2025-26 Game Thread: Knicks @ Sixers

The majority, if not all of our wins this season. came because of hot offense. If shots don’t fall or if the opposing team defends us well, physically and/or schematically, then we are in trouble.

If we show today a capacity to slow down a good team, to play consistently good defense, to put together consecutive stops, then we have a chance. We have not shown that this season. A few short spurts of good defense here and there are not enough.

We literally killed them on the boards, we took a dozen more shots than them, and we are nevertheless down by four. This ain’t good. They scored waaay too many cheap points.

Rough, I was what are you, crazy, and now I see it’s 32-14 in rebounds. Wow.

Nick Thibodeau ain’t stupid. He will fix that in the second half. Watch out. We need to defend better from paint penetration, minimize transition/fast break points, and stop fouling dirty Embiid. They are an average to below average 3pt team.

Finally some great defense during this run. Let’s hope it will continue!

It was really stressful down the stretch. Offense totally stalled, defense crumbled with plenty of stupid plays, but effort was there. Q3 gave us this game. This gives me hope. I hope we can build on of that quarter.

The three most important people as we approach the trade deadline are KAT, Bridges, and Mike Brown. KAT has lost confidence in his game and his teammates frankly. I am not sure if he gets it back in time. Bridges had moments in last years playoffs but he still disappears way too often and his erratic play on both ends is part of the downfall. Mike Brown has had ample time to get to know the team and while injuries have been a problem, his feel for the team is not fully there and his substitutions during the losing streak left a lot to be desired.

Will all 3 stay? Probably likely unless we collapse this week. But will all 3 turn it around? (which is needed if we want to win a chip this year

I’d say the first two are situational, depending on what’s available. Giannis is crying to get him out of Milwaukee.

I have not been convinced at all by Mike Brown, and I was pretty sure he’d be badly outcoached today by Nick Nurse (aka Nick Thibodeau). I am glad to say he was not. Brown is the least likely to go. For now. Another slide the next few weeks may dramatically change things.

The Bucks are hesitant to trade Giannis not just for basketball reasons. This guy has not only multiplied the value of the franchise by eight-ten times; he also had significant impact on the economy of the city of Milwaukee. Yep!

Portland owns Bucks picks and swaps for 2028-30. The point for the Knicks is to find draft assets to send to Milwaukee in a possible Giannis trade. This is most likely the reason they were talking to Memphis, Charlotte, Orlando, and so on. Where there is smoke there’s probably a fire. We shall see.

I am ok with Bridges but sad to see Deuce go. This is however a very hypothetical scenario. The Bucks are very reluctant and Giannis does not want to push, or so he says. Even if a trade happens, it won’t necessarily have that exact shape as currently shown. For instance, the Knicks are sending out five players and get back only two. They will need to find a serviceable center. Other teams may have to be involved. And so on.

It’s an absolute no brainer for the Knicks. We get a top-5 player who will give us an easy 25pts, 10+ boards, and very good defense. We have the best medical staff in the NBA. If we get two-three good Giannis years, then wow.