Comments on: Knicks Win 102-93 vs Cavs – Up 3 Games to 1

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 13:39:22 +0000

In reply to frank.

On much happier notes – if you’re Cleveland (and assuming no historic turnaround in this series) — you have to wonder whether the twin towers concept might be unworkable going forward.

I think they likely were looking at this as Year one of a three year plan. This year they get Mitchell, and then next year they add to the core. They’re woefully short in terms of depth, but now that they’ve reached the #4 seed with this core, they can add around it, and bring in an offensive-minded 3/4 to add to the core. Also, with Nurse and Udoka both out there, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Cleveland try to move earlier than expected in getting a veteran “win now” guy to replace Bickerstaff, who has looked way, way overmatched this series.

By: KBA: 44 or more

KBA: 44 or more — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 12:48:19 +0000

Mobley is 21, Allen 24, Garland 23, Okoro 22, Mitchell 26. They are nowhere near their peak yet. Even if they lose this series, there is no need to panic.

Yeah, win or lose, I feel like this is the beginning of a rivalry for us that can last ~ 5years

By: ramahawk

ramahawk — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 12:00:29 +0000

The Cavs have similar issues to ours – offensively limited big men, no 2-way big wing – but we have much better depth and have been better coached. Over the next couple of years it will be interesting to see whether RJ becomes consistent or Okoro develops more on offense. I remain skeptical of both … but at least RJ is capable of high usage, somewhat efficient games like the last two. I still am not optimistic he’ll be a reliable plus player or worth his contract, but he’s certainly more complete than Okoro at the moment.

By: gkhenman

gkhenman — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 11:51:40 +0000

Mobley is 21, Allen 24, Garland 23, Okoro 22, Mitchell 26. They are nowhere near their peak yet. Even if they lose this series, there is no need to panic.

By: frank

frank — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 11:35:59 +0000

Pretty disheartening to see Randle leave without talking to the media.
this is what we were all so worried about last season — does he have the mental fortitude to be a winning player? I thought he had gotten his “mental” together, but that’s far from a sure thing now. his defensive effort in the 3rd was embarrassing. So glad that Thibs sat him.

On much happier notes – if you’re Cleveland (and assuming no historic turnaround in this series) — you have to wonder whether the twin towers concept might be unworkable going forward. Garland and Mitchell are great, but are essentially 1-way players that you have to scheme around on defense. Levert is ok sometimes, but is also a liability on defense. So as a CLE coaching staff, defensively you have 3 guys to scheme around, and on offense, you only really trust 2 guys to handle the ball and make a play. They went all-in on Mitchell but they are so far from a complete team. Hard to know how they take the next step — Mobley is the future so you think you’d trade Allen…. but after this performance and with his contract, he is probably a negative asset. Mobley is a stud but is probably 2-3 years away from his prime (at which point Mitchell may walk).

Anyway – I do not want to count chickens before they’re hatched, so I will stop here in terms of the Cavs’ post-mortem.

By: KBA: 44 or more

KBA: 44 or more — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 11:32:27 +0000

Basically, the only stat we beat them in was rebounds 47 to 33 and a whopping 17 OR to 7. Seems like we just wanted it more.

By: Z--man

Z--man — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 10:06:16 +0000

Just read the Macri newsletter, quite the admonishing ode to himself as a longtime RJ doubter.

By: Knew Your Nicks

Knew Your Nicks — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 08:17:51 +0000

What happened?
Where’s everybody?
Are we tanking or not?
;-p

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 04:22:03 +0000

In reply to Raven is a Big Black Bird.

That was a hell of a three pointer by Edwards. Pretty much unguardable.

By: Raven is a Big Black Bird

Raven is a Big Black Bird — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 03:35:28 +0000

From the very last post on the last thread, since I hadn’t realized we’d started anew:

Really nice Katz piece in The Athletic. Analyzes all the things the Knicks are doing somewhat differently that may be making all the difference.

https://theathletic.com/4443356/2023/04/23/knicks-new-gear-cavs-playoffs/

And nice catch, timo. I was like hmm, but couldn’t trouble myself to care enough to stop and figure it out… (Randle scored 7, Brunson scored 29, etc.).