Knicks Morning News (2025.02.08)

56 replies on “Knicks Morning News (2025.02.08)”

The NY Times/Athletic article on the Butler-Heat feud is an interesting read. The takeaway from other synopses focuses on the Riley meeting where Riley teared up. But my big takeaway is that Jimmy was routinely allowed to travel separately from the team–not just air travel but the team bus. Not that it was ever in the works, but we dodged a huge bullet by letting him go elsewhere this season.

I was keen on Jimmy when I was skeptical about KAT before the season, but after seeing how good KAT really is any thoughts of wanting Butler vanished. He’s just totally unnecessary.

I like the idea of him on Golden State. It remains to be seen if he has another bounce in his career. It wouldn’t shock me if he has another dominant postseason run. It also wouldn’t surprise me if he’s finished and this whole charade was just him ruthlessly securing one last bag while he could.

I’m glad it isn’t our problem.

Pretty excited and nervous about tonight. I don’t care how pedestrian the Celtics have looked at times this year. They turned it up against Cleveland earlier this week and I suspect they’ll bring it again tonight. We could really use a win against them for our psyche, which I think took a pretty big hit with those dispiriting losses to the Thunder.

I told my kids last night they would wake up to six inches of snow. Big mistake.

Of course I thought we were playing the Celtics last night too.

Given our recent win streak this one feels almost like a freeroll. Don’t care what happens at all.

When we lose by 30 and my Boston buddies start texting it’s just going to be Zenlike calm in the inner core of my being.

I’ll be 10th row behind the Knicks bench tonight. Really hoping we avenge that terrible opening night ass-whupping. Maybe it comes down to Huk doing to Tatum what he did to Barnes.

Let’s take it as a good omen (I still remember his first game as a Knick, an OT win against the Celtics), our old pal Evian with the creative buzzer beater to beat Barcelona yesterday…

https://x.com/EuroLeague/status/1887975536460202276?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1887975536460202276%7Ctwgr%5E924acf4b705af4ae91ab018e7154a036e7a83186%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsportando.basketball%2Folympiacos-evan-fournier-la-vince-cosi-contro-il-barcellona%2F

When we lose by 30 ………it’s just going to be Zenlike calm in the inner core of my being.

is that the Pagsian School of Buddhism?

Max, I think the last time I saw us beat the Celts live was the Michael Beasley game, so I’m due. (My girls were at the RJ game, does that count?)

One thing I miss about RJ was his oddly dominant behavior against the Celtics. Chalk it up to moxie.

No OG for us and no Holiday for them is two key players out.

What’s funny about the RJ game is that he was actually playing terribly before he made that game winning three! And even that banked in!

Jrue seems to never miss against us so I’ll take it.

Yeah, but if I remember correctly, he had some other great games against the Cs…

Kinda crazy how the bottom half of the East bracket just opened up.
For a while there it was looking like we’d have to play a tough Hawks team, Giannis, or even Indiana in round 1. Then Orlando imploded without Suggs, Johnson’s injury sunk the Hawks, and the Heat became a team you actually want to play. As long as Indiana and Milwaukee stay in that 4/5 match, there’s no one at 6/7 likely to scare anyone.

Kinda crazy how the bottom half of the East bracket just opened up.

Totally crazy considering we’re only the tenth best team in the NBA and Orlando and Indiana and Atlanta and Detroit were all positioned better than us…and of course all those Western conference teams….

I’ll be at the game tonight in the 100s with my brother and my sister-in-law’s Celtic-fan dad. Luckily, he’s a mild-mannered Canadian, so I don’t think any family strife will occur.

As great as our game tonight should be (predictions: Knicks 30, Celtics 19 at the end of the first quarter; Jalen with 12 points at the end of the first quarter), the marquee game of the night has to be Thunder@Grizzlies.

Over/under on Delon Wright minutes?

Zero minutes

Will Delon Wright and Luca Vildoza be ready for the playoffs?

Celtics losing their last game at home to a depleted Mavs team and looking either exhausted or completely disinterested probably means we get a real effort from them tonight.

As long as Indiana and Milwaukee stay in that 4/5 match, there’s no one at 6/7 likely to scare anyone.

I guess Orlando could be trouble if they get healthy and figure their shit out?

Anyone else notice that the Thunder started both Chet and iHart last night? Didn’t see that coming. The West is big, man.

Totally crazy considering we’re only the tenth best team in the NBA and Orlando and Indiana and Atlanta and Detroit were all positioned better than us…and of course all those Western conference teams….

You know I’m not Pags, right?

Should be interesting to see what sort of receptions Anthony Davis gets from the home fans today

You know I’m not Pags, right?

I do. Wasn’t directed at you.

Although weren’t you saying we were eighth best? Doesn’t really matter; there’s OKC, the Cavs, and maybe still Boston, and then there’s everyone else.

Z and Eminently, really envious. Fantastic game to go to. Great choice. Assume Z-man will do his loud( wonder why I think that?) part, need you to thread the needle with the in-laws. Will credit both of you for the win.

Gotcha. Thought it was directed at me bc I was quoted.

I’ve been in the 4th through 8th camp all year, and recently had us at #4. But I also have us with lower championship odds than even Pags.

Then again, anticipating a grueling, losable first round series against someone like Indiana or Atlanta was a big part of my 0.5% calculus. The way the east is looking now after the trade deadline I probably have to raise our chances to 2%.

Werk. So you’re saying we have a shot.

Not a puncher’s chance, though.

Ironically I think the second tier teams have less chance than teams below them.

New York, Memphis, and Houston are pretty clearly the 3 best teams after OKC, Boston, and Cleveland. But they all have massive thermal exhaust… I mean Achilles’ heels that I just can’t see not getting exploited. I don’t think any of them have a real chance this year.

Oddly the teams with a puncher’s chance are all beneath tier 2. There’s no way I’m putting the Lakers in a higher tier than the Knicks, for instance. But there’s also no denying a team with Luka and LeBron has a puncher’s chance no matter how exploitable their weaknesses are. Same with Denver/Jokic. By rule, if you have someone on your team who could conceivably be the greatest player to ever live*, I think you have a puncher’s chance.

* I know no one truly considers Jokic the greatest player ever but he’s really not that far off.

I think you’re underselling the Knicks if Mitch can produce effective minutes.

Well they’re cheering Anthony Davis in Dallas

AD is pretty good…

Tony Kornheiser gave an amazing answer to the question, “which game would you rather go to if you were a sportswriter? Dallas or LA for Luka’s debut.”

I am with him. Dallas for sure. Should be very interesting.

AD with 24 points on 9-13 shooting, 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks…in the first half!

So apparently this was a clue on Jeopardy last night:

Meaning perfectly acceptable, this word from “Simpsons” fame made it into Merriam-Webster in 2023

So apparently this was a clue on Jeopardy last night:

Meaning perfectly acceptable, this word from “Simpsons” fame made it into Merriam-Webster in 2023

What a perfectly cromulent clue.

AD with 24 points on 9-13 shooting, 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks…in the first half!

he really had a nice career in dallas

I think you’re underselling the Knicks if Mitch can produce effective minutes.

The Knicks with an effective Mitch are still a hypothetical team. If they ever become a real team, I will assess them then. But I’ve never included healthy Mitch in my odds bc I have no good reason to expect it.

Did Washington get hurt or something?

rolled an ankle

AD got hurt already

Wow that was fast

Looks like he wanted to give Mavericks fans the entire AD experience in his debut.

Dallas is hypothetically exciting.

https://x.com/surtainera/status/1888346269351059611?s=46&t=0wqff4cNt-sCGcDs-uMExw

Lakers winning against Indiana without Luka LeBron and Bronny. Amazing

Groin pull. AD already out 2-4 weeks.

KAT questionable with knee soreness, probably means he’s not playing tonight I would guess

Groin pull. AD already out 2-4 weeks.

That’s not going to do much to ease the frustration in Dallas, but that kid Christie looks like WAY MORE than just a throw in. I don’t think Mavs fans realized that.

I think he’s playing. He can rest after this.

Groin pull. AD already out 2-4 weeks.

Meanwhile it will be 2-4 weeks until the Knicks say anything this definitive about OG’s ankle.

that kid Christie looks like WAY MORE than just a throw in

He looked pretty damn good against us. And since he’s been playing after being benched for a while, his +/- is pretty high, I think 16 or something like that.

Also he has the rep of being a good defender, but I dunno about that …

Reaves had a terrific game. Always strange who shows up when all the star players are out.

Also, according to Twitter, Paul George has more podcast clip uploads as a Sixer than made field goals

Edwards: “Thibs said Anunoby is “close” but that they’re “day-to-day” decisions.”

OG after the break would be more than fine

OG’s initial injury didn’t concern me too much, but what does concern me is the follow-up to that injury, as it seems like something he could easily re-injure, and the re-injury is what worries me.

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