Comments on: NY Post: Julius Randle pours in 37 to lead Knicks past Wizards

By: Hubert

Hubert — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 12:49:05 +0000

I guess it depends what we’re talking about. If we played Atlanta in a 7 game series, I feel like we could take them. But over the course of the rest of the season, I expect them to put some distance between us in the standings.

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 12:38:02 +0000

I am not so sure that we’re not just as good as Atlanta. They’ve underperformed their point differential for sure, but I don’t know that we’ve over performed that much — we have a barely positive net rating, a barely negative SRS, and we’re .500. We’re basically right where we should be.

Atlanta has gotten better as they’ve gotten healthier (not sure whether it’s that or Nate McMillan who is a good coach – probably both), but we should not discount that we’ve been playing 5 weeks without our most important defensive player (Mitch), and Rose (ie. nominally our starting PG, or at least PG that plays the most minutes) being out also is a big factor. Especially since Rose being out makes us play Payton (and to a lesser extent, Frank).

By: Hubert

Hubert — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 12:06:34 +0000

When it comes to tiers in the East, we may be bunched with Atlanta now but I don’t feel like we’re in the same tier. Their point differential and SRS show them to be below expectations, while we’re well above ours. They are a coiled spring, we’re an orange with no juice left to squeeze.

I don’t know what to make of Miami and Boston. Neither of them are very good but I still don’t feel confident we’re on their level.

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 11:58:18 +0000

by the way, depending on the first round pick that comes back, I would totally be ok with taking on Bledsoe’s contract and sending back Rivers to make the $ work. If NOP wants to give us the 2024 Lakers unprotected first (NOP also has the option to take the Lakers 2025 pick instead – interesting wrinkle), sure I’d go for that.
He’s having a terrible year this year – I haven’t watched any NOP games, but wonder whether he’s just totally miscast in what they’re trying to do, if he has an injury, or if he just has some weird mechanical thing. He’s shooting well below career averages on 2P% and FT%.

The interesting thing is whether by taking Bledsoe’s $ off NOP’s hands that it also makes it more likely they match any Lonzo RFA offer sheet. 3d chess I guess.

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 11:49:23 +0000

This from Berman’s piece absolutely blows my mind:

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is not opposed to a talent infusion up front — especially with rookie lottery-pick big man Obi Toppin not yet ready to contribute on the NBA level and Randle logging the league’s most minutes. The [Drummond move] would make a lot of sense if the Knicks believe Drummond could play in an alignment with Robinson or Noel to give Randle more of a breather.

Only Mike Woodson would think that two non-spacing centers can play on the floor at the same time in today’s NBA. Oh wait…

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 11:47:49 +0000

In reply to Alan.

I think Chicago is less willing to go for the playoffs, so I agree that they’ll likely fall off as they deal players. But for now, they’re just 2.5 games back of the Knicks. Heck, Toronto is only four back!

By: Alan

Alan — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 11:12:40 +0000

This will be me all day until the deadline, guys.

By: Z-man

Z-man — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 10:40:26 +0000

I’d put Milwaukee in the tier with BKN and PHI. Even though they almost collapsed last night, the Celts are desperate and talented and it’s still a good win. Jrue and PJ Tucker should really help them. They are 10 very good players deep and have the MVP.

I agree that TOR is in that tier with the Knicks, et. al. but they are hanging on by their fingernails. What happens at the trade deadline is huge for them, but as is, they have a winning streak in them.

The Hornets are going to miss LaMelo. Let’s see how much.

The Knicks are overachieving but with Thibs driving them and the team buying in it seems sustainable. Less so with CHI.

IND has talent but seems to be in a bit of turmoil. Maybe they need the deadline to pass before they can gel. Or maybe they just aren’t that good.

By: Knick fan not in NJ

Knick fan not in NJ — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 10:35:28 +0000

Brian, Intuitively I agree that Milwaukee isn’t in a class with Philadelphia and Brooklyn, but actually their record is percentage points better than Brooklyn’s and just below Philadelphia’s. Given that one could worry about Brooklyn’s defense and Embiid health, I just left them together. I don’t agree about Toronto. They are 18 and 26 at the moment, meaning they have to go 18 and 10 for their last 28 games to reach 0.500 which is where the teams in the second tier currently are. I find such a turnaround very unlikely. We’ll see what Ujiri does at deadline. He has reason to change things with their current record.

By: E, all merc'd out

E, all merc'd out — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 10:20:22 +0000

I could see the Lonzo deal expanding to include Adams and Mitch.