This place used to have a generally pessimistic attitude because objective indicators pointed to the Knicks being a bad team without clear avenues to improve. The resident optimists would argue in the face of the evidence that things were fine, actually.

Now the objective indicators say the Knicks are quite good, a “contender”

The current objective indicators suggest quite clearly that a series of unforced errors stand between us and a true championship caliber team.

We are “a contender” but the objective is to be a champion. We are Ricky Hatton, not Floyd Mayweather.

This is a perennial second round team until Leon finishes the job.

Why is this team being a handful of games better in any way irrational?

BPL, you are trying to be rational, but I have Knicks PTSD and I’m being emotional. The national press has been wrong so often in who they pick as true contenders and who will be lousy that I instinctively don’t trust them. For example, last year they thought the Knicks would not be so good, they thought the Lakers and the Warriors were true contenders, they almost anointed the Nuggets as the best team, and they had no idea Dallas would cut a swath through the West and play in the finals.

Of course, I would love that; but I can’t help feeling this is a summer of irrational exuberance.

Exuberance, sure… irrational….

This team won 50 last year and won at a wicked pace after RJ and IQ left and OG came in. The entire starting front line missed > 30 games a piece and most of those together,

They lost I hart and 29 games of -4.9 BMP play from Bogey while adding Bridges plus 4 young players that may or may not contribute anything.

Why is this team being a handful of games better in any way irrational?

We already punted the 25th pick.

I think you meant the 24th pick as we selected the Frenchman with 25. If by punting you mean netting Kolek and 3 net #2’s, then… ok.

We already failed to resign Burks

I don’t see signing Burks to a bloated over market contract for the express purpose of putting him in the Fournier Bastile a crime against humanity.

We’ve railed about Thibs predilection of having old overpaid mercs blocking younger player development for years.

We gained almost nothing.

I don’t consider bagging a high volatility pick at 25, getting 3 rookies they like (for whatever reason) and netting 4 surplus #2’s as nothing while keeping access to the MLE and staying below the 2nd apron with the ability to use that space, nothing.

Add that to pushing the chips in for a player you vouched for for 6, #1’s, this team is better while paying 5#1s, a swap and getting what should be a very high #2…. I’m pretty happy.

Losing Ihart was unavoidable unless you were able to look into your crystal ball 3 years ago and say, “Oh, shit… I better give this guy who no one would pay 18 for two a third year team option (like Ihart wouldn’t have balked at that) because I can clearly see him being a 29M/yr player.”

I spent most of my adult life gambling and we call this playing results.

The Knicks did most of what everyone here asked for: replaced stiffs at the end of the bench with young players with the potential to develop and used the draft choices for a big player who is a perfect stylistic fit. We can quibble bridges isn’t a big enough player, but we will see this in the fullness of time.

Dude… why the fuck would you want to be Mussolini. Your ass lost. For good cause.

Because Canio is Italian and that’s better than being Saddam, Little Rocket Man or a Mullah….

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5608781/2024/07/03/paul-george-sixers-nba-free-agency-thoughts/

How often do you see Thibs going with a non-traditional center? Feels like that would be optimal closing lineup at the very least.”

I think Thibs is going to try a variety of things, including small lineups with OG as a small-ball C. Not sure how much patience he will have with it.

I’ll be interested to see whether any of the rookies get some non-garbage time burn. Thibs played IQ, Obi, and Grimes lots of minutes right out of the box, and Deuce and Sims saw more than a handful of minutes as rookies.

“This is the best thing about Leon Rose. The media must hate him, but I love the fact that there’s a zipper on those lips.”

I love that about Leon as well, but the best thing about him is he’s a pretty damn good executive, maybe the best since Eddie Donovan.

Ha, I love that this just was always the deal, and the reporting was simply shitty to start. Too funny.

This is the best thing about Leon Rose. The media must hate him, but I love the fact that there’s a zipper on those lips. That’s a GM that can win. Frankly, aside from reports from Shams or Windhorst about completed trades and signings, I pay little attention to podcasters and rumormongers.