Knicks Morning News (2025.01.27)

That win + the recent & upcoming multi-day breaks in the schedule have me feeling pretty good right now. The deadline is next Thursday. A modest tweak (Javonte Green! Javonte Green!) could really get the ball rolling.

When we get to the playoffs, breaks will be built into the schedule. So if (big if) we get there relatively healthy, we’ll have a lot of games with reasonable rest.

How does the schedule until then look, in terms of games with multiple days in between?

Anyone read Bill Simmons’s The Book of Basketball? Extremely good book, zestfully written and well-thought and clearly the product of a dude who is really into basketball with a long historical reservoir of watching closely and understanding what he’s watching — both on its own terms and to a degree in wider socio-cultural terms. (*) Neither ponderous, nor tedious, nor boring.

Been awhile since I’ve read it, might be time to revisit.

From all indications, engendered a lot of jealousy — which is kinda weird and most likely at its outer reaches, kinda sports spectrum-y.

Get the team to the playoffs healthy and running on all cylinders, Thibs. It’s a bit of a top-heavy team, but you have two superstars on your squad. Don’t fuck it up.

(*) And who understands implicitly that if you’re watching LBJ and nine D-III dudes playing full-court 21 at Rucker Park, there’s no need to wait for “the data” before concluding that LBJ is the best player on the blacktop.

I read the book, although it was over a decade ago and a lot has happened since then. Great read, although his Celts bias is apparent.

“And who understands implicitly that if you’re watching LBJ and nine D-III dudes playing full-court 21 at Rucker Park, there’s no need to wait for “the data” before concluding that LBJ is the best player on the blacktop.”

Not sure what this is supposed to mean…is it an effort to suggest that we should evaluate RJ by the eye test rather than using data? If not, please elaborate…

Macri:

“This franchise went nearly 34 years without dishing at least 40 assists in a single game. They have now done it twice in the span of four months. It was also their 18th game with at least 30 assists this season, equaling their total from the last two seasons combined.”

Great, Bill Simmons once said he liked RJ Barrett so now we get to hear that Simmons is the bestest, smartest basketball writer ever. I guess Seth Partnow must not be an RJ fan.

RJ was and would still be a much worse fit on the Knicks than OG.

The Knicks have all the scoring they need. The last thing they need is to add a lower efficiency volume scorer that takes away space and doesn’t defend at a higher level. That’s the exact opposite of what’s needed. The very reason the Knicks improved so much with OG is that he added what was needed and we subtracted RJ. If you want to argue that RJ is still improving, I would agree with that. He’s young enough to keep getting better. But that doesn’t change what the Knicks need.

If you want to complain about anything related to OG you could say his 3 point shot has been a little off so far this year. IMO, some of that is more aggressive shot selection and the rest is probably random. Neither is an issue. It would just be preferable if he focused more on efficiency instead of volume of 3s. We don’t need 20 points, but we could use a TS of 60%.

I’m also feeling good about this upcoming stretch of games against the other mezzanine teams.

Hubs, you dubbed us the kings of the mezzanine the other day, which I found funny. I think tonight will be a really good test for us because I would put Memphis in that upper mezz category too (whereas Sac and Lakers are the jesters of the mezz I think).

We’re in a really good spot if the bench can start contributing like they did the other night, Mitch comes back healthy for the home stretch and either TJ Warren can be called up and give us something or Rose can pull off one more DRose type acquistion (Sims plus some second rounders?) to bring in one more vet for the bench (maybe an another big or a wing?)

It’s gonna be all about health. My concern over the minutes things is much more about injuries than the dudes being too tired by the playoffs. I don’t think fatigue once you start having days off between games plays a factor other than nagging injuries not being given time to heal.

And if there is any justice in the world, Hart makes it as an all-star reserve this year.

Not sure what this is supposed to mean…is it an effort to suggest that we should evaluate RJ by the eye test rather than using data? If not, please elaborate…

If the Rucker games didn’t churn out any data, other than the scoreboard, if a tree was blocking your view of the scoreboard, would watching LBJ play the D-III dudes give you any indication of what a really good basketball player “looks like”? Or would you need to see some kind of printout about the game’s events with numbers on it to even start that process?

I’d say Memphis, with the 2nd-best SRS in the West, should be a damn good test. Their bigs and big, their smalls are fast, and they’re deep with shooters who could go off at any time. Hopefully we can hang with them.

I am really impressed with Memphis as a franchise. They have done amazing work for years now. Yeah, they got Morant. But their success is about so much more than him. Using WS/48, and I know its an old stat, they have 13 players over the .100 threshhold. It’s amazing how many players they have.

DDB – Great work this weekend fitting seamlessly into the blog.

I read Bill Simmons from the very start. He was the first blog on the internet I think I ever read. Whatever you think about him, the guy was absolutely a pioneer and is supremely talented as a writer. He was also so so funny back then – probably he still is. The shock of opening a strange webpage though and finding the quality of stuff he was regularly posting, it was like discovering a new planet in our solar system for a college age sports freak like me.

At some point he may actually be a candidate to go into the HOF. May be too much of a generalist but I don’t know how many bigger voices there are on the NBA in the past 25 years.

If the Rucker games didn’t churn out any data, other than the scoreboard, if a tree was blocking your view of the scoreboard, would watching LBJ play the D-III dudes give you any indication of what a really good basketball player “looks like”? Or would you need to see some kind of printout about the game’s events with numbers on it to even start that process?

Do you think the gulf between LBJ (one of the greatest basketball players of all time) and random Rucker park players is greater than, equal to, or less than the gulf between RJ Barrett and other NBA starters?

E, this is easily the most inane and vacuous statement made not just by you, but by anyone who has ever posted on KB in the many years I’ve been posting here.

DDB – Great work this weekend fitting seamlessly into the blog.

👏👏👏

Simmons is like a great player who breaks down completely at 30. I’m with Owen on how transformative he was early on, I was always excited to read him and delighted to find a new piece up to be read. Then he got into pod-casting with family members and just endlessly shilling for the Celtics and I’ve ignored him for possibly coming on a decade now.

And Swift, you have noted a very unfortunate fact about the world — there is no justice anymore.

Ruruland : Carmelo Anthony :: E : RJ Barrett

Simmons was always shamelessly in the bag for the Celtics though. It was always an essential part of his schtick.

I also think Grantland and The Ringer were cool. I like Simmons’ entrepeneurial spirit basically, he’s forged a career in a completely new media landscape in a pretty bold way.

That said, I don’t think I have listened to him in years.

Grizz seem to be at full force*, and so do the Knicks. This is going to be a great game, and hopefully we get the W.

*well, they don’t have Marcus Smart and we don’t have Mitch, but you know what i mean.

Do you think the gulf between LBJ (one of the greatest basketball players of all time) and random Rucker park players is greater than, equal to, or less than the gulf between RJ Barrett and other NBA starters?

And, in this hypothetical is there any stat in existence that would show LeBron to be average or worse compared to the players he was sharing the court with?

Speaking of Mitch, i wonder if this still stands:
Jan 21: The Knicks are optimistic that Robinson (ankle) will be ready to make his season debut by early-to-mid-February, Ian Begley of SNY.tv reports.

It kind of feels like I will debut in the NBA before Mitch plays another game.

At least ruru was defending a HOF player who was in the middle of a career best stretch with the Knicks.

So now that the obligatory rounds of insults and blanching are out of the way … what are the answers?

Willing to make the conclusion?
Able to make the conclusion?

Note: The first question is as interesting and insightful as the second.

Simmons is like a great player who breaks down completely at 30.

I don’t think that’s the right comparison for Simmons.

He’s much more like a generational, transformative talent who, at the peak of its power, completely shuns the majority of his fandom to become a villain, going to one of the most desirable cities for his business while fostering more than a few side businesses, working with some of the best young talents in the game, doing almost exclusively podcasts and leaving an undeniable and indelible print in his field.

Basically, he’s LBJ.

Willing to make the conclusion?
Able to make the conclusion?

About what, exactly?

That’s so generic that I could probably be excused in saying:

“Yes. Agent Cooper was able to save Laura Palmer, but then again he gets transported back in time, where Judy is still in the old Palmer house, and while Laura now goes by the name Carrie Page, Judy is still out to get her”

“Why is nobody answering the dumbest question anybody has ever asked?”

That LBJ is the best player in the hypothetical Rucker Park games with nine D-3 dudes. No data available. Four games, two nights, all to 21.

Rich guy you happen to be sitting with offers you $100,000 to pick sides for a final game, winner takes all. All 10 players agree to run game. Rich guy offers you first pick if you agree to let him have his rich guy dopamine rush. Do you agree? Do you pick LBJ one?

Or do you pass because you don’t have any data?

Who could say no to that question?

But, more importantly: where’s Jowles when you need him?

I don’t know, is LeBron missing most of his shots and and letting everybody blow by him on defense? Because in that case I might want to sign one of the Rucker Park scrubs

I am not picking RJ over Lebron if that is the question….

My dude, the RJ Barrett obsession is getting a little weird.

Are you okay?

This has literally nothing to do with RJ Barrett. No need to frame. It’s a mode of basketball analysis question.

Willing to make the conclusion?
Able to make the conclusion?

Note: The first question is as interesting and insightful as the second.

As in not at all interesting or insightful?

Or do you pass because you don’t have any data?

Just so we’re clear here, watching players play is in fact data. It’s not the best data, you’re looking at a small sample size and it’s subject to each individual person’s biases, but it is literally data.

I’m picking Cam Reddish

E – I don’t think I understand the question. Obviously having a robust data set is preferable to not having one. Absent a data set, yeah, picking the 6’8 guy with the body of a Greek god over the guy who just dropped a Cinnabon rewards card out of his billfold by accident seems like the dominant strategy.

Well, I would think it would be rather obvious that pretty much any NBA player is going to look very good playing against D3 players. My brother used to play in some ultra competitive blacktop games in South Florida, and every now and then Keyon Dooling would show up and annihilate everybody. Keyon Dooling!

It should also be very obvious that this is completely irrelevant when it comes to comparing NBA level players to each other. In the NBA Keyon Dooling was a perfectly serviceable journeyman guard.

You’re advocating for the eye test here as being superior to statistical methods, and perhaps that is true if you are an NBA level talent evaluator. You, sir, are not. Some of the players you have long championed here actually stink. You’re not any better at talent evaluation than any of us laypeople.

Folks like you should stick to statistical analysis, because when it comes to the eye test, you are talking out of your ass.

That LBJ is the best player in the hypothetical Rucker Park games with nine D-3 dudes. No data available. Four games, two nights, all to 21.

Rich guy you happen to be sitting with offers you $100,000 to pick sides for a final game, winner takes all. All 10 players agree to run game. Rich guy offers you first pick if you agree to let him have his rich guy dopamine rush. Do you agree? Do you pick LBJ one?

Or do you pass because you don’t have any data.

This is literally the dumbest hypothetical ever.

Hey you stat nerds who can’t see how good RJ Barrett is! Would you need STATS to show that prime Shaq would dominate a game against a high school team?

Absent a data set, yeah, picking the 6’8 guy with the body of a Greek god over the guy who just dropped a Cinnabon rewards card out of his billfold by accident seems like the dominant strategy.

LOL.

One train leaves Chicago with 3 HS players, 1 player from each of D-3, D-2, & D-1, and 6 WNBA All-Stars. Another train leaves New York carrying the ’92 Dream Team. Passengers of one train only tell lies. The passengers of the other only tell truths. How many steps will my proof take to show RJ Barrett is good at basketball based on these suppositions?

I had a friend who years back won some charity auction where he got to play Pete Sampras at tennis where Pete agreed he would not run during the match. My friend lost badly as Pete ran him all over the place.

However, an armchair observer who did not know who either my friend or Pete was, and only saw a small sample might have concluded that my friend was the better player because the other guy couldn’t run.

So I while I might be able to make the conclusion I certainly would not be willing to, when I know that easily available reliable data already exists.

Let’s say you hired a scout. The scout told you to draft Cam Reddish and Frank Ntilikina.

Would you fire that scout?

You guys know you are not required to engage with every silly and/or bad faith argument made on here, right? You can just skip past it and talk about other stuff?

Let’s say you watched a 3-on-3 and there was a guy who was allegedly world class at that. Would you draft him before his Canadian teammate?

You guys know you are not required to engage with every silly and/or bad faith argument made on here, right? You can just skip past it and talk about other stuff?

Yes, but this time looks a bit like fun.

Was Pete Sampras serving at full speed?

I think this is actually kind of an informative discussion. I think it’s worthwhile to discuss the value of eye test evaluations done by amateur laypeople. The correct valuation of those assessments is “extremely low.”

Not to step away from the lovely discourse over RJ Barrett being better than LBJ at Ruckers, here’s an odd fact from the most recent Power Rankings. We both rag on our bench for sucking and rag on Thibs for not playing the bench more. This suggests that only one of those takes is actually right.

“The Knicks’ bench ranks seventh this season, though the 59.9 minutes per game that they’ve gotten from reserves continues to be the fewest for any team in the last 19 years.”

Should be interesting to see how Edey does against a big man who can shoot (or could shoot until recently)

We now know (or have been told at least) that the eye test is “data.” The ball has moved forward. Better late than never, as they say.

“Does he have a hot girlfriend” is also data.

Useless data, but data.

“Was Pete Sampras serving at full speed?”

Actually I don’t know…

You guys know you are not required to engage with every silly and/or bad faith argument made on here, right? You can just skip past it and talk about other stuff?

Where would the fun in that be?

“We now know that the eye test is “data.” The ball has moved forward. Better late than never, as they say.”

Right, because the stats that appear in box scores or on Synergy-based sights are only garnered from the ear, nose, and taste test.

E’s arguments making the public defender from My Cousin Vinnie look like Clarence Darrow.

“Does he have a hot girlfriend” is also data.

Useless data, but data.

Remember Jann Vessley?

Where’s Noonien Soong when you need him?

Ladies and gentlemen of the jjjjjjjjjury!

Not to step away from the lovely discourse over RJ Barrett being better than LBJ at Ruckers, here’s an odd fact from the most recent Power Rankings. We both rag on our bench for sucking and rag on Thibs for not playing the bench more. This suggests that only one of those takes is actually right.

“The Knicks’ bench ranks seventh this season, though the 59.9 minutes per game that they’ve gotten from reserves continues to be the fewest for any team in the last 19 years.”

The bench playing well is a recent phenomenon. Deuce’s on/off has been fantastic all season. I don’t think Cam or Shamet’s was good before the recent Cam flamethrower game. At least it wasn’t the incredible +8 & + 12.3 they are now.

I do think they’ll get more time in the near future because of it, not that Thibs will do it willingly.

Good morning, fellow Knickerbloggers!!!

I looked up Jan Vesely’s girlfriend and found a semi-interesting article about athletes and their girlfriends in general, with a specific tie-in to Vesely. But I’m not sure that’s what you meant by invoking his name.

If I remember correctly, the Wizards (maybe still Bullets back then?—I guess not; I think that happened [amazingly] almost 30 years ago) erred by spending a high draft pick on him.

I’d never heard of Noonien Soong prior to just now. Interesting name, for sure.

“Does he have a hot girlfriend” is also data.

Useless data, but data.

Remember Jann Vessley?

If this works in football, the Jets never shoulda let Zach Wilson go…

Zheng Qinwen is the new Dior global ambassador. She’s pretty hot. Eye test only, no numbers needed.

Right, because the stats that appear in box scores or on Synergy-based sights are only garnered from the ear, nose, and taste test.

Then we *do* need numbers to make the LBJ decision? Kind of unclear at this point.

The “eye test” can’t be worthless as proposed/advocated, because the LBJ Rucker example proves there are cases when it is (and can be) 100% authoritative and definitive standing alone.

There are four guys on the bench now who have a track record of being real NBA bench players. Only one is a big. Still, things seem to be moving in the right direction.

I can’t resist a chance to make a Cinnabon joke, though strangely I can resist a Cinnabon these days.

Btw, Cinnabon had a shoutout on SNL this week which probably was what made me think of it. I enjoyed Chalamet a lot. He’s just a fun guy to watch, even if SNL is only mediocre mostly these days.

The eye test AS CONDUCTED BY LAYPEOPLE is useless, for reasons which should be blindingly obvious. Nobody gives a shit which NBA players happen to look good to E, Knickerblogger Poster Extraordinaire. If I’m choosing between your eye test and statistical analysis, I’m going with the latter every single time.

You’re not an expert on basketball. You’re a guy who talks about the Knicks on a blog. YOUR eye test is worth absolutely nothing.

EB, the other thing to note is that based on this (NETRTG) there are 23 NBA teams with worse benches (in this moment in time, as you intimate). Hardly seems fathomable, but there you go.

E, with the bold statement, that the eye test would prove that LBJ is better than amateur players.

MIND. BLOWN.

How do you compute a Net rating for the Knicks bench?

The eye test AS CONDUCTED BY LAYPEOPLE is useless, for reasons which should be blindingly obvious.

They’re not obvious, though. It’s not even Rucker Park; most of the people here can and do watch NBA games and are able to tell who the best players are just by watching. Very few people here need a box score or numbers to be able to tell that Jalen Brunson is a better basketball player than Tyler Kolek.(*)

This isn’t baseball where the better players show out subtly over time and can look like shit for like a week or two straight. Basketball skills and talent are much more straightforward.

(*) I’m sure the most pedantic and limited of the “stat nerds” wouldn’t be comfortable with this conclusion and/or wouldn’t have the perception or vocabulary to express why that is (**), and would then revert to “Well, you haven’t *proven* it to *me*, so I’m sticking my fingers in my ears, John Hollinger something something gruuumppphhhhh” but that’s a different issue.

(**) I actually wonder if they would have the vocabulary/perception even in the LBJ Rucker example, even assuming they have the willingness, which is probably an aggressive assumption.

Hubs, you dubbed us the kings of the mezzanine the other day, which I found funny. I think tonight will be a really good test for us because I would put Memphis in that upper mezz category too (whereas Sac and Lakers are the jesters of the mezz I think).

It really does seem like every time another mezz team challenges us we smack them down with authority. I am thinking of games against Milwaukee, Orlando (the first one), Minnesota (also the first one), and this recent game against Sacramento. It is an encouraging sign that even if we’re not there yet we are holding down our spot.

I feel like you can usually tell when we’re going to kick ass by now. We should get an excellent effort tonight bc we’re coming off a long rest and a blowout. Whereas the Denver game is probably going to be tough sledding bc it’s the 3rd game in 5 nights against a quality opponent.

Another thing I’ve noticed is sometimes after we kick someone’s ass we struggle when they are fired up to face us later. That happened with Minnesota and Orlando, and is another reason I like I think we’ll do great against Memphis tonight but struggle with Denver.

The dunk contest this year is Mac McClung again for some reason, Stephen Castle, Matas Buzelis, and whoever Andre Jackson Jr. is. Really might be time to retire that competition for a while

Okay, well, you are just deluded then. Clearly you value your own opinion far, FAR more than anybody else here would ever value your opinion.

You’re a rando on a blog. Your eye test means nothing. If you had some long bulletproof history of valuing players correctly, you might have a better argument, but your eye test has made some pretty egregious errors. You watched Frank Ntilikina and Cam Reddish play basketball and concluded that they were good at it. I’m not sure Frank could get buckets at your mythical Rucker Park game.

The dunk contest this year is Mac McClung again for some reason, Stephen Castle, Matas Buzelis, and whoever Andre Jackson Jr. is. Really might be time to retire that competition for a while

Buzelis was a lot of fun to watch in summer league. Can’t say I’ve looked him up since then.

Mac probably makes it harder to get players you’ve actually heard of. Stars don’t want to be shown up by a g-league player.

If you had McClung and Hartenstein on the same Rucker league team, who would the average fan think was better? The guy doing 360 dunks 10 times a game or the guy hitting little push shots twice a game?

Simmons is like a great player who breaks down completely at 30.

I think he’s more like Derrick Rose. Early on he was a force of nature. Then he became an insufferable cunt. But current Simmons on spotify is like Rose on the Knicks: a revelation. He’s a grizzled old vet who (because he finally knows his place is secure) has learned to manage his ego and does a great job bringing the young guys along.

EDIT: I just read Farfa’s post, LBJ’s not a bad comp, either.

JK’s underselling himself because he doesn’t want to admit certain things, but he too could watch 10 Knick games on MSG and come to the accurate conclusion that Jalen Brunson is a better basketball player than Jacob Toppin.

All the numbers on BB-ref are second and third-order effects. The basketball skills that generate them are the first-order product (and obviously more interesting and compelling). Basketball players aren’t random number generators.

“Simmons is like a great player who breaks down completely at 30.”

Ben broke down at 24.

“The dunk contest this year is Mac McClung again for some reason, Stephen Castle, Matas Buzelis, and whoever Andre Jackson Jr. is. Really might be time to retire that competition for a while”

(Andre Jackson Jr. starts for the Bucks. He can’t score or shoot a lick, but he plays good defense.)

It’s sad, but I’m beginning to think that the entirety of All-Star Weekend as presently constructed should just go away (I know that many of you will say “never happen,” and I would tend to agree with you, but the NFL Pro Bowl is now largely gone.) I wouldn’t miss it, and I imagine that there are many other fans who also wouldn’t miss it. Most people who would miss it are those who are making some money on it. (And as I’ve said before, as proud as I am of Jalen and KAT getting the honor, I’d prefer they just take four or five days off and lay on a beach somewhere—certainly *not* play basketball.)

I remember when the NBA All-Star Game was actually good, but what I cannot seem to remember is when it started to go downhill and no longer be competitive. Once it started to happen, it seemed to snowball pretty quickly. I thought the Elam Ending attempt a while back was interesting, but it wasn’t enough to stop the All-Stars from just basically shooting 3s and dunking for the first three quarters.

Does anyone remember when it started to suck, and/or why that happened?

I think the idea you can tell NBA players apart just by watching the games is kind of ridiculous. My entire time on this blog has been a testament to that.

Yeah, you can tell who the great NBA players are pretty easily. But how about the rest?

You really going to tell the difference between RJ Barrett and De’Andre Hunter by watching games?

I would go so far as to agree that the stats vs. eye test argument is not an either-or thing. In that sense, it is certainly fair to call into question the validity of stats in a specific situation, both as to the validity of the stat itself or the conclusions drawn from them.

I will personally stipulate that stats, including all AIO stats, have holes and blind spots. I will also agree that some of the stats-based arguments made here over the years have been utterly debunked, not because of the inherent flaws of the particular stat, but in the flaws in interpretation. I think all of us have been guilty of this in one way or another, in one context or another.

In fact, some of the most intense arguments I and others have engaged in here were about conclusions drawn from statistical data. I

Personally, I think any valid argument that can be made about a particular player should be quantifiable, but should also be observable by a trained eye. The stats say that Josh Hart is a great rebounder for his size. The eye test validates the stats. But if one did not have stats to verify it, one could easily conclude by watching games that Josh Hart is a great rebounder for his size.

But there are also subtle things that are lost when the meaning of particular stats is extended beyond what is obvious from the eye test.

Personally, I find the best approach to be using stats to form hypotheses, and then using film analysis done by “experts” to get at the reasons why the numbers are what they are. It is also important to know what the coach is expecting a player to do in a given situation (and in general) before assigning credit or blame to a particular player. Without that info, things tend to get murky.

Yeah, you can tell who the great NBA players are pretty easily. But how about the rest?

As with the easier examples — starting with LBJ/Rucker, then to Brunson/Jacob Toppin then eventually to the not-so-easy ones — start with the skills and physical traits that you see that distinguish LBJ at Rucker and Brunson from Jac-Topp and do the same thing with the tougher calls. At some point, of course, yes you’re going to get into such close calls that you need more than just your eyes. Only an idiot would suggest otherwise.

But if someone can’t enunciate, independent of the numbers generated, why LBJ is the best player on the Rucker blacktop, then there’s zero reason to listen to them when they start getting on about the numbers and only the numbers.

I have been pretty busy lately and unable to fully keep up with threads, so it’s hard for me to follow E’s “argument” here. It sounds like he’s saying that even though RJ Barrett’s numbers aren’t very good, and his team is very bad, he can tell RJ Barrett is very good by watching him.

Seems…highly questionable, to put it generously, for reasons others have stated better than I could. Maybe the kind of argument I’d be more open to regarding a player whose team wasn’t 13-32. Kinda hard to argue someone whose team is 13-32 is doing “the little winning things that don’t show up in the box score” or what have you.

I will say based on my own personal eye-test that I’d be able to peg the Frank Ntilikina/Dejounte Murray/RJ Barrett/Cam Reddish dream team as hot garbage without ever looking at a number, though. Hell, I might not even have to watch the games provided I was allowed to listen for the clanks.

Cap rules would prevent us from trading Mitch ++ for Poetl?

Cap rules would prevent us from trading Mitch ++ for Poetl?

Precious and Mitch works financially

But if one did not have stats to verify it, one could easily conclude by watching games that Josh Hart is a great rebounder for his size.

The vast majority of Josh Hart’s phenomenal rebounding is explained by his off-the-charts spatial awareness and ability to discern what’s around him on the basketball floor, what it means in terms of who’s doing what next, who’s going where next, and what the ball is doing and where it’s going next, and therefore to anticipate what’s next at a level far beyond his peers. His mind in that realm is .01 percentile and then he has the physical gifts to be able to get himself where his ultra-elite senses and instincts tell him to go.

Both are necessary.

And he has a very high motor so he can keep getting himself where his mind tells him to go, possession after possession, with little to no dropoff as the physical ask increases.

E’s cat: E’s player evaluation is simultaneously both true and false, but you can’t know it because it is in a closed box.

There’s a massive overlap between “skills that make Josh Hart a fantastic rebounder” and “skills that make Josh Hart be able to know exactly when and how to try to get himself solo to the basket in transition even though there are a bunch of players kinda, sorta around” — another area in which he’s pretty much a .01 percentile savant. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player with a better feel for that than he has.

And how does breaking down what makes Hart a good rebounder help us? It doesn’t seem to add anything above and beyond “Hart is good at rebounding”.

You may just want to skip to your point.

RJ Barrett has now played a full season’s worth of minutes (2,310) with the Raptors. In that time, he has per 36 averages of 23.8 pts, 7.2 rebs, and 6.2 assists, and has a .583 TS% on a 27.4 usage. He’s shooting 56.2% from 2 and 36.7% from 3. Only his shitty (and career low) 65.7% from the FT line is keeping his TS% under .600. And his low averages in November when Barnes was out are looking more and more like an outlier.

I get that E says a lot of dumb shit, but the Clank Barrett stuff is not aging particularly well. In fact, it is becoming ever more reminiscent of the KP-bashing takes that lasted well beyond its shelf life and wasn’t fully abandoned until it stunk like rotting fish.

I don’t miss RJ at all and I’m glad we traded him and IQ for OG and Precious. I don’t think it is necessary to support that stance by poo-pooing RJ’s very solid play in TOR since the trade.

We have all been guilty of stat based evaluations that are wrong. It’s like what they say about democracy, the worst way of evaluating player’s other than all the rest.

Btw, I am not feeling unhappy about not acquiring Jimmy B. Some issues there you won’t find in the stats for sure.

RJ was eminently tradable, was better than he was showing here because of his underlying skills, and would have been fine to trade for OG without Quickley also going. I’d have been perfectly fine with RJ and a fugazi for OG — Simmons’s informed take on the real OG market as opposed to the illusory clickbait market.

Unless he’s hiding something or pacing himself — which he very well might be — OG isn’t as good as advertised or as I’d thought or hoped. His non-3 offensive game isn’t as good as advertised — it’s actually kinda lame, though he is pretty good at finding holes to receive passes and dunk — and in my opinion neither is his defense. (*) I’m a playoff guy, though, always will be so if he picks it up when it counts, I’m good and hope to be among his biggest backers.

Incomplete grade.

(*) At least consistently.

I should also point out that in his TOR minutes, RJ’s eFG+ and TS+ are 103 and 101, respectively.

**Cap rules would prevent us from trading Mitch ++ for Poetl?

**Precious and Mitch works financially

***Trade machine says there is an issue with this trade.

That said, if it is possible, I’d trade Mitch+Precious for Poetl

**Cap rules would prevent us from trading Mitch ++ for Poetl?

**Precious and Mitch works financially

***Trade machine says there is an issue with this trade.

That said, if it is possible, I’d trade Mitch+Precious for Poetl

ESPN’s trade machine has been broken for a bit if that’s the one you’re using. It says we used the non-taxpayer MLE, which we did…. last year on Donte DiVincenzo. Try fanspo, that one usually works.

Who cares? RJ isn’t a Knick anymore and hasn’t been for a year. Incessantly relitigating trades that have already happened is dumb.

That’s shit you do when your team sucks and hasn’t been to the playoffs in years and you’re trying to comb through the ashes of yet another failed rebuild for clues as to what went wrong.

The focus now should be on the present and the future. What can we/should we do to take the next step.

Most successful regular season (so far) for the knicks in over a decade and people can’t let go of their pet players.

If you can’t watch RJ and OG play defense and see the absolute enormous difference between them, maybe your eye test isn’t functioning properly?

When I watch OG, I see the best wing defender the Knicks have had in my lifetime, as I have noted a few times. It’s not particularly close either. When I watched RJ I saw one of the worst.

I get it, but acquiring Poeltl would be difficult for us to do without seeing Mitch on the court first. Of course, everyone else also gets to see him on the court, and if it’s not good and/or doesn’t last, his trade market is done, likely forever.

I am always skeptical of arguments based on arbitrary endpoints. I mean, since when did what a player has done since New Year’s Day of last season become the most telling stretch of their career? Why not six months before then? Six months after?

Seems to me the best way to do this is to evaluate, you know, seasons. RJ’s stellar post-trade play from last season is not doing anything for the Raptors this season, after all.

I’m happy to concede we don’t have enough data to definitively close the book on RJ ever becoming good, but after a great 32 game stint last season, he’s had a 37 game stint this season in which he’s looked like the Clank Barrett who was widely regarded as matching salary for us.

So, who knows? Maybe next season he’ll scale Mount 100 TS+. Seems kinda like the bare minimum for someone whose “best” skill is his ability to score. Comparing him to Porzingis at the moment is too silly to merit much of a response though. You don’t have to come up with cockamamie scenarios about Rucker Park to know Porzingis is good.

“I’d have been perfectly fine with RJ and fugazi for OG — Simmons’s take on the OG market.”

Simmons’ take is a hypothetical. There is little to suggest that OG was available for that price, or that there wasn’t another team who would have a better offer. You seem to completely ignore the insider reports that RJ was viewed as a toxic asset by GMs around the association. Do you think that Simmons is currently better connected than Zach Lowe?

If your point is that RJ, IQ and #31 for OG, Precious, and marginal cap relief was hardly a steal, that’s a fair and defensible point…even at the time, and more so in hindsight. But why belabor the point? Does anyone other than you miss RJ or regret that trade, even in the face of RJ’s improved (but hardly exceptional) performance?

“Unless he’s hiding something or pacing himself — which he very well might be — OG isn’t as good as advertised or as I’d thought or hoped.”

I’m assuming that you mean that he might be pacing himself, *not* that he’s hiding something. If indeed you *do* think that he might be hiding something, why would he be doing so?

Claiming that “the point where he was traded to another team” isn’t a valid breakpoint for analysis is squarely on the sports spectrum.

Saying that a guy’s spot for analysis is as a “bad first option” when he isn’t even a first option at all and no one has suggested he should be isn’t on the sports spectrum; it’s just idiotic and indicative of a complete inability or unwillingness to play even the most basic things straight.

When someone can’t or won’t play even the most obvious things straight, it doesn’t take a savant to know where they’re coming from.

In his first go-around with the Raptors, RJ was getting a lot of assisted buckets, and took way more shots at the rim. Way fewer three point attempts. Assisted basket percentage on 2-pointers was way up there, .622. It was more of a PF profile on offense– not a lot of shot creation, efficient offense, not very much 3 point shooting (3PAr+ was 62) and not very many free throw atttempts. They tried him in a different role: smallball 4, and it did result in more efficient offense. 110 eFG+, 106 TS%+.

This year they’re using him more like “classic” RJ Barrett, and he’s getting “classic” RJ Barrett results: fewer unassisted baskets, more shot creation, worse efficiency, fewer shots at the rim, higher 3PAr. Assisted basket percentage is right back to where it was with the Knicks. He’s doing… uh, okayish in that role? eFG+ and TS+ are back underwater, turnovers are at a career high. He still doesn’t shoot very many 3-pointers relative to the league and isn’t very good at converting them. He’s right in line with his career numbers in terms of 3pt attempts and percentages.

Overall he gives you negligible spacing at the guard position, which is a negative that doesn’t really show up in his boxscore stats. He’s durable and generates good secondary stats, at least with rebounds and assists. Defensively… let’s just say that all-defense teams probably aren’t in his future. “Adequate” is probably a generous assessment of his defense. He’s not particularly long for his position, and also not particularly fleet of foot, but he is strong so he’s okay in certain one-on-one matchups. Maybe he’s gotten better on D in Toronto but you’d be hard pressed to find the effects of that as Toronto is one of the very worst defensive teams in the league.

There’s not some secret RJ Barrett value out there that is not being captured by the box score. Another tick up in production and he’s a league average efficiency type scorer on high (but not elite) volume with some secondary skills and middling defense. Gives you decent but certainly not elite shot creation.

Value that kind of player however you want, but that’s what he is. He is probably never going to be the best or second best player on a good team, but hey, he’s got moxie so maybe he’ll surprise me. It’s just odd to me that any of this is really controversial. He’s playing pretty much how you’d expect him to play given that his development phase is pretty much over.

True, everyone knows the most telling stretch of a player’s career is the first 32 games he plays on a new team, while all the following games, even if they add up to more than 32, are irrelevant.

True, everyone knows the most telling stretch of a player’s career is the first 32 games he plays on a new team, while all the following games, even if they add up to more than 32, are irrelevant.

Z-Man posted the numbers for the whole Toronto time, over 2,300 minutes.

At least give a modicum of effort at playing it straight, lest you continue to embarrass yourself. You’re sputtering at ghosts at this point.

“I am always skeptical of arguments based on arbitrary endpoints. I mean, since when did what a player has done since New Year’s Day of last season become the most telling stretch of their career? Why not six months before then? Six months after?”

Arbitrary?! It’s his entire Raptors career and a continuous sample under a new coach, in a new system, with new teammates, and it’s his most recent sample, and at an age where players routinely improve. If you want more data, fine, but stop with this nonsense about arbitrary endpoints.

“I’m happy to concede we don’t have enough data to definitively close the book on RJ ever becoming good, but after a great 32 game stint last season, he’s had a 37 game stint this season in which he’s looked like the Clank Barrett who was widely regarded as matching salary for us.”

Ha! You are actually making E’s argument about stats vs. eye test for him! Anyone who watched the games during November knows that due to three starters being injured and a coach’s decision, RJ was thrust into a role he was hardly suited for…an ultra-high usage point forward first option. Since the guy that is actually suited for that role (Barnes) has returned, and RJ has reverted to a more appropriate usage, his shooting has recovered back to the “great 32-game stint” numbers…except for his FT shooting. Yet even with those numbers factored in, his eFG+ ansd TS+ are over 100. And one day when KB fave IQ can get healthy enough to stay on the court, that should help RJ as well. Unless you (and JK) think that role should be ignored and stats lumped together with no “eye test” qualifiers.

“Comparing him to Porzingis at the moment is too silly to merit much of a response though.”

I dunno, seems like the same script unfolding to me. We’ll see.

I’m asking this earnestly: If OG *is* pacing himself for the long grind of a full NBA regular season, shouldn’t we consider that an intelligent thing to do, especially when playing for Thibs? And if he is managing 16 and 5 with a block and a steal per 36 at, say 80 percent energy expenditure, doesn’t that give us a lot to look forward to at playoff time?

LIke I said, the trade’s done, I’ve given my final “grade” on it and I’m moving on. Other’s can’t, obviously.

But of course, to finish the loop Z-Man started closing, Toronto has been without the other two of its three best players most of the year. Scottie Barnes has played 32 games, Immanuel Quickley has played 9. Barrett himself missed a bunch of games early on with a badly-injured shoulder which he then tried to play through which hurt his numbers — which have picked up considerably since around mid-November.

The skills a player doesn’t have are just as important as the skills a player does have. RJ can’t cut, he’s not a great shooter, he plays below the rim and a mediocre finisher, and he doesn’t disrupt the opposing offense. He has a good package of skills but it’s missing the essential skills that make a player viable on a contender. Maybe he’ll fix that in the next few years. Doesn’t matter, we don’t have him.

I’m asking this earnestly: If OG *is* pacing himself for the long grind of a full NBA regular season, shouldn’t we consider that an intelligent thing to do, especially when playing for Thibs? And if he is managing 16 and 5 with a block and a steal per 36 at, say 80 percent energy expenditure, doesn’t that give us a lot to look forward to at playoff time?

Yes, that’s what I meant by the comment. With the qualifying “if.”

I look forward to watching OG anytime he is on the court for us.

I should state for the record that I don’t think RJ is or will ever be a player worth pining over in the context of the OG trade. I just don’t get why his play needs to be caractured to make that point.

He is probably never going to be the best or second best player on a good team,

That wouldn’t be the expectation on a team with Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony-Towns. A team with RJ Barrett as its best player is not going to be a good team.

The skills a player doesn’t have are just as important as the skills a player does have. RJ can’t cut, he’s not a great shooter, he plays below the rim and a mediocre finisher, and he doesn’t disrupt the opposing offense. He has a good package of skills but it’s missing the essential skills that make a player viable on a contender.

This seems correct to me. He’s not a 1 or a 1A player, because the shot creation just isn’t good enough, and he’s less than ideal as a secondary player because his shooting isn’t great. Then there is the issue of defense.

The playmaking and rebounding do have value, but those are things that are captured in the box score. Ironically it’s the non-boxscore stuff where he is weakest– defense and spacing. I mean, you can see in the box score that he’s not a great shooter, but the fact that defenses aren’t going to guard him that heavily at the three point line, hurting your spacing, really doesn’t show up in the box score.

Since the guy that is actually suited for that role (Barnes) has returned, and RJ has reverted to a more appropriate usage, his shooting has recovered back to the “great 32-game stint” numbers…except for his FT shooting. Yet even with those numbers factored in, his eFG+ ansd TS+ are over 100.

Got it, so this is a prediction that from this point moving forward, now that Barnes has returned and Julius Randle is in Minnesota and Mercury is in retrograde, RJ Barrett’s TS+ will be over 100 right?

So I check into Knickerblogger just now, see that there’s 109 posts (probably 115 by the time I’m done typing) and hope to see an informed discussion about a great matchup tonight vs. the Memphis Grizzlies

Instead, almost the entire thread is devoted to RJ freakin’ Barrett

I mean, wtf….

Insisting vociferously for years that Kristaps Porzingis sucks, completely misstating the record that another poster was good enough to do the work to post, getting called on it, and then demanding a “prediction” from that poster really isn’t a great look.

And you continue to make the weird assumption that people are doing these time carve outs to “defend” Barrett’s numbers, when in fact the numbers are perfectly fine and maybe even very good even with no carve outs.

Insisting vociferously for years that Kristaps Porzingis sucks, completely misstating the record that another poster was good enough to do the work to post, getting called on it, and then demanding a “prediction” from that poster really isn’t a great look.

Guess that’s a no on the 100 or better TS+ 🙁

RJ Barrett deserves better stans.

So are we going to talk about the Knicks at all today?

The obsession with a 100 TS+ as the sole measure of the success of a basketball player is also sports spectrum-y.

What is represented by “sports spectrum-y”?

the grizz are big up front…precious should start at the four…

edit: maybe OG on jjj will work, and josh will out rebound everyone?

The obsession with a 100 TS+ as the sole measure of the success of a basketball player is also sports spectrum-y.

So it’s not fair to expect league average shooting efficiency and we know he’s one of the worst defenders in the league…

Surely there must be some elite skill to make up for falling short at the two most important duties of an NBA wing, right? Right?

What is represented by “sports spectrum-y”?

He’s saying the people who disagree with him about RJ Barret being better than OG are autistic. You know, as one does when one is not afflicted by a ‘hate-boner’ as we are.

“Got it, so this is a prediction that from this point moving forward, now that Barnes has returned and Julius Randle is in Minnesota and Mercury is in retrograde, RJ Barrett’s TS+ will be over 100 right?”

No, this is a tentative refutation of an unnecessarily negative take on a player who seems significantly better than you think he is. It is also an insinuation that this negative take is steeped in something other than what the stats are suggesting about the player, as evidenced by a refusal to consider anything contextual that might have something to do with the ebbs and flows of the post-trade (and to a degree, the pre-trade) numbers. This is pretty familiar ground in the last few years. Maybe this time it will play out differently. I agree that more data is needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn. But since RJ’s TS+ and eFG+ are nearly identical to OG’s since the trade, except at much higher usage, I will give E some deserved deference on his takes. If the needle starts to point in the other direction, I will happily withdraw. At the end of the day, OG is here and RJ is there, so that’s all that matters.

Since the trade, RJ Barrett has a TS% of .583. OG’s is .586. Even on the first-order primary calling-card justification for the trade, the “inefficiency,” it’s no more than a no-adjustments push over basically a full season.

“At the end of the day, OG is here and RJ is there, so that’s all that matters.”

Pretty much, yeah.

Mikal Bridges is going to have a tough time with Ja. I think Hart will be fine on Bane and OG should be able to cover JJJ easily enough.

The biggest problem — and I do mean biggest — is Edey against KAT. I do not trust KAT in this matchup at all. Edey is prone to foul trouble but KAT has the worst whistle in the league.

I don’t love the 6’7″ Wells against Brunson either.

On the flip side, I don’t think Ja’s offense can hold a Rucker Park candle to Brunson or KAT, assuming KAT is healthy, and Edey is going to be very slow out on the perimeter. Maybe we see more JJJ at C and Edey on the bench.

They’re on a 6 game win streak. This won’t be easy.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Memphis is one of the handful of benches with a better on/off than we have.

I do like Poeltl but he’s underwhelmed a bit since coming to Toronto for a couple 1sts. I’m not sure Toronto makes that trade either.

nice thought EB, our bench has looked better of late…maybe we can win a close one at the end…

some interesting defensive assignments…

good game to see how a couple of excellent wing defenders work against ja and jjj…

clarke has been looking pretty bouncy lately too…bane will probably hit about a dozen threes…yikes…

hopefully the team brings their three point shot to the game tonight, we are going to need at least 15 or so to win…

for some reason I’m expecting us to get out rebounded…

Memphis is a fun team, good uniform game (at least to my eye-test), Knicks are rested — should be a fun game. I agree with Hubert that this has the feel of the Knicks potentially going on a run. Things are setting up nice for it. Hopefully, they have another gear in them, I think they might.

RJ Barrett deserves better stans.

If he did, he would have them.

I’m hoping that Brunson can handle Wells and that KAT can handle Edey largely based on experience and guile alone. I mean, I know that those words are kind of vague, but Brunson and KAT have seen a lot by this point in their careers, while those guys are unseasoned rookies.

rest matters for sure…

better bench utilization would help, task cam with creating for others first, let huk run loose for a few minutes each half, kolek get a few mid quarter minutes…

hopefully tonight both deuce and precious play well and a bunch of minutes…

after that recent stretch of games where we looked tired and overmatched, hard to imagine us playing much better than .500 against teams with winning records…

hit or miss going in to each game…

home court isn’t that much of an advantage to our team this season…

I’m with Z-man on the RJ thing – people here are being unnecessarily harsh about him since the move to Toronto. He’s been OK.

The problem is that OK isn’t valuable on a top contender; as EB and others have pointed out, the skills he has aren’t that helpful to a team with genuine high-usage high-efficiency players such as JB and KAT. His defense is weak, he isn’t terribly efficient – he’s just not an ideal second or third banana.

The irony is that E hates, hates, hates Randle, but the player whose game is most similar? Randle. One is a big, one a wing, but other than that Randle and RJ have very similar limitations – middling efficiency on high usage, good peripheral stats, weak on D. Which is one reason we ditched both of them once JB showed who he is. OG is outstanding in his lesser role; RJ is middling at his greater role. Considering we had Brunson, it made sense to ditch RJ.

So I check into Knickerblogger just now, see that there’s 109 posts (probably 115 by the time I’m done typing) and hope to see an informed discussion about a great matchup tonight vs. the Memphis Grizzlies

Instead, almost the entire thread is devoted to RJ freakin’ Barrett

I mean, wtf….

E, runs the BBall blog equivalent of a law school moot court with the RJ argument being as relevant to the future of the Knicks as the question would Roe v Wade have been overturned if RBG was still on SCOTUS. It does trigger the competitive spirit and stellar debate skills of the KB cognoscente ( use of that word inspired by PT and Raven), which I surmise gives E some type of psychic utility( query how many billable hours, he leaves on the table engaging in this). Now, if we can only find a judge to render a binding opinion, ( PT does cameo judging and his rulings are almost never appealed), we can discuss how Mikal will fare against Ja tonight.

Jaylen Wells being both exactly what we need and available when we were on the clock at 38 kinda pisses me off.

Jalen Johnson, Jalen Williams, and now Jaylen Wells. If we’re ever on the clock again when there is a quality Jalen available, regardless of how he spells his name, just fucking take him.

As for Memphis, we are likely to get creamed tonight – they’ve been outstanding this year. If KAT can’t hit from the outside, I didn’t think we have a chance.

Wells is a concern, not only his size but he’s been getting a lot of props for his defense. Jalen’s a wizard, but this might be a game where getting 12 assists is better than 30 points. We’ll see.

Interesting weird fact — Edey’s not taken all that many, but he’s shooting 40% from three.

Makes me think rock fight that could go either way.

shamet is nice, it would be better to find a bigger shamet though…like tj warren, maybe?

hopefully we’re getting to the point where we can make a deal to make room for a larger forward…

Jaylen Wells being both exactly what we need and available when we were on the clock at 38 kinda pisses me off.

As long as we’re airing the pre-game-thread grievances, Santi Aldama is a 7 foot tall wing shooting 36.9% from downtown with a TS% of just short of .600, and rocking a 3.4 BPM. 8.4 boards per 36. In other words, he’s exactly what Strat has been advocating and would be perfect for this team.

He’s been out, but projects to be available tonight.

He was available with the incinerated pick.

well done bo, well done indeed 👍

Turned on the Grizz the other night and Edey canned a three immediately. I am excited to watch him tonight.

how Mikal will fare against Ja tonight.

as a rule, if mikal has a good game we win…tough assignment though…josh should be able to help…

feels like a big game…

Is Edey the best player of Asian descent in the NBA right now? I think there’s Clarkson, Rui, and plus a couple others that won’t be all that competitive in the category.

He could easily finish his career as #2 all-time after Yao, unless I’m forgetting someone. There’s Lin of course but he’s pretty easy to beat out.

He also looks like the final piece in Team Canada’s ascendancy to world domination.

He also looks like the final piece in Team Canada’s ascendancy to world domination.

Is he Canadian? Dang, he and SGA are going to be a problem. I hear the great RJ Barrett may also play for them … unstoppable!

That made me stumble onto an article from 2022 that listed Wiggins as better than Shai in terms of best Canadians in the NBA…

Is he Canadian? Dang, he and SGA are going to be a problem. I hear the great RJ Barrett may also play for them … unstoppable!

Their team is something like:

PG: Jamal Murray
SG: SGA, Nembhard
SF: Dillon Brooks, Nickeil AW
PF: RJ, Dort
C: Olynyk, Dwight Powell

Their weak spot is C and Edey ain’t no guard.

Can Team USA beat that?

Can Team USA beat that?

I should clarify, can USA beat that team once LBJ, Curry, and KD retire?

The under 30 USA members last go around were Tatum, Ant, Hali, Bam, and Booker. Most of those players are better than Canada, but nobody in the stratosphere of SGA.

Can Team USA beat that?

Definitely, but gone are the days of the Dream Team. It will take a real effort and real training time (and good choices for complementary players).

Ja, Brunson, Garland
Booker, Mitchell, Edwards
Brown, JWilliams
Tatum, JJJ, Mobley
AD, Bam

Just a quick sketch

Edit: I know Embiid was on the most recent team, but it seems unrealistic going forward. Maybe Kessler for another big? And Hart for a glue guy?

Ja, Brunson, Garland
Booker, Mitchell, Edwards
Brown, JWilliams
Tatum, JJJ, Mobley
AD, Bam

Where’s KAT?

The Heat just suspended Jimmy Butler indefinitely after he walked out of shootaround. Ugly.

Where’s KAT?

Playing for the Dominican

I don’t get predicting that we’ll go on a winning streak here or even beat the Grizz. This is exactly the kind of team where we’ll go up 10-12 at some point, collapse almost instantly to a 24-4 run, and trail the rest of the way. Either that or our trademark wire-to-wire blowout home loss.

They’re young, athletic, and deep while we’re small, tired, and banged up. KAT’s thumb thing will probably linger into the playoffs, neutering our offense. We may have played well in the Kings game, but I fully expect the wheels to come off the wagon soon as the terminal injury spiral has already begun, it’s just in the early stages where guys like KAT/JB/OG/Hart are playing through stuff instead of missing games.

Although I don’t agree with the details of Pags’ post, I have to agree with him that I don’t see a win coming our way tonight. After the three obvious teams, Memphis the other team that I think we just don’t match up against well enough right now. I think we can beat Houston, but certainly not easily.

lol the Heat just suspended Jimmy indefinitely

There’s the Pags we know and love! None of that sensible, thoughtful basketball posting. Full on disaster ranting is what we’ve come to expect!

Definitely a crapshoot game, however, as Doogies implies. If we don’t fire on all cylinders it’ll be tough.

Now all we need is Clarence telling us what to eat to help sop up our tears…

“lol the Heat just suspended Jimmy indefinitely”

LOL I said the same 23 minutes ago. What a shitshow! 🙂 I really have no idea who would want that personality on their team, especially at his age. Stats definitely be damned in this particular case. It’s not at all the same as the Ja shitshow of a couple of years ago.

tired

Did the team not get sleep last night?

How are they tired today?

Making goat curry tonight. Unless you’re coming over I can’t help.

You’re welcome to join.

Come on Clarence,
Steph’s maybe top 10/top 15 but there’s no way he’s the GOAT…

Fuckin hell Max. And I thought I ripped one with Noonien Soong.

I love spicy, the spicier the better, so all good with curry. Is goat super-fatty? Maybe it’s lean meat, but it doesn’t seem that it would be.

The only time I ate goat was a barbeque in the desert with some Saudis and it was gross. Just to tough it out to be polite.

i’m doing turkey chili tonight…not quite as complex as goat curry…but…jam packed with protein!

Goat’s pretty lean and very goaty. One of the many blessings of living in Little Caribbean Flatbush is an ample supply of fresh quality goat meat. A little Spicy Mrs. Balls Mango Chutney and I’m a happy old boy.

Went into a stone hut in northern Pakistan that had a sick, coughing goat roped to a stake out front. About two hours later was served goat. It was okay until I got what I swear was one of its hooves in my mouth. Wearing a big flowing shalwar kamiz, was able to subtly spit it into my sleeve and deposit it outside a bit later.

In Mongolia had goat cooked by blowtorch. That was ‘okay,’ too.

I’ve never had the displeasure of goat, and judging on the above, I’m OK with that.

The other night my girlfriend and I were watching the Kings game, and there was one point where Brunson was on the floor and Sabonis offered his hand to help him up. Brunson waved him off and waited a few seconds for a Knick to help him up instead. I also remember seeing Brunson do this in last year’s playoffs. My girlfriend *really* likes Brunson, but she was a little bit disappointed in seeing his somewhat brutish behavior. It’s a little bit difficult to explain “they’re not friends when they’re on the court, but they might go out to dinner together later” to someone who is just now becoming a sports fan.

Rad. I had decent goat in a Bedouin tent in the Negev and it was pretty good. Curry Goat Roti has been one of my NYC staples for a long time especially after spending time in the islands. I’m weak for curry.

It’s a silly tradition that feels like it’s only about a decade old now. “No rival’s hands shall sully mine!” I’m always happy when some dude just grab’s an opponent’s hand when it’s offered.

And Doogie, there’s good goat. Don’t turn you nose up just because I have goat stories. It can be quite tasty.

Seriously, how do you have time to work with all this travelling that you’re doing? Or maybe travelling is a big part of your work? — Possibly a Little Jealous Doogie

(This question is primarly for Clarence, but anyone can respond, of course.)

Just wondering if any folks with medical knowledge can discuss the Big Mitch injury relative to slow healing surgically repaired ankle stress fractures. In particular, the prognosis with large athletes. Thanks.

Doogie, my office is my laptop. I live the life I want to live. Thats a non negotiable for me. I’m not quite sure how people get by living the life they’re supposed to. I hope everyone gets to live the life they want to. I travel a lot for work and pleasure.

Also no kids baby. God bless ya’ll for keeping the species afloat.

Go Knicks.

I was at my mother’s house most of the day dealing with plumbing issues, real estate tax issues, her Medicaid renewal, her MLTC plan and so on. It was a nightmare. I just finished and was looking forward to Knickerblogger. Then I saw this RJ thread and decided being on “hold” for 3 hours with Medicaid wasn’t all that bad. 😉

Wearing a big flowing shalwar kamiz, was able to subtly spit it into my sleeve and deposit it outside a bit later.

Ha! I was wearing a thawb, but it didn’t occur to me to try it. Also, the second in command of the religious police was staring daggers at me, so I was making sure not to do anything that might get me disappeared. That dude was one of the few people who ever frightened me.

Cmon Strat, closing out the thread with GOAT content. Strong finish

I would add that it’s not all roses. Sometimes you get gonorhea and chlamydia at the same time. That’s not what I want but hey…

I enjoyed smoked goat birria at Casa Susanna in Leeds, NY once. It’s a great stop on the drive to Saratoga.

i spent some time working in Monterrey, Mexico…they love their cabrito down there…makes for a good taco…

Apparently I need to give goat another chance

Just for posterity, I made beef chili tonight and held the cutest little baby goat yesterday…

I absolutely love goat. I get it anytime I see it on a menu.

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