Powers Wizards Past Cavaliers (Wed, 02 Dec 2015 05:57:30 GMT)

    Washington guard John Wall scored a season-high 35 points, and coach Randy Wittman’s seat cooled ever so slightly after the Wizards’ impressive 97-85 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.

  • [New York Times] In Philadelphia, a Feel-Good Moment for Kobe Bryant, if a Brief One (Wed, 02 Dec 2015 04:39:03 GMT)

    Although Bryant was born in Philadelphia, there has often been tension between him and 76ers fans. Now that Bryant has announced his retirement, the city showed him some love during a Lakers loss.

  • [New York Times] 76ers Top Lakers for 1st Win of Season, Snap 28-Game Skid (Wed, 02 Dec 2015 04:12:37 GMT)

    Kobe Bryant breezed through the Philadelphia 76ers locker room and said to no one in particular, “keep it going, guys.”

  • [New York Times] Gasol’s 38 Points Lead Grizzlies Past Pelicans 113-104 (Wed, 02 Dec 2015 04:00:37 GMT)

    Marc Gasol scored a career-high 38 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the New Orleans Pelicans 113-104 on Tuesday night.

  • [New York Times] N.B.A. Roundup: Nets Edge Suns to Win Fourth in a Row at Home (Wed, 02 Dec 2015 03:56:11 GMT)

    Brook Lopez had 23 points for the Nets, who also won consecutive games for the first time this season.

  • [New York Times] Magic Hold Off Late Charge From Wolves for 4th Straight Win (Wed, 02 Dec 2015 03:51:58 GMT)

    Nikola Vucevic had 18 points, 12 rebounds and four assists, and the Orlando Magic won their fourth straight game with a 96-93 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.

  • [New York Times] Wall Scores 35 as Wizards Hand Cavs 1st Home Loss, 97-85 (Wed, 02 Dec 2015 03:33:47 GMT)

    John Wall scored a season-high 35 points and the Washington Wizards handed the Cleveland Cavaliers their first home loss of the season, 97-85 on Tuesday night.

  • [New York Times] Nets Beat Suns 94-91 for 4th Straight Home Victory (Wed, 02 Dec 2015 03:24:58 GMT)

    Brook Lopez scored 23 points and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Phoenix Suns 94-91 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight home victory.

  • [New York Daily News] Knicks Insider: Kristaps Porzingis scored when 76ers passed (Wed, 02 Dec 2015 05:07:29 GMT)

    Perhaps the best move of Porzingis’ young career was not granting the Sixers a private workout last spring.

  • [New York Daily News] Kobe Bryant wanted Carmelo to join him on the Lakers (Wed, 02 Dec 2015 00:52:03 GMT)

    Carmelo Anthony revealed that Kobe Bryant wanted him to join the Lakers prior to the Knicks acquiring Anthony five seasons ago.

  • [New York Post] Carmelo Anthony: Knicks not good enough to ‘overlook’ 76ers (Wed, 02 Dec 2015 01:17:06 -0500)

    The Knicks have been gifted the best opponent to end their worst stretch of the season. Looking to stop their four-game losing streak against the one-win 76ers on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks' biggest potential problem is obvious — looking past a Sixers team which lost its first 18 games of the…