I don’t think there is an objective argument beyond a small sample in February to support the “reasonably close” hypothesis.

That is correct because that is the only time the reformulated Knicks were intact (with the absence of MR) and they were extremely impressive by any measure. But it is all speculative. All hail the new champs as they earned it.

Bit I am looking forward to next season more than any season in 20 years. I hope Leon sits back and makes a few draft picks ( his crew did good work with the late firsts/early seconds they did make) and lets the post season come to him.

I don’t think there is an objective argument beyond a small sample in February to support the “reasonably close” hypothesis. As you know, I am as diehard of a Knicks fan as anyone here, and for as long a most here. I’m not sure that any of our players would crack their starting lineup except for Brunson, and you could argue that he’d be better coming off of their bench. They have five all-star level starters who played with great chemistry, and an all-star level 6th man in Horford.

Now if by “reasonably close” you mean a couple of feasible moves away, then I would agree with that.

It certainly wouldn’t be in my personal discussion of that topic. I agree that “played zero D” was not an accurate characterization, and I know that they had some pretty good defenders on that team (Capela, CP3, Ariza, PJ). But they also had notoriously bad defender James Harden leading them in minutes (not to mention that he put up a .538 TS% on a 37% usage in that series), and non-defenders like Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon playing significant roles, and they were coached by Mike D’Antoni, who was hardly known for his defensive acumen. Their pythag was 61-21, compared to 66-16 for the 2024 Celts. They were also completely dependent on the highest variance shot, and when they got cold they had no plan B. I don’t think they were even close to teams like the mid-’90s Knicks or the best Suns, Sonics, Pacers, or Jazz teams of that era, to mention a few.

…sez the guy who condescended to his fellow posters so irreverently that he was one of the very few to get banned. I’ll give this all the consideration it is due.

Sweet goalpost shift. Well played.

That doesn’t make this statement go away… “I think one has to be an incredible homer to suggest that we were anywhere near as good as them.” There may be many here who think in their present form healthy the Knicks are reasonably close to the Celtics. Without being incredible homers. But we will see in the fullness of time.

Ok doc…you gonna give a tutorial on brain surgery manana or perhaps transition over to rocket science?

If you want a tutorial on brain surgery i’ll have to defer to my son who is a 5th year resident in Neurosurgery. Rocket science, not so much. What’s your point? Other than the obvious, well known fact fact he broke his hand, what makes you think in that video he really messed his hand up? Having an immobilization device on a surgical fracture at 3 weeks is perfectly standard. Just want to argue or express negativity? Fine. Be my guest.

I believe in the Knick’s post surgical press release, they said he would be re-evaluated in 6-8 weeks.

…sez the guy who condescended to his fellow posters so irreverently that he was one of the very few to get banned. I’ll give this all the consideration it is due.