2021-22 Game Thread: Knicks @ A Couple of Guys Who Were Just Issued Pistons Jerseys This Morning

Holy shit, folks, the Knicks are heading into Detroit to take on a shitty Detroit Pistons team that is in the middle of a COVID outbreak, so their already shitty roster is somehow even shittier than normal. I think Bill Laimbeer might be suiting up tonight.

So, Knicks, you better win this won, okay? The Knicks have already won two in a row for the first time since October and now they get to beat up on a Detroit team that is legit starting: Derrick Walton Jr., Frank Jackson, Hamidou Diallo, Saddiq Bey, Luka Garza. Holy shit, people! And the Knicks are only favored by 8 points!

If the Knicks pull this off (and oh man, could you even imagine them not winning this one?), they’ll actually probably move up to the #9 seed in the Eastern Conference. Good time to get healthy, Knickerbockers!

Let’s go, Knicks!

272 replies on “2021-22 Game Thread: Knicks @ A Couple of Guys Who Were Just Issued Pistons Jerseys This Morning”

Play the kids and let’s go Knicks!

Cue 49 minutes from Randle in regulation (“Where the hell did Thibs find that extra minute?!?”).

2:30 left in the 4th quarter , here’s Breen:

“Knicks up by 25, Randle with the spin move – he turns it over, Robinson dives for the loose ball and comes up hobbling…..”

I’m going to watch the 1st half, and then if they’re playing like yesterday with “no fire and desire” (i miss Clyde) i think i’ll skip the 2nd half.
Go NY Go NY Gooooo!
(trying a new one after the poor results achieved by “bing bong” and “let’s go Knicks”)

cybersoze:
I’m going to watch the 1st half, and then if they’re playing like yesterday with “no fire and desire” (i miss Clyde) i think i’ll skip the 2nd half.
Go NY Go NY Gooooo!
(trying a new one after the poor results achieved by “bing bong” and “let’s go Knicks”)

I agree, the Bing bongs didn’t seem to help

“Knicks up by 25, Randle with the spin move – he turns it over, Robinson dives for the loose ball and comes up hobbling…..”

Eerily believable.

RJ literally can’t make an open righty layup. Shouldn’t he have been practicing that for, say, the last three years?

Jesus this game looks worse than the Minny game last night if that was possible lol

I’m going to watch the 1st half, and then if they’re playing like yesterday with “no fire and desire” (i miss Clyde) i think i’ll skip the 2nd half.
Go NY Go NY Gooooo!
(trying a new one after the poor results achieved by “bing bong” and “let’s go Knicks”)
Knick fan not in NJ: I agree, the Bing bongs didn’t seem to help

I’ll vote for that 😀

On pace for a 14-4 quarter. They’re spoiling us to the finest basketball we’ve ever seen. LOL

Anytime you can lose to a last place team that has more players out than roster spots, you got to jump on that opportunity.

While I’m cautiously optimistic about Grimes, I think it’s time he be read the riot act about mad chucking.

Grimes took the “follow the leader” advice too seriously.

Hey kid, it’s “follow the leader but try to shoot better than him”…

Just put me on the roster. 10 days. I can’t be worse than this. A loss is a loss. Let me help them lose by 90. Just pay me for 10 days

Did I just hear, “Saddiq Bey is the one player… who can score points?”

Stay cool, people. We’re going to win this one by 20+ points. That’s what my crystal ball says.

I legit don’t know what to think when they play like this and still likely win. I mean, I think you just take the W if you can get it and hope you work on the shit later, right? Win in the hand and all of that.

Alan, I’m literally just watching Deuce and Grimes (and Quick and Obi). If they can get more playing time and start showing some stuff, then the hell with the rest of it.

cybersoze:
Stay cool, people. We’re going to win this one by 20+ points. That’s what my crystal ball says.

As long as the bench mob play there’s no doubt your crystal ball is right…

Deeefense!!:
as usual, bench > starters

Next game we should refuse to put anyone on the floor for tipoff. Then sub in 5 guys after the 1st basket.

This second unit operates like a well oiled machine, in sharp contrast to the starters who look confused.

The Pistons really should give out coupons for a couple of dozen chalupas to all the fans attending this shit show

Yeah, “beautiful pass” by Randle to a guy whose man is writhing on the floor in agonizing pain.

I would take a conditional 4th rounder for Randle….and I’m pretty sure the NBA draft is only 2 rds

Well there goes my Frank Johnson game.

And yes, Barrett should be fined for not tossing it to Mitch earlier.

do any of these idiots know how to lob it in to our big man…it’s a joke how many easy buckets we miss

Maybe the kids can privately agree to freeze Randle out.

if the fans at the garden are starting to boo him, which may become a more consistent thing if he continues to play so poorly – his teammates know he’s not doing so good right now too…

Of course Randle shoots the tech with IQ on the floor.

And of course Randle took the last shot and missed.

Why Randle has the ball on the last possession is one of the great mysteries of Thib’s coaching. It’s always a bad shot. We have no good plays.

Shooting the techs I disagree with, but you can at least make the case he’s trying to get him back in a rhythm. It’s crazy, but there may be some twisted logic to it.

Z-man: I guessed Tyson Chandler instead of Kareem…

It was neither Kareem nor Tyson, I reasoned it out by thinking of the guy between Wilt and Shaq that was the strongest guy in the league…

Z-man: It was neither Kareem nor Tyson, I reasoned it out by thinking of the guy between Wilt and Shaq that was the strongest guy in the league…

Never mind, it’s not the guy I thought, I included ABA seasons…

7 point lead against a bunch of G-Leaguers. Is this our low point of the season, or what?

My Crystal Ball would like to say sorry about the prediction, saying she didn’t envision Thibs playing the starters so many minutes.

“Julius Randle… making some interesting decisions with the ball…”

Preach, Wally, preach…

The harshest criticism you’ll ever hear from. Wally:

“Randle with some interesting decisions “

Raven:
“Julius Randle… making some interesting decisions with the ball…”
Preach, Wally, preach…

He’s right. The guys that make the compilations of the funny moments of the season are finding Randle’s decisions very interesting.

Let’s go pistons!

The better they do the better the chance thibs is fired and Randle is traded.

Is that three turnovers by Randle in the first three minutes by Randle?

What’s that work out to per 36….

There’s only one player that has started every Knicks game this year.

He’s the same player that has twice turnovers (4) than made baskets (2) tonight.

He’s the only player our hard-ass coach don’t held accountable for his mistakes.

His name is Apocalypse.

At least we’re getting torched by one of the guys who is actually on Detroit’s main roster, the bad news is that he’s also terrible.

Knicks are down to the
– Worst team in the league
– Missing their top 3 players
– After losing another key player
The coaches don’t even know the players names!

There is no reason for any of the starters to play another minute tonight. Maybe Mitch. If it wasn’t for Mitch the Knicks would be down 20.

Kemba Walker should not even be playing this game much less playing this much.

The Pistons have 2 (two) non-guards on their roster, a 2nd round rookie and a dude who’s on a 10-day and Randle is 2-9. Trade him for anything.

I’m okay with Robinson tipping the ball and getting the basket waved off. Barrett didn’t deserve it after not passing to Mitch.

Sounds like not being able to watch is a blessing.

Whoever the Hamidou Diallo guy was on the board for years should be happy at least

KJG:
I would say there’s a 92% chance we hear Kemba is out for months after tonight

Thibodeau’s a psychopath.

5 seconds … it’s getting worse … there wasn’t even pressure on that inbounds!!!! Lazy fucks … egg on our face , we are cruel to ourselves

Z-man: You wouldn’t think the worst movie of all time would have a sequel…

Always liked horror movies, that’s why i stayed for the 2nd half. 😛

Randle is 2-10 with 25 minutes while Obi has played 6… this is just unbelievable

Randle is currently the worst player on the team. He’s like an energy vampire. He sucks the life and energy out of everyone. I’ve been a huge Thibs fan, but if he doesn’t bench Randle soon he’s an f’n idiot.

Thibodeau got the team maybe to play hard for one season. And even that’s questionable because of the empty buildings, but ok give him that. They aren’t playing a lick for him this year.

Skiles effect … in full effect!!

This would be the kind of loss that gets a coach fired by surprise. Double digit loss to the worst team in the league without its best players… The only mitigating factor is the 2nd night of BTB.

This is horrible. They can’t hit any shots and they are getting out hustled too

I’m just really impressed how we consistently play the cold hand. Stay with it, Thibs! You’re the coach, no reason to try new things!

RJ and Randle a -29 and -27 in as many minutes…

Can anyone get the splits/facts on back to backs … I understand tired players but my gut says it’s overblown… maybe a topic for another day … I just don’t think it’s as strong of an excuse as people think … it’s kinda one you can always back into… but between last nights wolves team and tonight’s juggernaut … come on …

let’s trade half the roster and future picks and get lillard…at least we would have one real nba player

oh shit, can’t wait to get home and turn this one on…we being outscored by 20 points so far in the 3rd quarter…we’ve only scored 7 points in the in 10 minutes – what the heck…

If Thibs doesn’t play the bench for the whole 4th quarter the fans should sue him for malpractice

I’d like to see RJ get to play with these guys rather than get weighed down by Randle.

Love watching Deuce play defense. He’s like Fuck you, I played football, I’m going over every pick.

Z-man:
If Thibs puts the starters back in he should be punched in the face.

He eventually will … either by the book or he’ll “sense” something

Oh my god this unit is so much better … move the ball … run … play D … not rocket science

Maybe Thibs gives ultimatum to starters… this is their last chance. Hell put them back in but if they don’t win , death

KJG:
Can anyone get the splits/facts on back to backs … I understand tired players but my gut says it’s overblown… maybe a topic for another day … I just don’t think it’s as strong of an excuse as people think … it’s kinda one you can always back into… but between last nights wolves team and tonight’s juggernaut … come on …

When I was gambling, the data suggested it depended on whether it was a basic B2B, B2B with 2 road games, B2B that was 3 out of 4 nights playing, B2B that was 4 out 5 nights playing, and even the arena and direction of travel. B2B going to Denver for example was a nightmare. Basic B2B was about 1 point give or take. There’s way less tough scheduling now though. So it’s probably less, but I haven’t see any data in years. .

If I’m coach, the starters never see the floor again. The 3rd team can come in and give the 2nd unit a breather.

“What’s that huge bulge in your wall? Did a pipe break?” “Just keep layering wallpaper over it, eventually you won’t notice it!”

Time to step on their throats so that the Pistons just give up. They had their lead, they can have a moral victory. Get them to basically give up.

Z-man:
McBride is now plus 30 in 14 minutes and hasn’t scored a point. Coincidence?

Just like Frank. Lol.

It would be nice if when guys just suck in a particular game, we don’t gratuitously blame it on others…

Z-man: Now at plus 38 in 18 minutes, still at 0 points.

It’s hard to be a plus 38 without scoring a point. Intangibles!

I don’t like how they are slowing this down on offense … it’s now how they play … just do what u do

Randle is so bad it’s venturing into “so bad it’s interesting” territory like The Room or Troll 2 or Neil Young’s “Trans”

Thibodeau’s inability to conceptualize lineups as anything but defined “units” is really weird.

E, all merc’d out:
Thibodeau’s inability to conceptualize lineups as anything but defined “units” is really weird.

It’s insanity … he coulda worked grimes or RJ in here … or even a Randle … but leave the core of the unit moving and grooving. He’s an idiot

GoNyGoNYGo:
This post-game interview with Thibs should be interesting.

He won’t saying anything negative about anyone. It will be all spin and nonsense about the starters .

KJG: It’s insanity … he coulda worked grimes or RJ in here … or even a Randle … but leave the core of the unit moving and grooving.He’s an idiot

Nah. The Knicks only win because he glued their pathetic asses to the bench.

Like I said before, just be happy that they’re getting these gift wins. They count the same as any other win. They can’t take then back, ya know?

He won’t saying anything negative about anyone. It will be all spin and nonsense about the starters .

One hundo.

Hat tip to the Motor City Cruise, they played with pride and effort.

We’re the undisputed G-League champions and I’m elated.

This game is a hard slap in the face of the Mad Hatter and it shows that you can bench Kemba, flip-flop the centers, skip Fournier, put Barrett in H&S, but the starter will stink as long as Apocalypse The Energy Vampire will be in.

GoNyGoNYGo: Nah. The Knicks only win because he glued their pathetic asses to the bench.

Ok fine … what about Dotson … Knox !!!??? Easy Peasy … I’d argue Dotson should be giving high energy breather minutes every night

Hat tip to the Motor City Cruise, they played with pride and effort.

Yeah, major tip of the cap to Diallo and Bey. That can get COVID later tonight with their heads held high.

This was a look-in-the-mirror game for Randle and the starters. That was straight embarrassing in the 3rd. It was only Taj’s professionalism, Burks shooting, and a bench squad that actually gave a damn that gave us this win. Thibs should rip them apart in the locker room but he won’t and will probably give a “all the matters is the win” speech at the post game intv.

Yikes when is this team gonna actually look like a coherent basketball team?! And yet we are in the playoff hunt and a game or two out of 6th. W-T-F

Brian Cronin: Like I said before, just be happy that they’re getting these gift wins. They count the same as any other win. They can’t take then back, ya know?

  

Brian, now only 39-8 to go! I’m still with you, buddy!

It’s getting to the point that I am wondering if the leading starting lineup guys like Randle and Kembe are trying to get Thibs fired.

Barrettcuda:
It’s getting to the point that I am wondering if the leading starting lineup guys like Randle and Kembe are trying to get Thibs fired.

Something that hadn’t crossed my mind until now.

! Like I said before, just be happy that they’re getting these gift wins. They count the same as any other win. They can’t take then back, ya know?

This makes sense if you believe a turnaround is coming. I feel like these are the two wins that cause us to get stuck with the next Jordan Hill.

KJG: Ok fine … what about Dotson … Knox !!!??? Easy Peasy … I’d argue Dotson should be giving high energy breather minutes every night

When Thibs challenged the Toppin foul it gave the 2nd unit a nice extra breather. They did not look tired. I would have been furious if he sat the 2nd unit for a minute at the end of the game.

This makes sense if you believe a turnaround is coming. I feel like these are the two wins that cause us to get stuck with the next Jordan Hill.

If they end up in the lottery, then yes, these wins will suck. I don’t think they will, but yes, if they do, that would be bad.

Brian Cronin: If they end up in the lottery, then yes, these wins will suck. I don’t think they will, but yes, if they do, that would be bad.

I think the front office has earned some benefit of the doubt in their ability to find value anywhere in the first round.

Hubert: This makes sense if you believe a turnaround is coming. I feel like these are the two wins that cause us to get stuck with the next Jordan Hill.

The way Randle is playing, Jordan Hill would be an upgrade. 🙂

I think the front office has earned some benefit of the doubt in their ability to find value anywhere in the first round.

You can be the sharpest GM in the game and it won’t help you draft Steph Curry if you’re picking 8th.

Z-man:
McBride is now plus 30 in 14 minutes and hasn’t scored a point. Coincidence?

It’s Frankidence

I think the front office has earned some benefit of the doubt in their ability to find value anywhere in the first round.

um, I don’t.

I couldn’t watch the game tonight but no way possible was it as fun as reading the game thread lol.

This was a look-in-the-mirror game for Randle and the starters. That was straight embarrassing in the 3rd.

at this point – it has to be a point of discussion inside and outside the locker room, right?

otherwise it would be this huge elephant getting in the middle of everything they do together as a team…

it doesn’t take dick tracy to figure out randle is playing horrible right now…

imagine if the last two games had been played at home, randle would be getting booed like crazy anytime he fumbles away the play, which is happening a lot…

I watched Spiderman instead of the game tonight. The box score makes it seems like it was the 2nd “Alec Burks stood between us and losing to a G-League team” game of the season.

The good news is the Celtics lost to a Clippers team that, while not quite as anonymous as these Pistons, was led in minutes and FGAs by OAKOAK Marcus Morris.

The bad news is that this win does absolutely nothing to alleviate the long-term concerns with this team.

I will go on the record and say I just don’t think Randle is going to start hitting shots at anywhere close to his clip from last season. That means the path to salvaging both this season and Randle’s value as an asset runs through telling him it’s time to be a roll man/finisher again, and he can revisit all the extra curricular stuff in the offseason and/or in garbage time. Take threes, shots at the rim, shots with the clock winding down, and not much else. Let the guards bring the ball up the floor and initiate the offense.

Again, if he’s not on board with playing like he did in the ancient times of *checks notes* 2019, politely tell him he’s going to start losing minutes to his backup, who has probably been the best per-minute player on the team.

Geo

it doesn’t take dick tracy to figure out randle is playing horrible right now…

It’s even worse than this. Randle doesn’t look like he even cares that he’s playing horrible.

Brian Cronin: You can be the sharpest GM in the game and it won’t help you draft Steph Curry if you’re picking 8th.

I am not in favor of selling out entire seasons from a playoff birth for the off chance that we are in a position to draft a once in a generation talent, an occurrence that happens once in a generation.

I am not in favor of selling out entire seasons from a playoff birth for the off chance that we are in a position to draft a once in a generation talent, an occurrence that happens once in a generation.

I don’t think that argument follows from, “If they end up in the lottery, then yes, these wins will suck. I don’t think they will, but yes, if they do, that would be bad.” If they end up in the lottery, they inherently will not have a playoff berth.

barrettcuda used to be ntilakilla, right?

Ok, Ras, no more naming yourself after lottery picks. And please get out of my Van Halen t-shirt before you jinx the band and they break up.

Hubert:
barrettcuda used to be ntilakilla, right?

Ok, Ras, no more naming yourself after lottery picks. And please get out of my Van Halen t-shirt before you jinx the band and they break up.

LOL I was thinking the same thing.

In 455 minutes without Randle on the court this year, the Knicks are outscoring teams by 15.9 points per 100 possessions, which of course would be an all time record.

He must be really nicked up.

Stat from Macri, who also did an “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!” Julius rant in his postgame show. And he’s the most optimistic public Knicks fan there is!

That’s a nice rant, but I disagree with his conclusion. At the end he said it started with him trying to accommodate new teammates. To me, this started in the playoffs. I do not think he has recovered from what Atlanta did to him.

It’s like the Jordan Rules, but with a shitty stand in for Michael Jordan.

Julius Randle is missing the same exact shots he was making last year and he can’t deal with it, nor can he deal with the new fouling rules not bailing him out of bad decisions.

re-watching the full game now…randle at least looked to be running a little faster this game, less holding the ball…the game doesn’t turn until kemba and randle are both off the court…

yeah, thibs should control court time, whatever strategy/plan he has going on with randle – ain’t working…

that guy macri looked like he was sitting in a closet – in his mom’s basement…and what was up with that randle shrine in the closet…that’s some stuff you put up on the wall when you’re like 15 or so, right…

Alan: Stat from Macri, who also did an “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!” Julius rant in his postgame show. And he’s the most optimistic public Knicks fan there is!

Dang, macri is pissed. And rightfully so. This version of Randle isn’t an NBA player, let alone a starter, let alone a star.

Thibs will start with the starters, but they’re gonna get the Plague treatment. They’ll play 5 min and get pulled for the 2nd unit.

Somehow Randle is second in the league in minutes. Unbelievable.

Today has to be a wakeup moment for Thibs. Accept reality and start scaling back his minutes. He’s not last year’s Randle anymore. Sorry. It sucks, but that’s just the way it is. See what Obi can do with 20+ mpg.

pretty much all the starters should be on the bench by the 7 to 8 minute mark of the 1st and 3rd, unless they’re just bombing away from three or something…particularly with our roster…

after 7 or 8 minutes of court time – most guys in the game are gonna be gassed anyway…

again they come back on the court in the 2nd and 4th with around 7 minutes left, maybe…i mean, thibs has even acknowledged how well his bench plays – use them…

I’m not trying to dismiss those who are dismissing our wins against depleted teams. But wouldn’t some of these replacement players on teams missing regular players from covid be playing as hard as they possibly could since they’re getting a shot at playing in an actual NBA game and it’s kind of an audition for them?

I’ve always believed that the difference in talent/ability between an end of the rotation NBA player and a G-Leaguer isn’t that big. Often it’s about opportunity, situation, age, how hard they work, etc. So while it’s easy to dismiss these wins bc teams are missing key players, some of these replacement players you gotta think are going to play with an intensity that a more established NBA player may not bring during the regular season grind. Also if you’re going to dismiss these wins then you also have to dismiss some of our losses when literally half of our team was out bc of covid.

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