It’s still early, of course, but it sure would be nice to see how the Knicks handle someone like Jokic.
The Knicks have played the Nuggets tough in recent years, so hopefully they do well.
Glad that Towns is playing.
Let’s go, Knicks!
It’s still early, of course, but it sure would be nice to see how the Knicks handle someone like Jokic.
The Knicks have played the Nuggets tough in recent years, so hopefully they do well.
Glad that Towns is playing.
Let’s go, Knicks!
196 replies on “2024-25 Game Thread: Knicks @ Nuggets – An Early Statement Game?”
Deuce Deuce!!
Elfrid Payton has 19 assists tonight
How did we let that guy go? (-:
Andiamo ai Knicks!
(Watching with jet lag in Milan)
Btw somehow Google translates “Deuce” as “Devil/Diavolo” which I kind of love.
Il Diavolo è sciolto!
Are they drunk again?
Oxygen deprivation.
Let’s get Joker in foul trouble.
Prediction: down 15 by end q1. We’ll go the entire game without getting 3 stops on a row
Jokic is such an alien.
Starting to think Cleanthony Early wasn’t the BPA
Jamal Murray always seems bigger than I think he is…
They already got 3 stops in a row in Denver’s 2nd, 3rd and 4th possession, so you do you.
Jokic does something on nearly every possession that makes me doubt my eyes
We did some stupid stuff, but have a small lead. I’ll take it.
So Jokic has a newborn as of this week. Putting our theory to the test.
Dislike pooping on Mikal, but really not appreciating his D on Murray.
Might be good to get Deuce on him. Stop the blow-bys.
Elfrid Payton 21 assists is the craziest performance of the season
Obliterating Guys Anunoby
OG’s shooting has been insane these last two games.
I’m beginning to think that OG is underpaid
Jalen feelin’ it!
The book on the Nuggets is get your best shit talker to tell Russ there’s no way he’s going for 40 tonight
“Prediction: down 15 by end q1.”
And yet again, wrong.
Denver is obviously very good offensively but feels like they play a style that the Knicks are much more comfortable defending against instead of having to chase quick guards all over the place.
We look pretty good when our shots go in
this team is more fun when they’re making their shots
They finally managed to keep a team under 25 points in the first quarter. It’s been so many games since this last happened.
damn cuz was spot on
Jericho Sims rocking a +10 in 4 minutes. Secret superstar?
That’s frustrating to play good defense but have Porter Jr hit tough shots in back to back possessions.
Josh Hart is one of my very favorite players ever, but he’s always good for two intensely boneheaded plays every game.
Vibes seem better
lol I hate Cam Payne’s shooting form so much even when it goes in it annoys me
Breen just said it, but worth saying again. 16 assists already.
The West is small.
As Clyde would say, Cam is Paynin’ the Nuggets!
Right now Payne’s shooting form is alot less annoying than Bridges’ form.
are we down 15 yet? funny clown hasn’t posted again? we need more PREDICTIONS
At least we can stop debating OG for awhile!
The reason I liked the Cam Payne signing so much is because it guaranteed I wouldn’t have to see him hit that stupid ass shot against the Knicks this season
Payne should be called Cobra, he has a snake-like look when he uncoils that sidewinder shot.
I hope Mikal gets out of his Landry Fields era.
Seriously Bridges has to just stop shooting.
Mikal is Makilling us
The best 2022-2023 Phoenix Sun on our roster is Landry Shamet 🙁
Bridges DOES have five assists…
Revised prediction: lead cut to single digits by the half
Josh Hart is so good on the break
“Bridges DOES have five assists…”
For which team?
got to appreciate crawford watching closely
Maybe Mikal did *not* want to re-join his old college buddies?
Knicks are up 19 and I’m just pissed at all the open 3s Bridges is missing…
“Revised prediction: lead cut to single digits by the half”
What an annoying, autistic dick…
I’d suggest sending Bridges down to the G league for awhile but I don’t want to sabotage the Westchester Knicks. 🤣
I like how Crawford talks about how he took terrible shots and didn’t play defense. Like what if you had done those things?
nope i cant
Somehow Mikal is only 0-3 from deep? It feels like 0-6 or something like that.
Did anyone tell Bridges he’s not in the Nets anymore so he can stop tanking?
Bridges was reading knickerblogger during the timeout
OMG.
ABOUT TIME, MIKAL!
OG is a legit All Star if he keeps this up
Except for losing Porter Jr a couple of times Knicks have played excellent defense this half.
ok he forgot about reading knickerblogger
I totally forgot Cam Payne was on that team. I will do better.
Alas another brick…
KAT POWER!
KAT is so fucking good.
What was that pass
damn OG
OG is so fucking good.
Double teaming Jokic is a fool’s errand
Someone tell Hart not to leave his guy open under the basket when Jokic has the ball.
lol nuggets with the fake comeback. another prediction failed
That was such a tough shot by karl and it looks so easy
So. A bit easier tonight without Kessler out there? Or quality re-set from the Knicks? A little of both, I suspect.
I know Towns was a star, but honestly he’s better at everything than I thought he’d be. His shot is pure from everywhere. I had no idea he had a really effective power game. He’s a very solid rebounder.
His defense sucks, but in fact he looks to be doing a decent job tonight.
I flipped to the channel, saw Thibs looking like he had just shit his pants. Figured things were going bad. Turns out they’re up 20 on the road in the 1st half to a recent champion. That guy is complex.
good job getting josh out for the last 35 secs to avoid his 4th
The defense was not bad this half. Their best half of defense in a long while. Some of it was Denver’s poor 3pt shooting, but it’s progress.
76 points in a half and it feels like they should have more
Safe to say most impressive 1st half of the season.
So we know Denver will make a run, just have to withstand it and not let it get close
I think this team is just going to be like this all year
Mikal Bridges is turning into RJ.
Pretty sure they were really hungover last game
If Russ and Mikal played a game of one-on-one to 15 it might take a month…
Maybe there’s a jinx on one particular locker.
23 assists to just 3 turnovers in the 1st half is pretty insane.
You’re welcome guys. Revised prediction: 17-0 Nugs run to start q3
OG 8-10
RJ 7-19
I know which one I think is better
RJ had a crisp 17 points on 19 shots… 3 whole rebounds and 2 assists and 3 TOs sporting a -16 in a 2 point loss….
First time I have seen OG look happy in game
So the secret for Mikal is to only take point blank layups…
Well now we know, just give Mikal open layups on passes under the basket.
Amazingly, Breen says he’s shooting 30% from three. It sure feels a lot worse.
Z-Man beats me…
I love this team, we lose to the Jazz and then are just shellacking the Nuggets at home
“RJ had a crisp 17 points on 19 shots… 3 whole rebounds and 2 assists and 3 TOs sporting a -16 in a 2 point loss….”
At least he only cost us one first rounder…
I like Bridges getting 2 layups already this quarter. With his length and touch around the basket he should cut near the basket more often.
That sequence kind of sums up this game – Nuggets miss 4 point blank layups and we get a dunk at the other end
Sucks to be them…
At least that makes him better than Jared Jeffries
yup, and lotta passers now happy to find him.
@Mike Vornukov
Are we allowed to trade Bridges for Caitlin Clark and some filler?
Brunson is playing a low key excellent floor game.
If I was Bridges I’d try shooting 3s underhanded.
Layups, Mikal! Only layups!
shooting 29% on 105 3s isn’t a big deal by itself but his shot also looks worse
Okay. You can also take 10-foot fadeaways…
But that’s all!
Or maybe we are just seeing it more often now.
Another great pass by Brunson.
Jokic 1/6 from three. Newborn effect.
Or maybe we are just seeing it more often now.
ptmilosays:
October 22, 2024 at 08:28
watched some side-by-sides of mikal’s jumper. watching live in the preseason didn’t seem like a massive change, but i think i was wrong — it’s pretty significant. the higher release means he’s bringing it back behind his head by several inches vs even last season and it looks like it’s throwing his balance and timing off quite a bit.
OG cannot be stopped
Like I said…
OG = the Claw 2.0
maybe, and wouldn’t that be something…we’ve had some recent guys join the roster and have career years – keep stepping up OG…
I love it when offensively limited players like OG drop 30 points on 12/17 shooting
Not watching this one, but is OG LeBron now?
33 on 13/18 now
towns is so powerful
OG on a bargain contract!
Is Hart ok? Why only 19m?
I love it when offensively limited players like OG Anunoby drop 38 points on 15/20 shooting
fucking beautiful save and go by kat
OG was also the only guy who showed up last game. Apparently, he’s loving this road trip.
Holy shit what an ending to the 3rd quarter!
OOOOOOOOO GEEEEEEEEEEE
@pags
Fouls
just triple team jokic and let russ go to work (off his foot out of bounds)
We’ve gotta go back and give the Raptors more stuff
OG is on fire! Very very fun end to the quarter, now let’s finish them off.
wow, offensively jalen and KAT could be pretty good/unstoppable playing together…
I don’t disagree that his shot looks ugly, but I wonder whether it didn’t look ugly during previous poor stretches.
O (my) G(od) Announoby
Can’t wait for the thread tomorrow talking about how overpaid OG is…
OG scoring a lot just shows how right I was when I said OG couldn’t score a lot
I know it’s easier to get assists when your teammates don’t miss shots, but 37 assists on 45 FGs is still pretty impressive.
So now begins the “How long do we leave in the starters…”
But wait, Thibs doesn’t know how to coach offense!
Turn out the liiiiiights, the party’s over….
sit KAT, sit KAT now…
Westbrook padding his stats in garbaaage time
Tonight was ridiculous, but if OG has legitimately taken a consistent step forward on offense (a little better handle, a little better finishing in non dunk situations and better on 3s other than the corner), I think you can argue he’s the best player on the team when you add defense to the equation.
This Knicks team has been very frustrating to watch so far but man their potential really is scary good.
Breen giving credit to Thibs, but I think the Knicks made this a statement game for us.
Alright Thibs, let’s give KAT an early night. He doesn’t need to be in right now.
It’s not garbaaage time if most of the starters are still in…
Sure it is….DeAndre Jordan is playing
How was Mikal’s defense?
Cam Payne’s cromulence has now been firmly established
KAT’s touch around the basked is so smooth. That inbounds play!
Kat takes a one-handed Jokic shot.
Thibs angry they’re only up 26. I love/hate that guy…
Everyone runs laps after the game!
I think there were combined 7 possessions in the last minute of play.
I don’t think the Nuggets have a single starter on the court…
I really really hope it never happens, but someday a starter is gonna get injured in garbage time and we’re gonna want to kill Thibs.
Nuggets commentary team asking “what happens if a starter gets injured when they are up by 30?”
cut to angry thibs face
Looks like mo cheeks is nodding off on the bench
Thibs doesn’t want OG to get too cocky about his 3pt %
20 point game.
Russ taking stats padding to a whole other level
Knicks really don’t want to improve their defensive rating.
We can’t let this be the “Westbrook Game”.
thibs has no idea of the concept of diminishing returns…
get the starters out of there…
OG got his 40!
KAT there on the steal. So nice.
you guys….
He has some kind of disorder. 🙄
Kolek…Kolek…Kolek…
I think OG and Jalen playing 37 is good.
And Mikal has 35 more minutes than he should…
— The Minutes Police
C’mon, Z-Man, this is how we end every win…
… and many losses!
The nuggets announcer just said ” this might be the slap in the face they needed to turn things around”
Why are the starters still in?!
Towns was only “questionable” tonight and not “doubtful” so he can go the whole way.
Jokic is flossing his teeth on the bench…gotta get the kielbasa he ate at half time outta there
Why are the starters still in there?
Someone on the coaching staff needs to smack him in the face.
Bridges with the garbage time 3!
I like that F-U three from Bridges. Well done Mikal.
See? Thibs does pull his starters … with 2:19 left.
Let’s get to 150!
I enjoyed this game much more than the previous one.
Career high assists JB!
Ryan and Dadiet trying to leave the Denver backboard glass in pieces as a final insult.
the gravedigger looks bad.
Knicks record for assists!
One reason I whine about pulling starters is I really enjoy watching the kids.
Grab the mic, OG!
Nighty night.
OG: “I worked on everything. I want to be a complete player!”
Lovely win. Now do it again in Dallas!
This might have been Brunson’s most complete game of the season? 23 points in 14 shots, 17 assists with only 2 TOs.
KAT’s line is also kind of ridiculous: 30 points in 12-15 shooting, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals. He did have 4 TOs.
And OG was still better than both of them.
I’d like to see some blood work and urine tests from the Utah game. Someone may have slipped them a “game rape” drug.
If we only figure it out on defense! Tonight, we did well in the first quarter and most of the second. Third quarter D was poor, particularly after Hart sat down with his 5th foul, but offense kept the big lead for us. It’s difficult to judge fourth quarter D as the game had been decided already, not to mention that Denver threw in the towel and Joker never came back on the floor. Denver is a lottery team without him.
Now, offense is where we had them on their knees all night long. What a jaw dropping display! They didn’t know where it’s coming from. It was such a joy to watch! This is no doubt one of the best offensive teams the Knicks ever had.
PS. I still hope Bridges finds himself. He was such a cacophony in the first half. As of OG…wow! We also paid gold for him, but boy was it worth it!
Free Hukporti
seriously tho, that was as enjoyable as the jazz game was miserable
Shooting 60% tends to be a winning strategy
Gotta admit Towns outplaying Jokic handily, in Denver, in the midst of Jokic putting up arguably the greatest individual season in NBA history is pretty fucking impressive, newborn or no newborn. I saw Towns miss his first 2-3 shots and then had to watch my kid. Did he hit his next 10 shots in a row?
I still don’t get how OG has been controversial here at all. Durability aside, even I can’t find anything to complain about. If Bridges was as good we’d have a 60+ win core.
“I’d like to see some blood work and urine tests from the Utah game. Someone may have slipped them a “game rape” drug.”
Hmmmmmmm……. Not well said.
Jordi Fernandez might be the first coach to be fired for being too good.
(I don’t remember whether the coach from Major League was fired… maybe he was the first).
God damn. That is the kind of stat line from OG that will cause me to reconsider my priors. Please keep it up.
It was just the statement game I wanted!
It’s a great road win! That said, Denver without Gordon is sort of tailor-made for us…a relatively slow-footed, unathletic, poor defensive team, no rim protection. KAT is not physically overwhelmed by Jokic and defends him reasonably well, and also keeps him occupied on the other end. Gordon is their only answer for OG, probably would have made a difference tonight. It’s crazy how different they look without guys like KCP and Bruce Brown. I doubt that they make much noise this year, they are gonna have a lot of nights like tonight where their offense can’t keep up when team go off on their shitty defense.
Speaking of overpaid, another guy in OG’s salary range is Michael Porter Jr.
More generally, it seems like the NBA has evolved (imo devolved) into a league where games are largely decided by which team is hot or cold from 3. There just doesn’t seem to be a way to defend 4 or 5 good to excellent 3pt shooters on the floor so that one of them doesn’t end up with a good look. Against Utah, they were hot and we were cold and that was that. Against Denver, we went 19-36 and they went 11-33.
Obviously there’s a lot more to it than that, but because effectively defending the 3pt line is crazy hard to do every night, there are games that we are going to lose no matter what. It’s those games where shots are falling at similar rates that become critical to winning. That’s where things like rim protection, point of attack defense, rebounding, free throw differential, and turnover differential become critical. But it seems like the 3 is most often the deciding factor.
Another thing that worked in our favor vs. the Nuggets is that they are 29th in 3PAr at .358.
For reference, in 2012-23, the Knicks led the NBA in 3PAr at .354.
Meanwhile the Celts are shooting 56% of their shots from 3. At that pace, they will blow away the D’Antoni Rockets record of 52%.