The hard part of the schedule starts now, but really, this should still be a competitive game, even playing without KP.
A win here would be HUGE.
Let’s go, Knicks!
The hard part of the schedule starts now, but really, this should still be a competitive game, even playing without KP.
A win here would be HUGE.
Let’s go, Knicks!
39 replies on “2017-18 Game Thread: Knicks @ Hornets”
It’s the Michael Beasley show again tonight, hopefully this one won’t be a tragedy
I have a bad feeling about this one.
The Hornets court design is probably my favorite around the league.
This is feeling like a bad Beasley game to me, let’s see.
Beasley with the stupidest foul of the season, my goodness.
This game has blowout written all over it
I was hoping we could figure out a way to steal this one on the road because the Knicks are playing 26 out of 37 on the road (according to a report I just read) . This could get really ugly fast.
Some annoying things here and there but main takeaway is this team sucks ass without Hardaway and KP.
They really do look like a different team on the road, like their poise and confidence just disappears.
I have a tough time watching Lance Thomas unless it’s one of those rare games he’s having a noticeable impact on defense. They are too infrequent.
Their shooting is unbelievably bad. So many missed gimmes. And on D, they have been burned by the same screen play half a dozen times.
I expect them to come back in the second half, because the gap between how these teams have played isn’t as big as it appears. They’ll still come up 5 points short, though. Too much to make up.
This would actually be a pretty good opportunity to give Noah some run to see what he can do with a real C like Howard.
The game thread has been more alive than the Knicks tonight.
The lack of talent without KP and Hardaway really catches up in those road games.
well now – guess i won’t be rushing home to catch this game…just looking at the boxscore – it would appear as though the ball just doesn’t seem to be falling through the hoop too much…for us at least…
ugh, we’re getting killed by frank the tank – now, that – i really don’t wanna see…
Honestly, I’m not sure how much KP or THJr. would have helped. Our biggest advantage is usually our rebounding and based on the boxscore Howard and the Hornets just shut O’Quinn and Kanter down on that front.
another quiet night from lee and mcbuckets…maybe kanter needs a game or two off, 3 rebounds total…
bench getting outscored 30 to 14…guess the oddsmakers were being generous to us by only giving charlotte plus six…
Well, I guess it’s time to turn to NBA TV and root against Boston.
Courtney has been putting up a career year so far. It’s okay for him to have an off night. McDermott has an off night too, it happens to shooters. What’s inexcusable to me is Frank and Marvin Williams having big nights.
I take that back. I think it just shows how important KP is on both defense and offense. We just don’t have enough firepower and a team with McDermott, Beasley and Kanter on the floor is Calderon/Bargnani bad on D.
if the game thread doesn’t hit 20 the game never happened
Too late
Oladipo is seriously turning into a star in this league. And Sabonis ain’t bad either. That George trade is looking real shaky right now.
Kanter is almost obviously still injured. IMO, it’s not in our best interests to allow his “iron man” spiel to override our interests when we have a logjam at C and really need to find out who our C of the future is going to be. Hernangomez has a very similar game to Kanter and still may turn out to be the better player. They should give Kanter a week or more off to get healthy, start Hernangomez to get a better gauge on where he is, and go from there. Tonight, they also could have given Noah some serious run against Howard to see where he is. That’s the type of C Noah might be useful against eventually. If he’s still productive, you never know. Even if there’s only a 1% chance someone will want him for their title run, you have to play him.
How are the Celtics so fucking lucky? My god. I don’t even like the Pacers and I’m pissed.
That was ridiculous, but it was good for us. Whatever chance of making the playoffs we have, it was helped by the Pacers losing. They are one of the teams we’ll be battling for one those last few spots. I don’t think Charlotte is out of it yet either. They’ve had some injuries. I think they are better than their record and could make a little run back into contention for the 8th seed if they stay healthy.
I strongly agree with this.
We missed a shit ton of shots tonight.
Just a couple of months ago the Wolves looked like they had two all nba players in their prime plus some other stuff. Now they signed Wiggins to a terrible max contract and KAT is great but maybe has his ceiling capped by stagnant defense and they either lose Butler or are strangled by the cap.
Mike Malone gets pretty good press but actually sucks
@26
Minnesota is pretty similar to OKC’s case… a big 3 that’s actually much more of a big 2 (maybe 1.5) since both Wiggins and Melo aren’t superstars, bad depth because of the trades and cap situation and the wrong coach.
They’re doing better at the moment, mostly because Butler has been doing a bit of everything and Towns has been great on offense, while guys like Taj Gibson and Tyus Jones have been very useful, but with the way Thibodeau is running his starters to the ground I don’t expect it to end well.
By the way, if I’m Mills I’m calling Thibodeau every day and offering him Courtney Lee. Crawford has been horrible and Lee is a big improvement, a Cole + Bjelica package plus a pick works salary wise. I’m pretty high on Bjelica, I think he has a lot of talent and can be a lights out shooter as a stretch 4.
doesn’t really make sense to trade for Bjelica. He’s a free agent who turns 30 in May.
The trade would be more for the pick than Bjelica, I’m just adding that I think he’s actually talented and could be a good player for us. Cole’s contract has only 2 million guaranteed for next season too so it would provide a pick, cap space and Bjelica as an interesting player.
I’m not sure I’m doing that deal. Minn has the 8th best record in the league, and Lee makes them better. So, that’s like Lee for the 24th pick. is that the best we can get for him?
I’m looking forward to signing the corpses of Wiggins and Towns to huge contracts in 8 years.
Obviously, with KP and THJ out, it was an “okay” loss, but it still sucked.
It does seem like a fairly reasonable loss, if such a thing exists. I do agree that they should start Willy. If the next stretch of games is going to be brutal, may as well lean into it by playing the kids and giving Kanter/Kp/Timmy some rest.
Definitely.
Ron Baker sux
Here’s a serious glass half-full take:
We just won 4 in a row, including a great win over OKC and Melo, and were due for a clunker
We are missing our two best scorers
We are not used to playing on the road
Charlotte is better than they have played thus far, were considered a playoff team before the season started
Our shooting was just off, it happens
On the other hand, you could argue that the treads on the Tank got repaired last night and we are back on our way to the middle of the lottery, courtesy of a billion games on the road vs. tough teams coming up.
It was a win-win loss!
@38
We’ve has so many injuries and such an unbalanced schedule road vs home, it’s hard to know exactly where we stand. My best guess is that we are somewhere around a .500 team when everyone is healthy, but some injuries are to be expected. So probably a hair below that. A lot will probably depend on whether KP can put together a long stretch of healthy play or battling an endless series of minor issues and only play 60-65 games. If I had to bet at even money, I’d say we are going to finish 9th or 10th in the east unless we get some help with injuries elsewhere, stay very healthy, or Frank makes a leap.