The Knicks host the Pellies for a sort of off-brand home and home game.
The Knicks handled the Pelicans pretty well last time, so I’m confident that the Knicks can keep this streak moving to six!
Let’s go pick six, Knicks!
The Knicks host the Pellies for a sort of off-brand home and home game.
The Knicks handled the Pelicans pretty well last time, so I’m confident that the Knicks can keep this streak moving to six!
Let’s go pick six, Knicks!
288 replies on “2020-21 Game Thread: Knicks vs. Future Knick Lonzo Ball’s Team”
Frank Frank
Usually our coaching staff is good with adjustments (as with Dallas).
Forget about the last game in NO,
avoid complacency, keep your focus, don’t take anything for granted.
The game starts 0-0 and Burks, who was so important there, is out while they have Lonzo back.
It’s another exam in our road to competence.
Let’s go Knicks!!!
Can the Randle Revenge Tour overcome the Lonzo Auditions For Leon Rose factor?
Haha. I think Randle hopes to shut down Zion. He seemed to have that same intention against Luka.
Let’s have six!
Zion and Ball, sure, but I like Ingram’s game.
Off to a rocky start. Did they party with JR Smith?
Uh oh, can’t buy a shot…
Star-J!
Lonzo is the least impactful Pelican so far.
RJ the early hero! Nice to see…
Hostile Rim
Obi in early!
Looks like Thibs is tracking Zion with Randle, as he did with Luka last game…
Zion sits, Randle sits
randle running the pnr is infinitely better than these iso’s with these step back fadeaways…
This looks bad for Noel.
oh fuck
On. No-el!!
What’s Mitch’s timetable?
Oh shit. Noel down, thumb.
Time for Pelle to step up…
yup. you beat me to it.
Obi’s azimuth is off.
Need to bubble-wrap Taj
Here i am. Let’s win this. 🙂
Love seeing that from IQ to RJ.
Obi had a nice defensive sequence and rebound while he was out there. But he really shouldn’t take another three until next year.
Refs suck.
I would really not want Tommy T as my next-door neighbor. Not without a big hedge between us…
Come on with these crazy passes, RJ.
kira has a similar hopscotchy movement pattern as iq
too many turnovers by rj…killed us
If Noel is out for extended time, it will be a real challenge. Pelle is an energizer, but extremely foul prone.
So far, so… almost good
Knicks keep a defibrillator under the bench this year.
There is no time line for Mitch to return. He would need time to get back into shape once he is cleared. I would be surprised if it was this year.
Noel clear to return.
RJ giveth and RJ taketh
Sloppy first…
Adams killed us so far…
Casual observation: for a defense so good we get burned quite often on inbounds under our basket…
Paint D needs fix
Hey TNFH, is that you in the stands with the DOLAN SUCKS t-shirt? 😀
Did I just see Knox giving Randle a hard time on that Zion flush? Pretty funny if true…
Knox reminded me of Durant on his first shot!
Thibs not happy with two consecutive transition alley oops
Totally, was just gonna say his shot always looks so pure. I just wish it went in more often 😉
Two straight alley oops in transition…Thibs is gonna blow!
bruised hand did i hear that right? thank god
Rose time
After this stint Knox might not see the floor again rest of the season.
Needed that, Julius
I want to study Zion’s neural pathways.
Clyde has twice referenced Ball being 0-7 from 3 last time they played. Someone needs to correct him, Lonzo didn’t play
Gotta love Taj. Early call. Solid.
Whatever Thibs said in the TO after the two straight Pelicans transition dunks, it got the Knicks to tighten on defense. 10-0 run. Nearly 3 minutes of shutout defense.
Clyde means when Lonzo played on Friday night – the last time the Pelicans played.
Defense is stifling right now
Taj has been a God send.
“This is what happens when you hurt one of us,” said all of the Knicks collectively.
Bullock!
adams was a problem until taj came in and then taj was a problem
The fact that we started so incredibly suckily for a really long stretch and are 10 up now is really pretty amazing. Defense kept us in the game. What a fun team.
Taj is looking like Port Wine, he’s getting better as he’s getting old
that was sick zion
Watching Noel hang off the rim. I guess Noel’s hand is alright.
Noel has no chance boxing out Adams.
plus the block 😉
Nice nice block from Noel
Randle does things out there I still can’t believe
Happy whistle only on one side of the field
So where do you put Randle in the NBA hierarchy right now? 3rd team all-NBA?
What a stupid jump ball, Adams was with the arm on our side. What are this refs doing??
Zion getting torched
Randle: “Zion, who?”
Knicks perimeter defense is doing an incredible job rotating on open shooters.
Good second quarter,
very good defense and the Randle Motivations Express got refueled,
plus D-Rose with a very solid quarter.
I’m so happy Taj’s with us…
Is Zion destined to be a perennial all star? I’m sorry but I just don’t see it. No doubt he is going to be a multi times all star but he is not a generational level player if you ask me. I don’t think currently he is at 2nd year Charles Barkley level.
What am I not seeing it correctly? What do you guys think?
Zion may be a load down low but he’s a major liability on the perimeter.
if drose gets his conditioning fully back…he should start…payton is meaningless most games…burks or quickly can do the back up gig…
how is that a continuation and Randles wasn’t
i was about to write what a bad fit bledsoe was for this team but then he scored six pts in 20 seconds so maybe i’ll save it for my memoirs
edit: 8 pts
5 turnovers for Barrett, waaayyyy too much…
refs doing their best to get it close
Zion is almost uniquely skilled at one thing (around the rim). He sucks outside and on defense. He’s also in his second year, after a limited first year. If he “pulls a Randle” in terms of improving what he sucks at, he’ll be a generational talent. If not, he’ll continue to be a really fun watch and a regular all-star.
zion isn’t barkley but he is a souped up version of blake griffin only if blake was like shaq down low…
he’s going to wind up doing things a little different than barkley but ultimately he will be that kind of player and he’s about 85% of the way there already at age 20…
so yes … he is a generational talent…
Payton must be really unlucky right?
Every time he’s in the Pelicans go on a rampage…
13-2 to start the third…
I wouldn’t dismiss one of the greatest prospects of the last decade in just 1 season (he played half of his rookie season) 😛
payton is minus 13 tonight
SVG countered the Knicks defensive focus on Zion by having Zion set picks for Bledsoe. Bledsoe has erupted because he is getting wide open shots.
75 games so far. Almost one full season…
From watching The Last Dance, one thing I learned is that the work effort of your team’s alpha(s) can definitely can rub off on others. I don’t doubt that RJ and Randle will be anything other than gym rats this offseason; the question is can they bring/influence the likes of IQ and Obi along with them. We’re seeing that there’s a lot to be said for a team that works its ass off even w/limited talent; what makes me really excited is combining that with players that have a lot of room for improvement.
And this improvement isn’t necessarily of the wishing well kind – it’s borne out of feasibility: a full NBA offseason for Obi and IQ, RJ taking the next jump (I’m sold he has at least one major jump in him), and Randle mirroring this season’s production… I know some are worried that he’s out-shooting his career 3-ball average, but there’s a difference btwn “oh if only this guy could shoot 35-37% from 3” vs “if this guy can continue to show that he can hit 37% from 3″.
This turnover from Randle was simply unacceptable…
Dammit I took too long to type – Knicks almost lost their lead. 🙁
these refs suck
i mean zion is scoring 29 per 36 at 65% ts w 4 ast. he is already an elite offensive player. he is elite as advertised on that end and will only get better if healthy. he is getting shots at the rim 1.5x more than the number two guy in the nba. his defense on the other hand…
lonzo doing his best ntlikina impression… must really want to be a knick….
Man we’re doing some lazy shit out there
What are this refs doing??
I like how Randle got inside Zion and drove on him, but NOP collapsed on him in the paint.
Bledsoe is killing us
This is the only good quarter of basketball Eric Bledsoe has played all year
Does the Invisible Sixth Man guard foul shots too?
That’s typical to visiting players on MSG 😛
13 points halftime lead smoked (it was 15 in the second quarter),
this is really an annoying habit…
If you lined up all our third quarters, would we be the worst team in basketball?
This quarter is almost single handedly ruining the good vibes from the 5 game winning streak.
Obi catched a rebound… astonishing! 😀
Bullock has 5 fouls. Going to see if IQ can play defense.
I would put money on it
During the NO game, the Pelicans broadcast said the we were 30th in 3rd quarter scoring and 29th in fourth quarter scoring, I don’t know how that has changed with the last two games….
so the answer is yes 🙂
I was wrong. Frank replaced Bullock.
Frank always (always) commits a “Here I am” foul in the first minute after he checks in.
There was a time (or specific times) Teresa Weatherspoon was the best pro PG in NY when she was w/the Liberty…
When is RJ gonna get some love from the refs?
seems like iq is a burks return away from the dnp blues
I bet TNT wishes they had bought some of these knicks games down the stretch…
every game feels like a playoff game…
sight unseen – it feels though like the refs have been letting us play more physical ball since around after the all-star break…
haha. so … maybe switch out the gatorade?
come on rj got fouled
JFC what does it take for the Knicks to get FTs??
aarrgggh I wanted that 3 by Barrett to fall, but great effort by Taj to spoil the Pels 2-for-1 chance.
As soon as I turned the game on Bledsoe scored 11 straight, so this must be my fault.
How many times does RJ have to get knocked to the ground before it counts as a foul?
Frustrating quarter,
RJ is totally disrespected by the refs but we played really bad…
Checking in from MSG. Not happy about the refs. Feels like RJ and Randle should have a few more FTs each.
I understand he may have truly hit the rookie wall but I think Quickley is worth a shot in the 4th.
That’s kind of easy… the Knicks don’t believe in the “find a PG” plan! 😛
mystery solved 😉
Same here lol. I keep learning that I should never start watching in the 3rd quarter, and I keep ignoring that lesson.
It’s really weird to me how little respect RJ gets from the refs. It’s not like he’s constantly jawing at them, he seems relatively tight-lipped.
Booooo
btw we are actually 17th in q3 net rating find a new slant
Please, let them know we’re not in the 3rd quarter anymore
Okay. We gotta focus. What usually happens (when we win) is DRose gets a few hoops and runs out of gas. RJ bullies a few layups and hits a corner three. Taj gets every board. And IQ hits a timely three. Now … go.
Really? But it’s been painful…
imagine if frank and kevin had had thibs and this excellent coaching staff from the start – do these exact actions out on the court with great effort and you may go out on the court…and actually teaching them those things…
loved the way kevin was addressing every defensive lapse…
I think he gets it now, good length with a smooth shot, and is looks much more involved in the game…
talent is king, but a good coaching staff has made a big difference…
barrett has his head up his butt today
We are so fucked if RJ fouls out
We need to win this again…
Six TO (and 5 fouls) for Barrett…
If we win this game, I’d give Taj the game ball…
IQ with nice minutes to start the 4th quarter.
Woooooo that was LUCKY that Randle corralled that errant RJ pass and flushed it!
Take the points however we get em…
Considering that we scored so few in the third quarters this is really a testament to our defense…
IQ quietly had good defense against that fast break and then a clean outlet pass. He’s earned a few more minutes from coach.
I liked the way RJ banked it off the opponent’s hands for the assist…
Did RJ just convert a turnover into an assist?
Since you found this, what are we in the other three quarters?
Yes indeed. We need a guard threaten from 3 and keep the offense somewhat flowing well enough to carry the team to the finish line.
RJ knows how to fill out the box score…
Zion turned the tables on Randle this half
Randle with an ugly shooting night and unusual 2 rebounds…
Considering that we scored so few in the third quarters this is really a testament to our defense…
no it isn’t announcers just don’t adjust for pace. our ortg is third quarters this year is 22nd and our overall ortg is 22nd.
As good as Taj and Randle can rebound, I feel like Adams’ length and Zion’s quick jumping presents a problem for the Knicks gobbling D boards.
Ingram’s been money from midrange since his final season as a Laker even with a hand up.
If the Pelicans win it should go to Bledsoe. He brought them back in the 3rd quarter basically by himself
That’s like the 3rd or fourth time in this half I’ve seen Knicks push Pels on the inside.
IQ should’ve shot that 3 the moment he turned the corner on that pick. He was plenty open.
Ummm Bullock that aint ya range…
What’s that from Bullock??
STOP TALKING HIM UP!!!!!! lol
No chance to win this with Payton in…
This is the wrong lineup to close.
thibs has the wrong squad in there
I defy you to name one NBA player with an uglier shot than Payton
Playing Payton and Rose at the same time is indistinguishable from committing seppuku
We need stops
i think taj should be in he’s done so much better vs adams
No easy answers here personnel wise but I do not think we needed more Elfrid Payton
HAHAHAHAAA… any GinTama fans here? they were good for making timely seppuku jokes.
I would think Mitch would have the springy-ness to fight Adams and Zion on the boards, but those two are good.
OK NOW we need a stop!
I wish IQ would’ve hit that layup, but I’m encouraged he got the to rack.
IQ seriously can’t miss that easy floater.
Lonzo clearly pushed Quick
man we looked too tired to foul there
DAMMIT!!!
If IQ only works on one area this offseason…
It feels like its been months since that IQ floater looked good
Why didn’t they call timeout for a set play before that last IQ shot. None of that looked promising in transition.
Had a good look tho.
Been watching with sound off… seems like a lot of issues with refs… on both sides. Inconsistent…
I don’t know if shooting 10-27 is playing “incredibly well”…
Yeesh… Lonzo bit just enough
boom
BULL — OCK!!
GREAT D ROSE! AND BULLOCK!
Reg-gie! Reg-gie!
rose passing it out there was such a good surprise
Reggieeeee!!!
Why did Ball leave Bullock to defend Rose’s drive?
BIIIIIG 3-ball!!!!
Mistake by Lonzo leaning twds Rose driving!!!
Oh boy!!!
I don’t think I want Lonzo at $25M a year
OT!
Rose playing like an MVP!
not sure about that one svg but thanks!
Just seemed like instinct from Lonzo to flinch toward lane… SVG coulda said don’t leave ur man for shit … for all we know he did …
Hats off to Rose, huge last two possessions! Bullock! This team still won’t give up
This was just a plan to give TNFH an extra 5 mins of basketball 😉
This team…
I’m not a big Rose fan but he’s been very tough today
Yeah, whatever curses I hurled at Rose his last time around, this guy is just totally different now. Maybe the stats don’t show, but he’s not sulking, he’s always giving effort, and (today) he really saved us down the stretch. Now let’s win.
Kardiak Knicks
Those last two plays were all Derrick Rose. OK. I give Bullock a nod because he made the shot. Rose really is playing heads-up, veteran basketball.
Humper with the smart investment…
I was just going to write that the Lonzo audition hasn’t gone well. I’m not sure he’s the answer at point.
I’m beginning to think maxing an offer to Lonzo Ball might not be the wisest decision.
I gotta give Rose credit there, even if it might’ve had some luck involved: he had his eyes on Bullock in the corner as he was driving, saw Lonzo lean, and dished it.
Of course it’s just one game, and i don’t watch the Pells, but Lonzo isn’t impressing me at all
the amazing thing about that last 3 was they also left knox wide open in the other corner
Adams wanted to kill Lonzo.
Roseee
OT should be 2 minutes w/ 14 second shot clocks. Now that’s exciting.
OCK-OCK
I fucking love Bullock!
bledsoe and obi could play a great game of spud
Well, I got my money’s worth.
Extend Bullock!
Clyde and Breen are not used to Knicks swinging the rock around.
BULLOCK A-G-A-I-N!
Randle says I’m just too tired to take a foul shot… I’ll let Bully take the lower % 3 ball …. and NAIL IT
Count me out on that one…
its strange how much better any unit we put out there is better as long as payton isn’t part of it…
Fucking Bullock yo!!!!
And they all made the extra pass there!!!
I mean Lonzo is supposed to be this great passer, but I don’t see it
The Rose and Reggie game
noel has some cojones on him
I’m worried that Noel will break today.
Noel again. He’s a treasure.
Nerlens channeling the Cambyman
Now THAT was the block of the !$#$% year!!!!
Noeeeeel
frank over payton here
The Frank, “Here I am” foul.
that 3rd quarter was dogshit but the end of the fourth and OT have been more than worth sitting through it
These fouls are so annoying. 24 fouls called against the Knicks, 12 against the Pelicans.
frank…ce n’est pa bien
rotflmao
Look on the bright side. If you like him and think this one game is meaningless, maybe it will impact the offer and we won’t make a salary mistake in our bidding.
awww nooo Reggie you can’t foul out on that one there.
Doris is right… Defensive discipline.
Frank needs to learn how to defend without fouling
bucket
FWIW – Lonzo does not seem like a Thibs guy.
JULIUS FUCKING RANDLE
(i don’t care if it was late)
The ref sounded like a game show host
Was there ever any doubt? lol
FRANK YOU SHOULD BE CUT RIGHT NOW
The forgive me call by the refs. Ok, we forgive you
frank…c’EST incroyable…que moron
OMG… you KNEW Frank was gonna pass vs take that shot, but maaaaannnn Julius fucking Randle!!!!
Knox and Frank showing today why they specialize in DNP-CD.
Oh Frank!!!
I think Lonzo did not entered the court after his defensive mistake late in regular time.
i am going to look forward to the day we no longer have to tolerate frank, knox and payton… next season….
Sooooo we’re officially done with the Frank-stanning right? Like, he’s done here.
I wanted to believe, if it makes anyone feel better.
stick a fork in him…he’s done
Quickley where you want him, at the line…
It is a clear path foul because IQ had released the pass to a wide open Noel before the foul.
I love Clyde, but this is not a bittersweet victory because of Frank’s foul
If this isn’t a clear path foul, i don’t know what is
the opposite of an elam ending is when you slow down time and proportionately dilute the value of a point every second for the last minute
Question: is Derrick Rose upset about being left on the court with 37 seconds left and a 10 point lead? (He must be insisting on coming out, right? Right??)
I am in my feelings about this team
This may be a 25 minute 25 seconds
This is quite the over-reacting crowd. lol
Clyde just wants to get to the Wine and Dine.
We won this game,
we lost this game,
we won this game again.
It was sloppy, it was ugly, it was intoxicating, it was so sweet…
Rose, Bullock, Taj, Noel, Julius despite a bad shooting night, IQ under control, Barrett with some moments,
This team is incredible…
They never, never give up.
Six in a row baby!
P.S.: The Plague is unplayable in close games, luckily Thibs was quick to take him out…
Enjoy! Nice game you picked to go! 😉
Perhaps this was the moment he realized Frank is done here.
This team. Ya gotta love this team. Best entertainment in NY!
Hey Daniel Jones – I know you a southern dude, but the first cat you dap after the game should NOT be Zion. Just sayin’…
Exhibit #107 of intolerable Laker fans:
My wife’s gf is staying with us as she just moved back into town. She blurts out: “you live in LA you need to be rooting for the Lakers now”. I told her “don’t talk about my team!” and she was legit shook of ya boy!!!!
Lady… you fam, but you don’t want this smoke.
Unbelievable this team, to look as bad as they did for the first 21 mins of the 2nd half but then find a way to tie the game then dominate OT.
If you want to put a damper on things, we are now tied for the 19th pick…
Re-sign everyone (except Frank I guess).
Do. Not. Sleep. On. This. Team. 😉
As much as we are celebrating these wins, the loss of Burks is definitely going to catch up to us soon. We lack scoring punch. Rose is not going to play like this every night. Randle played 47 minutes tonight. Gibson’s hustle was ridiculous for a guy his age. We need someone deeper in the team to step up. Either Quick is going to have get on a roll again or maybe Knox or Obi will have to break out, but someone is going to have to step up on offense or a few losses in a row are coming. There’s only so much gas in the engine and we have to be close to empty the way these guys are playing.
swifty’s 39 win prediction is looking like utter clairvoyance…
If the Pels have one more season like this one, they will be on the clock regarding Zion. They are underachieving mightily and have to be extra careful to not enter some AD 2.0 situation.
They gave the wrong Van Gundy the job. The Pelicans play zero defense and they play like individuals. Stan is on the clock next year. He’s terrible.
Indeed. Next time i play the lottery, i’m going to ask him for numbers. 😉
My prediction sailed away in such a long time that it must be around Cape Town now. 😀
The front office has to feel really good about their own work with all these different guys contributing.
stan ain’t making it to next yr….
Same feeling here, his chair is really wobbly…
Feels wrong to root for Brooklyn today, but here I is…
Go Nets
Without Burks, shouldn’t we do what Z-Man suggested and give Jeremy Lin a chance?
Bullock’s defense has been key to these last two wins- inside both Luka’s and Ingram’s jerseys all game. If I have to choose between resigning him or Burks I’m taking Bullock.
We won and the Pacers lost, so at least the 9th/10th game seems very unlikely. Now if we can defend the 6th position, that would be the cherry on top of the season.
I can’t see Lonzo being worth anything close to 20 million per.
The Pels were literally one play away from wrapping this one up in regulation before that Bullock 3. They were making the plays that give you that “oh shit they’re taking control and pulling away” feeling. But our guys hung tough.
And how fucking clutch was Rose today? I mean he almost had me forgiving him for his previous stint w/us just on his 4th Q and OT play alone.
He got that LA passiveness in his game (heh-heh). He can play, but he doesn’t strike me as someone who can really try to impress his will on a game. I think I’ll pass too.
Thibs conference: He really goes out of his way to name-check everyone. It’s kind of great. As much as we shouted at Frank tonight, coach praises his work, same with Knox, and so on. I can see why guys feel loyal to him.
Yeah, that was my eye test comment today, too. Lonzo seems like the opposite of a Thibs guy.
Ingram had 2 wide open 3’s to ice the game in regulation and missed both. He’s the goat for the Pels.
After years of suffering, Knick fans finally have a team that they can root for, that they can count on playing hard, playing good defense every game from start to finish. I say this even if they had lost the game today.
With 2 of their top 7 players out, they managed to pull this one out. What more can a fan ask for?
Thanks Thibs!
The Nerlens Block Party is raging these days…..he seems to have at least two sensational stonewall blocks right at the rim every game!
Lonzo and his LA passiveness would be a perfect fit for David Fizdale
You can’t judge a guy off a single game. That’s just silly.
Sometimes you can’t even judge a guy off a bad season if his role was wrong and he couldn’t do what he was good at because of the spacing. 🙂
If you get Lonzo, you aren’t getting him to score 20 points a night. You aren’t worried about one dumb defensive play today. You aren’t even worried about what he’s showing this year as a playmaker. You are trying to decide whether has has the skills to run an offense and knock down outside shots at a high enough rate to mitigate the spacing issues we have and not allow players to back off him and go under picks. If he can do those things, he’s an upgrade over Payton and is still young enough to have upside in that and other areas of his game.
IMO, it’s really difficult to watch the Pelicans now and figure out what he can do because he’s not really playing the traditional PG position like he did in LA and with the Pelicans before Stan Van Dummy took over the coaching job.
I think you more or less have to look at his PG play under Gentry as indicative of what he can do as a PG and his shooting now as indicative of whether he may be making progress there. Still, even after all that you still have to value it well. My guess is that he would be a good upgrade over Payton, quicken our pace, get us more easy baskets in transition, and help the spacing. However, my guess is as good (or as bad) as anyone else’s at how much he’s worth. He’s certainly not a max player or even close.
Yeah, I think that’s what people are saying. Not writing the guy off, but …