Comments on: 2022-23 Game Thread: Nine Knicks vs. Cavaliers

By: frank

frank — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 12:42:00 +0000

I’m a bit worried about the Obi injury – seems certainly to have been a non contact knee issue and was really laboring for a couple possessions before they took him out.

In terms of on-court stuff – clearly the biggest problem on this team right now is not Julius Randle but one RJ Barrett. On his post-game pod, Macri asked the great question of whether this team would have a better record if Cam had played all of RJ’s minutes instead of RJ — and the answer to me is clearly yes. RJ literally has been one of the worst players in the NBA this year – I don’t think that is debatable. Without his pedigree and his “work ethic” and “dawg mentality”, he would clearly be an 8th or 9th man on this team.

Regarding the defense – this is sort of what we saw with the Bulls last year when Lonzo and Caruso were guarding the POA – between Grimes, Quickley, and Deuce, teams are just really having a hard time getting into their offense. Some of it is missed shots and injured players, but with their ball pressure, these guys really speed up the offensive players and get them out of rhythm.

Idea for Thibs is — with the 2nd grouping of Deuce, Quickley, RJ, Hart (and whoever subs for Obi) — let Quickley or Hartenstein run the offense instead of RJ. RJ as an offensive hub is far worse than Julius as a offensive hub.

sorry, really hating on RJ today. Hopefully he proves me wrong but I’ve never been high on him. Not athletic, no touch around the rim, never going to be a good shooter. Honestly – hopefully Obi is only out a short time, but Rj’s future is as a small-ball 4 most likely – like Derozan was for SA, like Keldon Johnson was last year for SA (56% minutes at PF per B-R) – would minimize his lack of foot speed.

By: Knick fan not in NJ

Knick fan not in NJ — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 12:11:01 +0000

Thanks Alan. It’s not good news. I actually don’t understand why they traded Hunt. He was our actual third string at the four. He seemed not so bad a player actually.

By: Alan

Alan — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 11:05:05 +0000

Knee injury, Knick fan. He’s going to get an MRI, which doesn’t sound great.

In postgame, Thibs talked about the possibility of RJ playing some 4 in the meantime. If Cam is just out of the rotation for good until he’s dealt, I’m not sure what other choice we have. As we’ve discussed, PF is by far the thinnest spot on the roster. Lots of our guys can play somewhere between 1 and 3, and we’ve got three centers who deserve minutes (but not together), and meanwhile even our good good friend Feron Hunt is gone.

By: Knick fan not in NJ

Knick fan not in NJ — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 10:46:35 +0000

According to the box score, Obi only played 8 minutes. What happened to him?

By: darules

darules — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 07:27:30 +0000

Let’s trade Randle for nothing is the natural conclusion of this thread. Impressive logic, folks.

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 06:43:00 +0000

In reply to Nicos.

That’s always been the fear. I was thinking we were finally past it, but, well, Dolan’s Razor and all…

By: Nicos

Nicos — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 06:19:57 +0000

The writing is on the wall- Randle will play well enough that someone will offer to take him for expiring contracts at the deadline and the Knicks will either decline outright or ask for enough assets in return to squash the deal.

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 05:47:38 +0000

In reply to Z–man.

Send those clips out, Leon! Send those clips out!

By: Z--man

Z--man — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 04:58:01 +0000

“Just saw a stat on sportscenter…Randle is first knick in history with 30pts..15 reb..5 assist and 5 3’s in a game…only 8th player in NBA history to do that…”

Heck of a game for an albatross…

By: Z--man

Z--man — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 04:51:19 +0000

We’re 1.5 games out of the 4th seed. Just sayin’…

(we’re also 1.5 games out of the 12th seed, but I digress…)