2021-22 Game Thread: 249-Pound Lighter Knicks @ Thunder

The Knicks head to OKC for their first game without Julius Randle, who is in COVID protocols.

This should be fascinating.

Let’s go, Knicks!

157 replies on “2021-22 Game Thread: 249-Pound Lighter Knicks @ Thunder”

@FredKatz
Fournier is a game time decision. Obi Toppin will replace Julius Randle in the starting lineup, Tom Thibodeau says.

So it sounds like:
Starters: Mitch, Obi, Fournier, RJ, Kemba
Bench: Taj, Grimes, Knox, Burks, Deuce, IQ

Should be interesting to see who the heck is on the Thunder. Is that really skinny kid getting minutes?

Evan in, Kemba out due to sore knee. Thibs should start Quickley to keep the Obi/IQ pairing together. And lots of Deuce and Grimes off the bench.

Wow, Kemba out with a sore knee (that’s how it started in Boston, what a shocker after playing 40mpg for 4 straight games and both ends of a back to back)…honestly, we want a win, but this is a cameo of the “tank” lineup so let the chips fall where they may.

I have no idea if there’s any connection to Kemba subsequently getting injured, but regardless it was a piss poor idea to play him so many minutes and I don’t give a shit about the lack of other options.

Dealing with such things as all part of the Thibs package was a lot easier when there were good things in the package, too.

Lot of playing time available for the young guns tonight, let’s see what they can do with it…

thenoblefacehumper:
I have no idea if there’s any connection to Kemba subsequently getting injured, but regardless it was a piss poor idea to play him so many minutes and I don’t give a shit about the lack of other options.

Dealing with such things as all part of the Thibs package was a lot easier when there were good things in the package, too.

It’s almost like Thibs did that on purpose. Almost. Almost.

KevinR:
Really wish Samanic was available to see what he could bring.

i doubt that Thibs would play him unless even more guys were out…

Z-man:
Revised:
Starters: Mitch, Obi, RJ, Fournier, Deuce
Bench: Taj, Knox, Burks, Grimes, IQ

Four of five starters and three of five bench players are actual Knicks draftees. Not so long that was inconceivable for the Knicks

Fuck, I forgot it’s Friday Night Knicks

As soon as I heard that Robert Randolph tune I knew we were doomed

Crazy to see how easy it is for RJ to get to the rim and score without any semblance of a shot blocker out there.

You have to love Poku because now everyone has a name on the “7 footers I think I could beat in a fight” list

If Randle is watching this game he’s probably thinking I need to shoot all the time when I return.

Yeah, the plan “let’s show Randle what he needs to change” is not going well until now.

I think they’re still working through “Where’s Julius?” Like, what is this round thing that keeps finding me, what should I do with it?

Even I know Jerome can do one thing well: shoot, and still they let him open over and over.
Bad scouting report.

Not too surprisingly, the Knicks did not score a lot of points in the first quarter

You all can continue to hate on Randle but the only chance this team has of salvaging their season is Randle playing like an All-Star again. Having him not playing thinking the rest of the team will all of a sudden play great because Randle was apparently keeping them down is foolish thinking.

Ball movement is better, they’re missing tons of open looks and some point blank shots.
With Randle wouldn’t been different, probably worse for the eyes…

3-22 from three against 9-19.

Knicks skipped the usual shootaround for covid precaution and it’s showing…

Z-man:
I guess the Thunder didn’t get the memo that RJ can’t go right…

And then he did it !!! Ha.

I mean awful shooting half vs a team that was kinda lights out … not a bad outcome ..

Down by two after going 5-24 from three. I’m okay with that.

I mean, I’m not okay with that, but it’s a lot better than a sharp stick in the eye…

On a side note I’m not much of a college football fan but the SEC really is light years ahead of the rest of the country aren’t they.

I realize I’m mostly posting to myself but the reason Fournier is here is to take some of the offensive load … he’s a fucking waste

Someone pull Fournier out of the game. He’s a waste on defense and is useless if he isn’t hitting shots.

Fournier is unwatchable, if he’s nicked up keep him out, no need to play 4 vs 5.

Another game with a ton of missed FTs…

stuck with the okc home feed on nba tv…holy shit, that one guy don’t even take time for a breath while he’s speaking, coke adds life…

While bad nights form three can happen, I can’t remember a game with so many missed layups…

We’re probably breaking some record about expected FG%…

Fournier is much worse on D than I expected…

he doesn’t seem to like either offensive or defensive contact…he’s 3 ply charmin soft…

Thibs first rotation adjustment tonight was to take obi out earlier… just not enough offense

After this game Randle should make a KB burner account and just start posting middle fingers to everyone here lol

Sorry, our going 6-31 from 3 while moving the ball well, while missing what seems to be a historic number of layups while moving the ball well, is not an argument for how much we need Julius Randle.

BigBlueAL: After this game Randle should make a KB burner account and just start posting middle fingers to everyone here lol

But maybe first he starts playing well, right?

KevinR: Hope this game makes it obvious we have big holes outside of Julius

We are a sinking ship. We have a lot of holes.

On top of the Celts beating the Suns, if we lose this game it would be an appropriate end to a shitty year.

Having Randle leave the lineup isn’t going to amount to much good if the guy who is taking up his shots is missing them, hence the problem with Fournier playing so much.

Raven:
Sorry, our going 6-31 from 3 while moving the ball well, while missing what seems to be a historic number of layups while moving the ball well, is not an argument for how much we need Julius Randle.

I can’t agree more, so many open shots clunked while the worst team in 3PT% is having the night of the year…

cybersoze: But maybe first he starts playing well, right?

Hopefully! But it’s just silly that so many here just dismisses what Randle can bring to the table and swear that he’s bringing everyone else down. He’s struggling big time and needs to step it up but he’s not a loser and this team needs him badly. He’s shown he’s more than capable of lifting his game and his teammates too, hopefully when he returns he can more closely resemble last season’s form.

Ok the kids can’t shoot or they just shoot like every one else … some basic bitch averages

Raven:
Sorry, our going 6-31 from 3 while moving the ball well, while missing what seems to be a historic number of layups while moving the ball well, is not an argument for how much we need Julius Randle.

So you are saying this is just chance. It’s not that Toppin, Barrett and McBride are actually not good at shooting threes? I think it’s the latter. Having McBride instead of Kemba makes our offense worse and so does having Toppin instead of Randle. McBride at least improves on defense over Kemba, but I can’t say the same about Toppin over Randle.

Geo, these homers are annoying… there’s not a single foul commited by OKC, in their eyes.

Thibs should have figured out how to get his best unit on the floor together for a few minutes each half … it’s been a bit of a mish mosh

KevinR:
We are pretty much at OKCs level with the talent we have available.

If we were at their level, the score would be tied

Geo: any big “focus” changes for yourself this new year soze?

I’m going to think about it… tomorrow! LOL

This is over… we’re a disaster. Not even against the worst teams in the league we can have an automatic win.

Geo:
that guy just talks too damn much…geez, i sound like such an old man 🙂

Turn down the sound.

Knicks Fan, not really arguing against your points, which are valid, but also

Fournier, .369 from 3 for the year, 1-5
Barrett, .336, 1-7
Quickley, .348, 1-7
Grimes, .397, 1-6
Knox, .421, 1-4

That’s a bad night.

I missed Kemba and Rose more than Randle tonight, but I’m a hater so it doesn’t count.

Incredible number of good shots missed, threes, layups, free throws, it was a winnable game and OKC had the night of the year from three. They’re the “best” (meaning the less ravaged by Covid) team we faced in the last four games.

Play the kids, we need to know what we have.

Next game in Toronto will be sad, they’re back to no crowd in the stands…

Knicks got together and collectively decided that Times Square should be the only ball dropping for NY tonight.

I suppose the main takeaway from this game is Deuce and IQ arent the answers at PG(right now at least). Still need to find that guy.

Max: Next game in Toronto will be sad, they’re back to no crowd in the stands…

  

Man, that could’ve been the “Randle gets fixed” game!

Happy New Year everyone. May 2022 be infinitely better.

Next game in Toronto is most likely gonna be a blowout with the Raptors having all their best players back. Happy New Year!

I watched the game. There’s nothing to say other than…
Happy New Year!!!
We are undefeated in 2022!!!

Comments are closed.