2021-22 Game Thread: Knicks vs. The Ben Simmons-Less Sixers

The Knicks host the drama-filled Philadelphia 76ers, who are playing without Ben Simmons, who is out with a broken spirit.

Back-up center Andree Drummond and back-up point guard Shake Melton are out for the Sixers and Nerlens Noel continues to sit for the Knicks.

This will be a tough game for the Knicks, as Joel Embiid is the best player involved in tonight’s game, but Embiid is playing hurt (they just said he will likely play tonight, but it’s a toss up), so I think that the Knicks could pull this one out.

I’d feel a lot better about the Knicks if they hadn’t just lost to a shitty Magic team at home, but tomorrow is another day and you know Thibs will get them to give them their all tonight!

First…

ARE THE KNICKS STILL ON PACE FOR 56 WINS? Technically yes. That Orlando game was rough, though. I’m still feeling good overall about the prediction, though!

Let’s go, Knicks!

Now here’s the all-poll content…

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.

236 replies on “2021-22 Game Thread: Knicks vs. The Ben Simmons-Less Sixers”

Hey – this is crazy but I got 4 tickets for tonight’s game (really good seats) and I’m willing to give them for free to whoever wants them. Long story why I have them, and you’d miss the first quarter, but if anyone lives close to MSG, lmk and they’re yours.

Mike K. lmk how I can transfer. Thx.

On the one hand, no Clyde. On the other, I can just watch the game with my stupid cable box tonight.

oh man, i wanna be in nyc and go watch a basketball game at the garden…

you know what, forget about worrying about the cold and being constantly surrounded by a billion other human beings…i’m moving to manhattan…

On the one hand, no Clyde. On the other, I can just watch the game with my stupid cable box tonight.

is there like some kind of MSG app which broadcasts knick games?

honestly, i would rather do that now than get the entire league pass…which will block out the four games between the knicks and lakers/clippers…

> Hey – this is crazy but I got 4 tickets for tonight’s game (really good seats) and I’m willing to give them for free to whoever wants them. Long story why I have them, and you’d miss the first quarter, but if anyone lives close to MSG, lmk and they’re yours.

You have to use the app to xfer the tickets. Just put in someone else’s email and it’s done. Unless you somehow have paper tickets?

If the Knicks are going to double Embiid on every possession for no reason they’re gonna get killed.

geo: is there like some kind of MSG app which broadcasts knick games?

honestly, i would rather do that now than get the entire league pass…which will block out the four games between the knicks and lakers/clippers…

There is but I believe you can only get it through your cable provider so it also wouldn’t be available with the current issue.

Mike Kurylo:
> Hey – this is crazy but I got 4 tickets for tonight’s game (really good seats) and I’m willing to give them for free to whoever wants them. Long story why I have them, and you’d miss the first quarter, but if anyone lives close to MSG, lmk and they’re yours.

You have to use the app to xfer the tickets. Just put in someone else’s email and it’s done. Unless you somehow have paper tickets?

I know how to transfer was asking about emailing without posting the address on the site

The 76ers are playing solid D.

Every time Randle touches the ball I hold my breath.

This is the first time I realized than Evan Fournier is wearing Mark Jackson’s #13. I wonder if he’s the first Knick to wear it since then.

This goes back to the games against Philly last season, it’s amazing how aggressive they are with their hands on defense without hardly ever getting called for fouls.

Replacing Dwight Howard with Andre Drummond has to be one of the biggest personality upgrades in NBA history.

Hubert:
Replacing Dwight Howard with Andre Drummond has to be one of the biggest personality upgrades in NBA history.

lol

Derrick Rose would get every single vote for 6th man of the year right now

And our second unit can hang with anyone

Henry Ellenson (who???)

Ellenson was one of Scott Perry’s “second draft” pickups. Pistons first-rounder in 2016, and I think he’s playing in Europe now.

Ellenson was supposed to be a bug guy with handles, he sucked at everything. He was only here for a couple games I think.

Ellenson was one of Scott Perry’s “second draft” pickups. Pistons first-rounder in 2016, and I think he’s playing in Europe now.

Yup, he’s playing in Spain

Big difference this year on D. We are stripping constantly. Forcing a lot of turnovers we never saw last year.

IQ heard we were worried! What a beautiful play, this bench unit is so fun now that Obi is a real player, which is a phrase I didn’t expect to say after last season.

I watch a stupid Osborne show where they look at videos of ghosts, UFOs, and other strange things and try to decide if it’s real or faked. Ozzy says everything is “ball lightening”. It’s actually pretty funny at times. I think I’m going to start calling him Obi “ball lightening” Toppin. 🙂

I also never believed w e would ever see this version of Rose, legit floor general. He deserves a lot of credit for changing his game so much.

The bench guys have a different energy,
they run, they dive on the floor… it’s simply different…

Randle is allergic to easy buckets. He won’t even shoot when open, or rolling to the basket. It seems like he prefers to slow it down and shoot it contested.

Ok this is why we liked bringing Kemba in, don’t need to do much, just get hot in a couple of stretches here and there. Fucking awesome 2nd quarter

Maybe Kemba will only put effort against the better teams, and the Celtics didn’t qualify. LOL

I can live with being up 20 at half time and feeling like we didn’t even play our very best basketball.

Very good quarter,
the bench turned the game,
Kemba went on fire,
now stay focus please…

Philly looks like hot garbage! I wonder if they are missing anyone..? Hmm.

Nice to see Kemba on fire!

Best quarter of the season, on both ends. I actually don’t mind the foul-a-thon (some of the calls were B.S) because it means Philly has no offensive rhythm.

Gotta keep the pressure! Let’s get it

Great second quarter to watch. I had to fight for it to be on TV thanks to the damn world series.

> I know how to transfer was asking about emailing without posting the address on the site

Ahhh. So the request is for a messaging system in the blog? I imagine at some point that would become a problem. 😉

Ahhh spend a year posting for KB, then you could earn rights to post, which would let you see email addresses for commenters.

Seriously though, you could use an email alias or temporary email/sms number. In a pinch you could ask someone with posting rights to help being a middle-man. Of course both parties would have to agree for the lookup.

We’re up twenty and only Kemba is in double figures with 10. Total balance. This is just great.

That IQ crossover was unreal. Productive Obi is fun as hell. These strips are glorious. E4’s successful lobbying for the carry call was absurd.

Unsticky Randle is my favorite kind of Randle (that dump off to Mitch was slick). Would love to see more of that.

D-Mar, I live on 34th – if you’re still looking for a taker, I’m absolutely happy to mobilize myself and 3 other bodies to shout ourselves hoarse for the 2nd half.

Mike Kurylo:
> I know how to transfer was asking about emailing without posting the address on the site

Ahhh. So the request is for a messaging system in the blog? I imagine at some point that would become a problem. 😉

Ahhh spend a year posting for KB, then you could earn rights to post, which would let you see email addresses for commenters.

Seriously though, you could use an email alias or temporary email/sms number. In a pinch you could ask someone with posting rights to help being a middle-man. Of course both parties would have to agree for the lookup.

Ok thanks Mike.

glidepath:
That IQ crossover was unreal. Productive Obi is fun as hell.These strips are glorious.E4’s successful lobbying for the carry call was absurd.

Unsticky Randle is my favorite kind of Randle (that dump off to Mitch was slick). Would love to see more of that.

D-Mar, I live on 34th – if you’re still looking for a taker, I’m absolutely happy to mobilize myself and 3 other bodies to shout ourselves hoarse for the 2nd half.

Seriously? Happy to send them to you. Not sure how without you putting your email address on here

Raven:
Anyone want to talk about the new, bulked-up Mitch keeping Joel to 0-5?

And moments after you post that….
🙂

I’ve had this game on in the background. My only comment about the 1st half is that Alec Burks had his first official “old man” moment— the one all of us post-prime individuals have experienced when we realized too late that we can no longer dunk.

OK. One bad game vs. Orlando. It was a wake up call. Did the Knicks look past them?
The true test is for dominance of the East. The 76ers don’t look like they’re in the same class as the Knicks.

Just practicing

Hey guys..do you remember the Kemba Walker game?

So when you make 3’s you can beat anyone and you miss 3’s you can lose to anyone.

Who would have thunk it?

GoNyGoNYGo:
Mitch is dominating Embiid … physically.

Yea he’s really aggressive tonight. I like it. Don’t like the fouls tho. He probably feels like he has to play the physical centers who can score that way because they pushed him around in the past.

TheClashFan: The Knicks will cool off in the fourth….and probably only win by 15 or so…
🙂

Even if it’s by 1, i’ll take it! 😉

I’m assuming this little Sixers run started bc Brian said something to someone about this one being over.

The Knicks commit too many really stupid TOs trying to do too much or rushing. Sometimes you have to just HOLD THE BALL, settle things down, and then start the offense.

Knicks got a bit sloppy. Good time out.
Need better offensive rebounding … like Mitch right there.
And a beauuuuuuuutiful IQ-Obi connection for the slam!

Only lost that Q by 2, so considering our propensity to blow big halftime leads in the past, not bad!

Deeefense: The Knicks commit too many really stupid TOs trying to do too much or rushing.Sometimes you have to just HOLD THE BALL, settle things down, and then start the offense.

Especially if you have a big lead

> Is 65% from three as a team good?

Definitely bad. Scoring from three at a high percentage just telegraphs to the other team your game plan. NBA teams have the best metrics and of course will key in on this. You need to pound the ball inside and take some mid/long-range 2 point shots.

It’s like hitting too many home runs in baseball. You need to spray the ball around, ground out weakly to the opposite side, pop-out every now and then.

Mitch has 4 points, 3 rebounds, 0 blocks, and 5 fouls in 20 minutes for a +1. I don’t get tonight’s love…

Dallas is only trailing Houston by 4 because they’re 4-14 from 3. The midrange game has helped keep it close.

I think it’s because Embiid is 2-7 with 5 rebounds and 4 turnovers for a -8.

Maybe it’s just that Joel sucks.

The guys watched their own highlights in the locker room at the half. Gotta reset now.

Porzingis is sporting a beautiful black eye. Is it new?
Who did it (I’d like to send him a thank you card)?

Guys that are supposed to get points aren’t getting points. Burks, Rose and quickly have to get buckets … most concerning is Burks. He needs to wake the frack up

Many thanks to Andre Drummond,
we were stuck in the mud before that technical FT and then went on a run…

This site has strong Knicks fan PTSD. Up by 14 midway through the 4th quarter and the overall vibe is dread lol

Kidd has to switch KP to C and start Bullock. Powell is close to useless. The middle is too clogged up and they aren’t gaining much on defense. Start Bullock, give Doncic the space he needs, improve the perimeter defense and let KP help inside. KP has looked way better on defense this year. His legs are back…so far. He and Doncic are just throwing up a lot of bricks so far this season.

marechal:
Now that should be in the Sportscenter top 10.

Sorry, late to the thread, but does Sportscenter even do a top 10 anymore??

Mike Kurylo:
> Mitch has been praised because he has Joel Embiid in jail

That o-reb/pass to Quick was nice too.

also hit the ground, grabbed the ball from ? on the floor, forced a jump, which he then won. He’s playing well tonight.

It’s generally working, but it feels as though double teaming Embiid and leaving 3pt shooters open is not a sound strategy with this lead.

Remember when the Knicks sucked on every national TV game? I’m so glad things are different now.

rohank: Sorry, late to the thread, but does Sportscenter even do a top 10 anymore??

I have no idea, but that was in reference to a Ringer feature about Quickley today, which had an anecdote about how he was mad that a preseason play of his did not feature on Sportscenter.

d-mar:
If Embiid decapitated someone he’d still complain to the refs.

He’s not here to babysit. 😉

Mitch has one of the toughest assignments in the league guarding Embiid and he’s done really well, that alone is really impressive.

That’s 3 times now Walker has fed Randle the ball at the top of the key, wide open. He’s gotta take that shot!

Mitch has lost some verticality but he was walking in a boot most of the summer, it should be interesting to see if he gets some of it back as the season goes on

Every time Randle has the ball I get a sick feeling in my stomach because I know he’s going to do something I don’t like even if it works out well on that possession.

Bruno Almeida:
Mitch has one of the toughest assignments in the league guarding Embiid and he’s done really well, that alone is really impressive.

No doubt. Embiid sits having shot the ball only 7 times with 5 turnovers. Thank you, Mitch.

Is it time to take the starters out or is Thibs gonna wait till there’s less than 24s left?

Mitch figured to lose a little of his athleticism with all the extra weight, but I think it’s a good trade off. If he can hang with Embiid no one in the league can overpower him and beat him up inside anymore. The fouls could still be an issue on some nights, but we have to remember he’s still a green player. He came in very raw and missed a lot of time. His best may be 3-4 years away.

TBH, I think Mitch rebuilt his body. I’ve always thought he had a very high ceiling. “Elite” is not out of the question. He has the god-given talent.

Nice bounce back game, good win…

And still we can play much better than this (we won just one quarter)…

Nice win despite going a bit cold there in late third and early fourth. 3-1 is a nice start. But can’t help thinking they should be 4-0 going up against Chicago on Thurs. Maybe a blessing that will keep them humble and focused tho.

Defense was superb tonight. Yes they missed a lot of 3’s but we smothered Embiid and caused a lot of turnovers and several shot clock violations

Kemba’s and E4’s box scores tonight. Beautiful. Thanks Leon. Let’s hope they keep it up.

Went a bit cold in the second half but it was a great game overall and we had good ball movement throughout.

So excited to see the Knicks play in Chicago Thursday night. If you see some guy in the sixth row behind the Knicks bench in a Knicks jacket, you’ll know it’s me.

Z-man: Is it a silk jacket?

I wish! It’s a reversible nylon satin jacket from the 80s or 90s which is still pretty sick…

I have one other comment about this game: why does TikTok need to advertise? Crack never had to advertise back in the 80s. And oxygen still hasn’t spent a dime on name recognition.

Mavericks say Kristaps Porzingis (lower back tightness) is doubtful to return against Houston tonight. More NBA from me: https://t.co/A6ycVmnrjq.— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 27, 2021

Unclear how the Mavs will replace his 8 points and 3 rebounds on 2-10 shooting

Nikola Jokic has a right knee contusion and is questionable to return. Sounds like great news considering how it initially appeared with Jokic in pain.

JK47:
KP is crushing it

If by “it” you mean Strat’s hopes and dreams, then that is an accurate statement

Kemba will not always be this red hot. But just the threat of him opens up the offense in ways that make me more than willing to accept the holes in his game at this stage. Especially since we also have Rose for those nights when Kemba doesn’t have it.

MacMahon:

Jason Kidd says Mavs played all 15 players vs. Rockets per request of Dallas’ three-man leadership council.

That is… wacky.

I have one other comment about this game: why does TikTok need to advertise? Crack never had to advertise back in the 80s. And oxygen still hasn’t spent a dime on name recognition.

Lol. Never change, Donnie.

Randle is allergic to easy buckets. He won’t even shoot when open, or rolling to the basket. It seems like he prefers to slow it down and shoot it contested.

weird but sadly true…

Definitely bad. Scoring from three at a high percentage just telegraphs to the other team your game plan. NBA teams have the best metrics and of course will key in on this. You need to pound the ball inside and take some mid/long-range 2 point shots.

It’s like hitting too many home runs in baseball. You need to spray the ball around, ground out weakly to the opposite side, pop-out every now and then.

this is legit funny…what’s up mike k., you been holding on to this good stuff…

I’ve had this game on in the background. My only comment about the 1st half is that Alec Burks had his first official “old man” moment— the one all of us post-prime individuals have experienced when we realized too late that we can no longer dunk.

hold on a moment now donnie, aren’t you some kind of endurance type fitness person – are you saying at one time you could also dunk…hmmmmmmmmm…

TBH, I think Mitch rebuilt his body. I’ve always thought he had a very high ceiling. “Elite” is not out of the question. He has the god-given talent.

i don’t know if mitch is even at 80% yet, he’s a serious difference maker when he’s out of the court though…was great to see him not hitting the court so much…let embiid roll around on the floor all game…

https://youtu.be/SGwFZqQ_Gns

Did you guys watch this interview with Julius before the game? Brought a smile to my face, how he takes accountability immediately for what happened in the playoffs and just has the right mindset, heavy praise from Barkley and Shaq too. Of course he needs to show it on the court, but I will say it’s fun rooting for a guy like this.

Well, last night Kemba was great and if we can find the best way to use him, we’ll be fine. That, and to be able to hide him on defense, like the Hawks did with Trae Young in the playoffs.
But what really stood out for me was Mitch. Anyone remembers what Mitch tweeted in the offseason? It was “Mission DPOY”. With the total shutdown of Embiid las night, his credit for that goal has certainly improved by a lot.

Mitch’s defense on Embiid might be the best I’ve ever seen someone defend him straight up. I would make an additional comment about how much we missed him but that proved surprisingly controversial last time I said it, so I will not.

cybersoze:
Well, last night Kemba was great and if we can find the best way to use him, we’ll be fine. That, and to be able to hide him on defense, like the Hawks did with Trae Young in the playoffs.
But what really stood out for me was Mitch. Anyone remembers what Mitch tweeted in the offseason? It was “Mission DPOY”. With the total shutdown of Embiid las night, his credit for that goal has certainly improved by a lot.

One thing Mitch has going for him is he can defend Embiid down low and also can defend him when me shoots threes. I don’t think that’s easy to do

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