News & Blogs
Knicks turn attention to Eastern Conference Finals after dominant second-round sweep – SNY
Knicks Bulletin: ‘He runs like a deer. His gait is beautiful’ – Posting & Toasting
Surging Knicks will enter Eastern Conference Finals as prohibitive favorite after second-round sweep – SNY
76ers’ season unravels in ugly sweep vs. Knicks, leaving Philly in familiar place – CBS Sports
Playoff Game Thread: Knicks at 76ers, Game 4, May 10, 2026 – Posting & Toasting
Knicks sweep 76ers, return to Eastern Conference finals – ESPN
Back to the Eastern Conference Finals! | Rapid Reaction – Knicks Fan TV
Knicks at 76ers (Game 4) – Recap & Reaction | POSTGAME SHOW | Knicks Film School – Knicks Film School
Knicks SWEEP 76ers! NBA Record 25 Threes & Blowout Recap – Knick of Time
Pod Strickland Episode 593 – Outclassed & Annihilated – The Strickland
YT News
179 replies on “Knicks Morning News (2026.05.11)”
“By the way, Zubac is a very good player. He’s not the type of guy that you’d be shocked would net you two first round picks. If the pick did not convey this year, it was STILL going to be two first round picks, an unprotected 2029 pick and an unprotected 2031 pick. An unprotected 2031 pick from ANY team is a very valuable asset.
Obviously, the #5 pick in THIS draft is an even MORE valuable asset, so the Pacers definitely lost out on this deal, but had they kept their #5 pick, they were still going to have to trade two first rounders for Zubac. I think that that aspect of the deal is not getting as much attention in the midst of the mockery of the Pacers’ bad luck.
But yeah, fuck, it is awesome that they got fucked over.”
100%. Zubac is a top 10 starting C in his prime, 2 unprotected future firsts, plus a second and Mathurin and Jackson is a steep but very fair price to pay.
However, Indy tanked hard just to retain that pick, and were literally 3 wins away from guaranteeing it would convey, one of those stupidly coming against us. They went 4-7 in their last 11 games, with wins coming against the Magic, Heat, Bulls, and Nets! That’s a major fuck-up. They turned a guarantee into a coin flip!
And it definitely could be argued that had they NOT have made that trade, they could have a) found a player as good as Zubac anywhere in the top-5 of this loaded draft, even a franchise-level player, and still have traded for a good starting C in the offseason. Hell, they might have figured how to outbid us for Mitch, or gone for iHart as OKC has to start wrangling with cap issues. Or maybe even entered the Giannis sweepstakes!
So it’s more about abjectly (and yet not extremely enough) tanking for nothing and about opportunity cost than about the price of the trade being dramatically altered in a vacuum. Definitely a LOL Pacers moment!
Macri waxed poetic about how this is now the greatest Knicks team of his lifetime. In deference to his relative youth, I would limit the discussion to the post-Ewing lottery win Knicks. Clearly the Reed-Frazier Knicks that hung 2 banners will not be overtaken by this team.
And as such, it really comes down to the peak Ewing teams vs. this team.
Personally, I would have to argue that the peak ’90s teams were better than this team is, at least right at this moment. But this team has a chance to overtake them.
The 2026 Hawks and Sixers are a pretty significant step down from the EC competition the ’90s Knicks faced in the playoffs. So for sure, this team is playing championship-caliber basketball and is loaded with talent. But it hasn’t really been tested yet in these playoffs.
But it certainly is a valid conversation to have.
If the Pacers came out of one down year with Dybantsa or Boozer we would be fucked, this is a huge bullet the entire eastern conference just dodged. Every time I watched Dybantsa specially I came out thinking that he’s going to be a star in the NBA.
Good morning, all. I’m now seeing Jayden Quaintance, PF/C from Kentucky being mocked to us at #24. Certainly seems cromulent. 🙂
This is definitely the most beautiful basketball I’ve ever seen a Knicks team play in my lifetime, much as I adore those Ewing/Starks teams.
This, from Macri, is a pretty crazy stat:
I hate to be optimistic about the Cavs, but I think they will make it a series.
If it’s Detroit, I’m really glad Deuce had the game he had yesterday. And I hope Brown is willing to go 5 out if the Pistons are mucking things up by exploiting Josh.
The Hawks also got screwed getting bumped from the top 7. Brooklyn dropped, but they’re still in a good position to get one of Flemings/Acuff/Wagler. And the Bulls are in a great spot.
I hate that Ainge will get another great player though.
marechal, that’s cool and all, but I will only take so much away from it. 3pt variance is much more of a thing now than it was then. And our two opponents were really weak.
The Riley team were first in defensive rating 3 years in a row. In 93-94 it was by over 3 points! They were historically great defensive team. You could argue that the gap on offense is greater than the gap on defense, as none of the ’90s teams were all that good on the offensive end, it was mostly Ewing or bust. And as Alan pointed out, they were not great to watch from an aesthetic pov. But they were so good on D that it made up for it.
But it is something for sure. This is a very potent and balanced offensive team by any measure, and the defense is also playing at a very high level. This string of blowouts is no accident.
“I hate that Ainge will get another great player though.”
Who is the other one? Ace?
Ainge has been pretty meh given the hand he was dealt and the strategy he has employed.
“Our sprays were tremendous, but the spacing part is what made them really good,” coach Mike Brown said. “We spaced the floor very good and when they committed two to the ball and/or we touched the paint and their defense collapsed, we did a great job of finding the open man and making one more pass without panicking. Guys stepped in and knocked shots down.”
“Twenty-five 3s on 44 attempts, if I’m seeing that right, it’s unbelievable and it’s great basketball. But the group that I have in the locker room, they’re more than capable of doing something like that.”
BTW, the podcast I mentioned a while back — with theme music by JK himself — is now available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTIOw5qxzL4
Links to subscribe via whatever podcast platform you use: https://www.whatsalanwatching.com/introducing-the-tv-is-good-podcast-with-kathryn-vanarendonk/
JK’s music is a bit longer than what appears in this one. We’re still playing with everything. Probably we’ll post the full opening and closing music to the YouTube channel sometime down the road.
I do wonder whether this draft will wind up not living up to the hype. I don’t watch a whole lot of college ball, and since we only pick in the mid 20’s I haven’t spent much time checking out the video scouting reports and higllight reels. Are there any sure-fire HOFers there?
I think HOF is pretty impossible to say before a dude steps foot into an NBA game, but Dybantsa and Boozer are very, very, very good. If I had to pick one, I’d say Dybantsa (which is why he’ll go first overall), but again HOF is literally impossible to guess at.
I will always, always, always ride with Tom Thibodeau. He made the New York Knicks a serious enterprise for the first time in my post-pre-K life (with help, most assuredly, but no one should deny his key role). One of the deeply unserious teams in need of a coach should absolutely hire him.
I also feel confident saying that both the eye test and the numbers are lending a lot of credence to the idea that Mike Brown is better at unlocking this particular team’s ceiling.
If we keep playing like this–every player dedicated to moving the ball with intention, getting after it defensively for 48 minutes, everyone on the bench staying ready–we’ve got a shot.
A 6-1 point guard who’s really a two guard, and a 7-0 center who’s really a point forward — and more of a point guard than the 6-1 dude — was too much “deviation” for Thibs to maximize.
If the Knicks go on to hoist the Larry O’B, it will be because their two stars were finally — accidentally??? — put into their proper roles three games into the playoff season. (And to a lesser but not immaterial degree because their two stars both have zero issue seeing the other maximally succeed and flourish.)
Encomiums to Thibs otherwise co-signed.
The beauty is exactly right. I too love the Ewing/Starks teams and I almost burst out crying with joy when I spotted Starks in the tunnel fist-bumping all the guys as part of the organization.
But the 90s teams won some ugly-ass basketball games (hahaha) and nothing ever looked easy. These guys are moving the ball like I’ve never seen at MSG. Find the open man. Hit the layup or the three. And repeat.
Still giddy over the series win, but also just can’t get over the about-face from the Hawks series. We look transformed out there. We’re playing a gorgeous, intelligent brand of basketball and are winning big doing it. After spending a lot of the season feeling lukewarm about this team and their cohesion, it’s a wonderful thing to see. Let’s go all the way.
What struck me besides the ball movement and highI Q play was that every rotation player was a significant contributor after games 3 of the Hawks series. Also, how well Mikal and the schemes the Knicks used on defense really negated Maxey the entire series.
fwiw- Cam Boozer is the next coming of Paolo Banchero. Not a franchise player.
KAT’s at 14.4 BPM for the playoffs, way ahead of Wemby at number two with 10.2. He’s the league leader in OBPM and he’s the league leader in DBPM.
It’s been an absolute tour de force in all-around skill and production for the guy.
As we sit here today, he’s the unquestioned league playoff MVP. Hopefully it continues.
“I will always, always, always ride with Tom Thibodeau. He made the New York Knicks a serious enterprise for the first time in my post-pre-K life (with help, most assuredly, but no one should deny his key role)….I also feel confident saying that both the eye test and the numbers are lending a lot of credence to the idea that Mike Brown is better at unlocking this particular team’s ceiling.”
I am in full agreement with this. As I said yesterday, Brown has proven that his “floor” is Tom Thibodeau and that he very likely has a significantly higher ceiling, even if that ceiling with this team is losing to OKC in the finals.
Two caveats:
1) Brown inherited a team that a) is comprised of playoff-hardened vets, and b) who have mostly played together for 2 years.
2) Brown inherited a team that was coached by Tom Thibodeau.
It is true that Brown has almost certainly unlocked potential that would have remained untapped under Thibs. Just the evolution in KAT’s game alone is a testament to that, but there are lots of other little things.
But perhaps even more importantly, Brown understands that this team needs less hands-on coaching because of the experience and continuity that they have. You don’t hear him bellowing non-stop from the sidelines. He’s not a control freak. He listens. He isn’t vindictive. He’s upbeat and charming.
But otoh, his team hasn’t experienced failure yet. Thibs was eliminated from the playoffs in gut-wrenching fashion four out of five years, and had to answer for that to management, the fanbase, the media, and the players. When Brown experienced failure in his previous stops, particularly in Sacto, it didn’t go so well. His smiley schtick didn’t work for him. De’Aaron Fox openly defied him and Brown called him out in the media.
Be that as it may, Brown has been a clear home run for this season. I do think that Thibs would have gotten this team past our two opponents thus far, but the team is playing in a way, and with an energy and confidence and cohesiveness and independence, that I don’t think was possible under Thibs’ heavy hand.
So yes, thanks Thibs, you should always be remembered with fondness for his role putting us in this position, especially given the lack of tanking and the number of inefficient moves made by Leon. But there is zero reason to look back and pine for him.
One thing that’s been amazing is that we have basically removed the worst play in our arsenal—KAT drives to the basket from the elbow and flings up a low percentage attempt then doesn’t get a whistle and complains— with something about a billion times more effective. Now he holds the ball up high, waits for another Knick to find a soft spot in the defense, then delivers a high quality pass.
We’ve all seen KAT make some nice passes before, but this kind of sustained court vision and good decision making is of course a revelation. “And then KAT turned into a player reminiscent of Jokic and/or Draymond midway through the first round of the playoffs” was not the deus ex machina I was expecting.
KAT had as many triple-doubles this April (1 reg season, 2 playoffs) as he had the rest of his career. He played under 30min in each one this year.
If we wind up playing Detroit It will interesting to see their defense against our new offense running through KAT more. Something has to give.
KAT is playing far and away the best basketball of his career on both sides. Anyone still think Randle is better…and that’s no knock on Randle or DDV.
You would struggle to convince me that any Knick has ever been better than KAT is right now
Duren is 6’10” and strong, and Beef Stew is 6’8″ and very strong. Tobias Harris is 6’8″ and less strong. KAT will have a height/reach advantage over any of them. Stewart can beat him up, though, if Bickerstaff puts him on KAT. And Harris has frustrated the hell out of KAT previously. But Harris also didn’t play KAT in this mode, which seems to have substantially reduced the efficacy of the “guard KAT with a wing and put your center on Hart” strategy. We’ll see. So far, though, KAT and the coaches have adjusted pretty brilliantly to how teams have defended him. Can he do that against Wemby or Chet or Rudy? Hopefully, we get to find out.
I think the main question mark in a Detroit series will be Hart. If he is confident and shooting well – and maybe having a jammed finger will help – I think the offense will be very good. If not, Brown will probably have to give more time to the 5 out lineup with Deuce or Shamet.
Mikal being this active is great, because he’ll probably get the Duncan Robinson assignment.
Remind me if OG or someone else was the primary Cade defender last year? Cade is taller than Hart, but Hart has, like the rest of WingStop, been defending like a demon so far this offseason. I assume one of them can at least bother Cade.
And part of the trick to dealing with Ausar is to try to play him off the floor by completely ignoring him as a shooter.
Cleveland would be an interesting matchup. On the one hand, they have nobody who can come close to guarding Brunson. On the other hand, they have the size to complicate the KAT-as-Joker offense. But on the other other hand, Mitch owns their souls.
The good thing about playing Detroit is with the way the Knicks are playing defense the Pistons offense will have a hard time scoring 100 pts against them.
I’m pretty sure it was OG, Alan.
Though I wonder if they should try to play OG on Ausar to basically be a free safety, and figure out how the other matchups would work.
My only worry with Cleveland is that they can get very hot from deep, but their defense cannot stop these Knicks.
Hard to say HOF for all the reasons, but I’m very confident Dybantsa will be a star and Boozer will be at least a high level player with a long career, probably all star level. I’m not confident at all in Peterson, he’s clearly a high level scorer but I can’t trust a ball dominant guard who averages 1.6 assists per game on a 33.5 usage rate. Haven’t watched much of Wilson but both Acuff and Wagler were very good too.
FWIW even though the result was unfortunate I still like that trade for the Pacers. The 5th pick is good but it’s widely considered a draft with four elite prospects.
The real screw job was them falling out of the top 4. That would have been a big deal even if they didn’t have to deliver the pick to LA.
When you look at what Bane and Bridges went for, Zubac — arguably a better and more impactful player on a cheaper contract — going for ’29 & ’31 would have been a steal of epic proportion. If they’d followed that up with a top 4 pick in a 4 player draft, that would have likely been enough to make them a championship team.
They had a 52% chance for an outrageous outcome that probably would have delivered a chip. And the worst case scenario was they end up paying market price for a player they needed.
I make those moves in backgammon all the time. I liken it to having a chance to build a devastating prime early in the game and the only risk is going on the bar when your opponent hasn’t built up their home.
We are very, very lucky their pip got hit. But they’re not screwed.
Just want to give credit to the entire Knicks lineup, top to bottom.
We’re giving KAT his kudos for playing superb basketball, as well we should.
Nice piece by Edwards today on how Brunson has become the heart and soul — and superstar — of this team. The fulcrum and foundation of all that is good with the Knicks.
Bridges is suddenly playing lights-out. Before he was hurt OG was playing lights-out. Hart continues to be here-there-fucking everywhere and knocking down key shots.
Mitch is Mitching. Deuce has blown up. Shamet continues to deliver icicles to the heart and play tough D. Ditto for Clarkson, who reinvented himself as a two-way killer. Alvarado is a delightful pest with the occasional dagger.
There’s not a player in the rotation who is NOT playing the best basketball of his life. It’s kind of amazing.
“On the one hand, they have nobody who can come close to guarding Brunson. On the other hand, they have the size to complicate the KAT-as-Joker offense. But on the other other hand, Mitch owns their souls.”
All true. And even an extra hand! 🙂
was mentioned a few times yesterday, but also wanna chime in with a kudos for clarkson for really adjusting his game in a way that he’s a clear asset now…
he only shoots now pretty much when he should, he seems all in on defending, rebounding and passing…
it feels like the players on the team can sort of see the finish line to this thing…championship…will do whatever is necessary…
I have to be honest – KAT’s star / HOF-level turn since the ASB has been one of the most unexpected player development stories I think I can ever remember, certainly for a guy in his 10th year in the league.
Can’t get BPM data in the B-R splits page, but post-ASB regular season KAT is averaging just 30.2 mpg (nice job MB!), averaging 20.6/11.8/3.3, TS 67.7 on 25.7 usage, with 57.9/41.8/86.9 shooting splits. That’s unbelievable.
In the playoffs – and granted it’s only 10 games – but he has been BETTER than prime Jokic. He has a WS/48 of 0.395 and OBPM 7 / DBPM 7.4 for a total of +14.4. His TS is 74%!! He’s literally become a 1st ballot HOFer basically overnight.
I am just so impressed with his passing, especially on the move. Last season his pass% on drives was 11.8%. This reg season it was 18.8. Now it’s up to 25.8% in the playoffs with a TOV% of just 6.5%.
Just an unbelievable metamorphosis. Sure these have been favorable matchups for him, but so impressive.
That’s cool but a 10 point win back in ’94 was kind of a blowout.
There’s an average of 8 possessions more per side in each playoff game today than there was in a ’94 Knicks game, and the league average point per 100 possessions is 112 vs 105. Most importantly the variance on each possession is much higher, too.
Not shading these Knicks at all, just noting it’s apples to oranges, and an impressive MOV doesn’t mean they’re better than ’94. That team (and the ’93 one) was pretty fucking awesome.
A few postgames ago, Ben Ritholtz and Macri talked about how Clarkson hasn’t hit a 3-point shot since sometime in March. It’s crazy that he’s been as effective as he’s been, given that.
As with Clarkson, you just don’t expect guys who have been in the league for this long significantly change their games. They are who they are, for the most part. Unless it’s a player who has lost his athleticism and has to become craftier as a result. But KAT… holy shit.
The crazy thing about KAT is that his defensive transformation is just as stunning. Like, when was the last time you felt he was a liability out there? He still fouled too much this series, but that’s Embiid too. He’s a genuinely good defensive center now, and a cog in one of the three best NBA defenses over the last 40+games.
Am I crazy in thinking Wemby should have been suspended for that elbow?
I’m thinking that Wemby was likely not suspended due to lack of history of doing that kind of thing or of being a dirty player, in general. That factors into those things quite a bit.
That absolutely should have warranted a suspension regardless of who did it and their history.
The league hides behind their “automatic” rules. Automatic one game suspension if you throw a punch (even if it doesn’t land), automatic one game suspension if you walk 10 feet away from the bench (even if you didn’t do anything).
But this was only an elbow, so they were never going to suspend him.
It’s probably better for us, though. I don’t want OKC to get Minnesota.
No Knicks basketball for like a week is going to be kind of hard on all of us.
How is Thibs still not employed? Every EC team except Boston and Miami can really use him next season.
I think what makes Thibs such a tragic figure is that a good assistant coach could have done this, too, if he’d have let one.
Director, I actually think Boston could use a dose of Thibs more than anyone! They certainly wouldn’t chuck as many threes.
The best team for him right now, though, is probably Washington.
I think he’d be great as Nurse’s replacement.
Brown is getting flowers and deservedly so. A coach’s job is to take the talent he is given and design a system that maximizes that inate talent.
He has taken one of the worst contracts in the league and unlocked a player commensurate with his God given talent in KAT.
He has made Brunson MORE valuable by taking the ball out of his hands.
He has maximized OG and Bridges by having them move constantly rather than watch Brunson pound the ball.
Amazingly, this understates the case significantly. Like 25 guys have been FBHOFs.
Going by KAT’s BPM (14.4), the number of players who have ever had a postseason run this good is three. There’s one season each of LeBron, MJ, and Hakeem and that’s it. Those are three of the GOAT playoff performers ever, and each has only one run our of their illustrious complete careers that exceeds what KAT is doing now.
The number of players who have exceeded that BPM in the regular season? Zero.
Hell, KAT is close enough to Hakeem (14.53) and MJ’s (14.63) marks that he could very well overtake them the next game.
Jokic, Shaq, KAJ, KG, Duncan, Bird… none of them ever did this.
22/13/8 with 3.3 stocks per-36 on 74% TS over 10 games now. And what may never be equaled is the delta vs. his regular season performance, +11.1. He’s not just on a hot streak, he’s categorically transformed his game. This is all-time shit, a postseason Linsanity run.
It’s like KAT has grown up and discovered his inner prodigal child. NY can break you.
do not hate that idea…fits the city and some of their players (namely maxey) perfectly…
plus he’d grind joel embiid’s body in to dust within two seasons…
I really don’t get it because this whole “KAT can just pass over the head of the small wing guarding him and pick a team apart” thing was kinda sitting there the whole time. I can’t believe Mike Brown was the first guy to think of it.
It seems more like KAT for some reason internally equated doing that as a sacrifice he didn’t want to make, and for most of his life he either a) had more power than his coach, or b) had a coach who wasn’t willing to challenge him on it.
I can’t believe I’m saying this but I think the guy who deserves the most credit for unlocking KAT’s potential might actually be…
[Scooby gang takes mask off of monster] …
[in unison]… Leon Rose!?
Think about it… Brown needed Leon’s mandate to do this… and I’ll bet anything that when shit hit the fan in January, behind the scenes Leon let KAT know he wasn’t going to win this power struggle.
This is conjecture, of course, but we’re staring a mystery with the outline of a missing shape, and that’s kinda what it looks like to me.
Plus, Maxey already plays 40 min/night, so he’d be fine with Thibs.
inside of KAT there was this ledger…
somehow in order to get him to defend at a higher level (still too many fouls) has required him to be more integral in our offense…the need to feel integrated…acknowledged and appreciated…man does that KAT love to be stroked…
honestly, as a surprise to myself also – KAT doesn’t really seem to give a shit too much about scoring…
that one play where he does a whole 720 degree turn looking for a teammate to pass to, then finally draining a smooth jumper…
that is it right there…
giving him the option to replicate draymond in golden state has like opened up a whole new basketball world for KAT…
funny enough, seems KAT has had this vision of himself for quite some time (magic johnson fan)…only by sheer necessity do we get here, now…
it is good the team have arrived at this point…
please god don’t curse me now – at this present moment, we sort of are doing some prime warriors kind of stuff…
fingers and toes crossed it continues…
Detroit is one of the few teams that plays KAT straight up with a C, so we’ll probably get a lot of Brunson-KAT pick and roll which we rarely get to do.
If OG is out, starting Mitch and putting him on Ausar seems like it would cause Detroit a lot of trouble.
it’s not like KAT suddenly developed the sight and skill to effectively distribute…
that would be like if mitch miraculously started draining threes like deuce and shamet…
unlikely stuff…although after seeing some high school mitch film – I think he can do it…totally…
his new free throw stroke ain’t that bad a looking shot…it’s a dart with no arc, but he does have good eye/hand and body control…well in to his career – mitchell robinson takes a brook lopez kind of turn…
fot a whole week we are in a world of wonderful possibilities…
I assume they’d put Harris on KAT and Duren on Hart, even if they haven’t always done that in their matchups.
Two thoughts…
I don’t think Wemby deserves a suspension. Watched it a few times, he was getting seriously mugged and he threw his elbows out in frustration to try and clear space and get them to stop mugging him. They’re just so incredibly long that one connected with Naz, and in the throat, which makes it more egregious. But I really don’t get the feel he was directing an elbow at Naz.
Also, record-setting BPM is all well and good, but the playoffs aren’t over yet. We’re going to hit better and better defenses, all busy designing plans to stop KAT among other things. I wouldn’t be terribly surprised if his numbers come down. Hope not, but wouldn’t be surprised.
Okay, Knickerblogger hivemind, form up! Now that I have a new podcast to promote, I’ll be going on Knicks Film School later this week. We’ll mostly talk about the team, but Macri wants to do a segment where we try to equate every guy in the 10-man rotation (including both Clarkson and Shamet) to a TV character, past or present. The floor is open for suggestions!
KAT — Clifford the Big Red Dog.
Interesting theory, but it seems to me more like they stumbled on this by accident. Starting in game 4 against Atlanta it was like KAT got Jokic-pilled. Before that he was playing a pretty standard KAT type brand of ball, getting in some nice passes for a big but not really doing anything that turned heads.
Starting in game 4 against Atlanta he began racking up Dame Lillard-caliber numbers in AST%. Against Philly he put up AST% numbers in the John Stockton tier.
AST% by game vs Philly:
G1 38.6
G2 41.6
G3 40.4
G4 65.2
Series average: 45.7
Not quite as good as John Stockton I guess, but not far off either. Stockton is #1 all time in AST% and averaged over 50.0 for his career. KAT’s mark in the Philly series would rank #2 all time. It’s a higher AST% than Chris Paul and Steve Nash’s career averages. The Joker himself has a 38.3 career average.
Obviously this is a tiny sample size, but still, this was a second round playoff series and KAT generated assists at a level somewhere in between Chris Paul and John Stockton’s rate.
Amazing even in the tiny sample size.
Deuce McBride: George Costanza but in the episode where he gives up sex and acquires incredible hand-eye coordination to the point where he’s showing the Yankees how to blast home runs
I think that KAT finally got comfortable enough with the rest of the team to better play the Sabonis role. He’s always been a slow processor as a passer despite his talent there, which would often cause him to turn the ball over when he forced a pass that was a half second slow. But now that he’s had some practice with these guys over the last few years–and has seemingly committed more to being a passer at the top of the key after the drives weren’t working–the game has slowed down just enough for him to make the same pass just that little bit faster. And, once you start doing this consistently, it gets easier and easier as the other players are genuinely looking for it. So I think his realizing that the clumsy drives from the top of the key weren’t really working as first option on that play call, and demoting them to third option after passing or taking the 3 has improved the outcomes measurably in a way that he seems to clearly understand.
I think this improvement in processing speed also explains his defensive improvement. He’s just acting a hair faster than before in different coverages–partly because he knows where everyone’s going to be in a way that seemed to elude him before–and this makes a huge difference in the quality of contests at his height. I think the stars have just aligned and he’s now comfortable and committed after a lot of soul-searching by him and the team more generally. Or, that’s what I hope.
Josh Hart is Mike Ehrmantraut. Doesn’t get the glory or do anything flashy, but cleans up messes, stays doggedly determined, and helps the team with toughness and professionalism
Hubs, you could be right. KAT is from NJ and I think he loves being on the Knicks and playing here. He’s also a former number one pick, played at the best NCAA basketball program in the country (at the time) as the number one guy and when he was drafted he was immediately and unquestioningly the number one option. Hell, when Butler challenged him back in the day, it was Butler who was sent packing, not KAT.
Then he’s sent here and he’s finally on a team where there is another guy who is every bit his equal on offense (Brunson) and who is the unquestioned leader (and savior) of the franchise. But egos are egos and KAT has had a lot of success in this league, up to this point, playing this way.
I also wonder (this is tongue and cheek) if maybe his new wife also told him he needs to sacrifice if he wants to make this happen. But I would not be surprised if Leon said “listen, dude, we got rid of Thibs” (not that was all KAT’s doing) but we aren’t getting rid of Brown over you and if push comes to shove, we will trade you for Giannis.
But it does go to show (Clarkson too), that NBA players, even in their prime, CAN change. It’s just that so many of them are never fully forced too.
I assumed as much given Leon’s long relationship with KAT. You can say stuff in that context that you can’t of you’ve only known him a year or even three. The joy they shared when KAT came into the tunnel after the final game of the Hawks series made me believe there had been some kind of reckoning there.
Brunson — J.R. Ewing.
That will be a fun conversation, Alan. Looking forward to hearing it.
Brunson = John Snow
OG = Brother Mouzone
KAT = Chandler Bing
But yeah, the thing I honestly never expected from KAT isn’t the passing – glimmers have been seen of it before, and extended excellent play as a facilitator isn’t shocking – but the defense. It was obvious Thibs was trying to knock a square peg into a round hole, but the best I imagined was “doesn’t kill us,” not “stalwart rock in the middle.” There are still mess-ups; Cap is right that they can still be better, communicate better, not give up some of the easy stuff they’ve allowed. But it’s just a solid damn defense that we can rely on every night whether the threes are falling or not, and that’s the core of my belief that yeah, we can maybe win the whole thing.
If I come up with a whole 15 man roster using just characters from the Buffyverse… I know you won’t use any of it on Macri… but will you at least appreciate it? 🙂
Brunson is Tyrion Lannister underestimated because of his size incredibly effective because of his smarts.
Cosmo Kramer might have been the most kinetic presence ever on tv so that’s my vote for Josh Hart.
I’d say Josh Hart as Roy Kent, but it’s really just Roy Kent’s chant (and Alan, please advocate for that chant at MSG, I so want to hear it…).
These are movies so totally unhelpful (but I don’t watch much TV…) but Brunson as someone like John Wick or Denzel in The Enforcer movies. Someone who doesn’t speak much and is very calm and collected and just kills everyone that gets in his way.
That made me laugh out loud. Just spinning spinning, and finally calmly swishing a 2 as a last resort. It says a lot about his unselfish embrace of the role, a lot about Brunson as a threat (who they were desperately trying to deny), and a lot about how he bent Philly into a new shape by becoming such a threat as a distributing hub.(And of course he’s still a phenomenal shooter!)
Bonus non-Knick… for Joel Embiid I’m torn between Homelander and Lord Baelish. Each highlights a key component of why I hate him so much.
OG — Silvio Dante, the quiet but not always, uber-respected power behind the throne.
What a fun segment, Alan! (Also, great theme JK, though it definitely needs a little more run… Felt like just a few seconds…).
I was thinking more Clarkson as Kramer. Unexpected, somewhat random, but lots of energy to being to any scene he’s in.
Will have to sit with it for better ideas, though…
“I also wonder (this is tongue and cheek) if maybe his new wife also told him he needs to sacrifice if he wants to make this happen.”
I’m not sure that KAT’s GF Jordyn Woods would put a lot of credence into what his wife told him. 🙂
Brunson = Mighty Mouse
Hart = six million dollar man
OG = fonzie
kat = jethro (beverly hillbillies)
bridges = urkel
Embiid is Oberyn Martell.
Brunson is Mighty Mouse.
It’s less about getting rid of Brown over KAT — you’d do that all day if push comes to shove.
I’m suggesting Leon didn’t just hire Mike Brown, and then Mike Brown decided to do this. But that Leon actually hired Mike Brown to do this. So the mandate came from the highest part of the organization, which is the only way it could have worked.
And fwiw if you recall it wasn’t Milwaukee KAT was going to get traded to. There was a deal discussed with Washington (the one they eventually made for AD). That’s how bad it was.
Raven did you know that song is actually ubiquitous in England? I don’t know when it started but it goes at least back to the 80’s in Manchester (sung for Bryan Robson). I think it first became a standard, though, when it was sung for Roy Keane (pretty thin veil that one, like the one between Jamie Tart and Jamie Vardy).
All that is to say there’s no fucking way MSG is going to start singing English Premier League songs.
Mikal is Lester Freamon.
Seems like he’s a checked out old veteran who doesn’t give a shit anymore and just sits at his desk making dollhouse furniture and collecting a paycheck, but when shit starts to get real he turns out to be a goddamn genius
ugh, I’m uncomfortably stuck at the moment…
gonna have to just copy off of peppers list…
That’s unreal considering two weeks ago we would have pegged Mikal as Poot.
The only TV character I know who has developed from from a useless turd to a badass MFer like that is Wesley Wyndam Price.
Hubert, I would absolutely take your Buffy suggestions. And might use one.
I was thinking of Leslie Knope for Brunson, since she’s also underestimated all the time and then seems to be superhumanly capable, always solving problems put in front of her. But if Brunson is Tyrion, then Hart can be Leslie, since one of Leslie’s main strengths is her infinite energy level, which is fueled in part by her love of sugary crap.
Good because I’ve totally been working on them… 🙂
1. Jalen Brunson = Buffy
burdened leader who keeps saving everyone
2. Karl Anthony Towns = Willow
awkward friendly sidekick who becomes the most powerful being on the planet in the end
3. OG Anunoby = Illyria
emotionally unreadable, absurdly powerful, quietly terrifying
4. Mikal Bridges = Wesley Wyndam Price
Initially perceived as soft & awkward, gradually hardens through experience, becomes quietly competent and dangerous
5. Josh Hart = Spike
relentless energy, chaotic intensity, hilarious
6. Mitch = Oz
They’re not always there because of injuries and the lunar cycle, but they change the whole playing field when they’re unleashed
7. Deuce = Xander
Unexpectedly essential, never the main powerhouse but the team always functions better with him present
Thibs = Giles
provided instrumental guidance before getting outgrown
If we’re doing parks and rec….
Jordan Clarkson is Tom Haverford. Starts out playing in a kind of loud and immature way where he wants to big moments but then quietly does the work to become a true baller.
Mikal Bridges is Jim Halpert. Seems too cool for school for his job and often checked out but when push comes to shove he can make a huge sale and is the guy you want handling the big account.
It’s kinda funny how the narrative on KAT has evolved since the pre-Thibs Minny days. I found it a bit jarring in the first place that Leon traded for KAT knowing that there was clear friction between Thibs and KAT going back to Thibs’ tenure in Minny. Then last year it seemed like they got along rather well! Then Thibs gets fired (Who knows who said what in the Dolan-attended exit interviews? What was KAT’s take on Thibs then?) Then Mike Brown gets hired and from the very beginning KAT started shrugging his shoulders about his role and kinda hammed up the martyr role.
But there were definitely signs that a transformation was in progress after the all-star break. And in his last 4 regular season games in April, KAT averaged 23.4/13.4/7.7 per 36 on a .729 TS%. Three of those games were vs. BOS, TOR, and ATK.
So I think it’s more about the team playing better around him after the wake-up call of game 3 vs. ATL than anything else that it appears his game suddenly changed after that. Most importantly, the cutting by guys like Mikal and Hart picked up, and OG amd Mikal started drilling shots. OG was getting into good positions down low against smaller players and setting a better target with better passing angles. The offense in general looked a lot less stagnant. And then everything started clicking on all cylinders for everyone. The synergy is off the charts right now!
I think the price paid for Zubac was fair…not a steal, not an overpay.
However, even that Indiana needed a starting C, I think both the price. timing, and execution were all suboptimal.
Indiana had total control over their pick and were 100% committed to tanking. They were 13-38 on the day the trade was made. They were virtually guaranteed to be in the top 6 in a draft with oodles of talent at the top. Their best chance of landing a top-end talent to immediately enhance the roster was right there under Pritchard’s nose. He should have done whatever was necessary to guarantee that the pick would not possibly convey. That they went 4-7 in the last 11 games is inecusable.
Zubac is a very solid big, but he’s not the kind of player you trade that kind of opportunity for. Prichard try to have it both ways and it blew up in his face. The apology suggests that he is fully aware that me f’d up big time.
Obviously the Pacers are still in great shape, and Pritchard has had enough W’s under his belt to deserve a pass on this L.But that blunder may wind up costing him a chip.
I was thinking of OG as Furio
These are good suggestions, guys!
KAT is a tricky one. I need a TV character where the other characters talk all the time about their vast potential, but it takes him or her forever to finally live up to it.
And I feel like I have to have a Mad Men and/or Deadwood person in there somewhere. And a Wire character if I don’t use Mouzone/OG or Lester/Mikal.
Mitch: Tom Wambsgans. A goofball who has seemed to be on the outs on multiple occasions, but somehow, someway, outlasted everyone via an effectiveness that went unappreciated until the stakes were at their highest.
How about Knicks as the cast of Sesame Street?
Brunson and Hart: Burt and Ernie
Mikal: Kermit
KAT: Big Bird
Mitch: Cookie Monster
Jose: Elmo
Mo: Grover
Shamet: The Count
Deuce: The Number Painter
Clarkson: Mr. Noodle
Mike Brown: Snuffleupagus
Thibs: Oscar the Grouch
KAT’s comp in The Wire is Prezbylewski.
Talented but in the wrong role, written off by those who only saw his weaknesses.
Prez/KAT reach a higher plane when they accept their actual strengths, embrace new roles, contribute in a more holistic way, and show adaptability.
Hubert, I didn’t know that about the chant, thanks for the education. Still think it would be brilliant if the Garden could break that out when Hart is coming off a stretch of flinging himself around, or about to go back in.
I’m trying and failing to remember the particulars of last year’s stretch without Brunson when the team briefly played beautiful ball. It made me think the key was to not have Jalen dribble endlessly, but I shamefully never made the connection to having KAT as the fulcrum as the way to make that happen. It was always just have others dribble across court, but that really wasn’t the answer at all.
And the Sesame Street list is good…
Jalen Brunson is Walter White, overlooked in his past and now telling us night after night: “I am the danger.”
I was trying to come up with Mad Men comps but got stuck on who Draper was.
Maybe Clarkson is Lester? Is anybody Omar?
Here’s the simple fact about the Pacers deal. The Clippers did not want to trade Zubac at all. They made it very clear at the time that they were not shopping him, and turned down any offers as, essentially, “No way in hell are we trading Zubac.” So the Pacers knew that they had to blow them away, and that’s what the Clippers have said. “We had no interest in trading him, but the Pacers just blew us away.”
And, well, just generally, you don’t want to be in the position where you are blowing teams away to get a guy like Zubac.
Yes, it could have worked out really well had they gotten a top-four pick (and Z-Man is absolutely correct that their decision to not lose out is Phil Jackson-era Knicks level of BAFFLING), but it was way too big of a risk, even for a player as good as Zubac (who is about as perfect of a fit for the team that you can get).
Overpaying a guy with MONEY is fine, but overpaying in a trade for a non-superstar is generally going to be a bad idea.
And boy, am I loving that they went that direction!
Back in 2015, I filled the comments in April and May about how much I was in love with KAT, and how much I thought he was going to be the perfect player, and that I was so, so hoping the Knicks would get the #1 pick to draft him.
I have not seen THAT version of KAT in the years since…until now. It’s well worth the fucking wait.
To be fair, I also waxed poetic about D’Angelo Russell at the time, and he turned out to be almost literally the opposite player than what I thought he would be coming out of college (in a very negative sense).
I don’t blame myself for my Jahlil Okafor love, though, as that was just the league completely changing how the game was played. Okafor would have totally been a stud in the old NBA.
Jalen Brunson has had astounding success despite having a fraction of the resources of his rivals. This has forced him to resort to unorthodox methods some deem unethical, but also makes it extraordinarily hard to root against him. There’s no doubt he strikes fear in the hearts of even his most battle hardened opponents. He’s the constant that keeps his show entertaining despite an ever changing landscape and personnel turnover.
Jalen comin’.
Maybe Deuce McBride as Peggy Olsen? Started way at the bottom. Earned respect through development. Became more capable every season.
I also like Landry Shamet as Ken Cosgrove.
since we are all getting weird with our thought associations now…
jalen reminds me a bunch of the dad in Bluey…steady, taking care of business, and a bit stocky…
oh wait, maybe that was daddy pig in peppa pig…
Shamet can be Charlie Utter from Deadwood
Mikal’s Peggy Olson — always whining about appreciation, role, overwork, etc., and how he never gets a “Thank you.”
Thibs probably didn’t have the constitution or the cover to give him a proper and well-deserved,”“That’s what the money is for!!”
If we are going GoT for Brunson, I think Arya is the character. Small, overlooked, silent assassin.
If Thibs was the coach = Leo McGarry?
Feels like there’s a True Detective character somewhere for Jordan Clarkson.
Mitch would be Omar because he knows exactly what type of player he is and plays exactly that way.
Mike Brown is JD taking over for Thibs’s Dr. Cox in the new season of Scrubs. He’s telling everyone all the things they’re capable of and listening to what they want while Cox would just yell at them.
What about Justified ?
Brunson – Waylon (stoic – man of few words – self possessed – unstoppable)
Hart – Boyd (very talkative – made the whole show great – cocky)
I was thinking Mitch for Omar, too – a bit different, absolutely deadly, not a lot of minutes but always charismatic when on the screen
Also, I think it’s a good sign that we don’t have a Don Draper. Or even a Tony Soprano.
In fact, the whole era of the antihero probably isn’t this team
I thought the Zubac trade was really really weird. Offensively he’s ok I guess. He’s pretty good defensively. Maybe he is 120% of Jakob Poeltl with a slightly better contract? Feels like a lot to give up for that guy. Even the Bridges trade, while a massive overpay (that might still work out for us!), was for a guy who in theory was a great #3-4 on a championship team.
My concern for Indy would be that Myles Turner, while not a great 3 point shooter, still spaced the floor for them well. Zubac didn’t attempt a single 3 pointer last year and is 1 for 12 total from 3 in his 10 year career.
Sixers have 3 years and $198M left on Embiid’s contract. Good luck with that, my dudes.
Don’t forget about 2 years $111MM for First Quarter Paul George
Does Morey survive this debacle?
In that case, wouldn’t KAT be Elizabeth Moss from Mad Men? Thibs could be Wild Bill from Deadwood.
Ugly opening to this game.
okay evan mobley, time to step up…
those are some wild looking sneakers harden is wearing…
looks like birthday cake flavored ice cream or something…or, maybe i just want something sweet…
Jesse Pinkman!
Not a direct match bc he didn’t have pedigree and was kind of a fuck up, but he did always have potential, Walt harped on it constantly, but he was plagued by self doubt, and ultimately “triumphed” as a great meth cook in the end.
Harden turning back the clock!
I’d rather Detroit. If Cleveland gets past these guys it’s because they grew a spine.
Cavs playing like drunks again.
That feels like the same mistake I made with Philly.
We’ll kill the Cavs.
Duncan Robinson with one of the lamest moustaches in NBA history.
Did Harden and Mitchell switch bodies?
Mobley just cannot rebound in traffic. If the ball doesn’t bounce right into his hands he ain’t getting it
The Celtics were horrible.
surprised to see tobias harris and caris levert playing this well…
Wish the Knicks didn’t have a week off cause right now the Yankees are unwatchable.
Imagine the Cavs were actually good?
good game so far, competitive…
kind of like the score currently shows, detroit just looks a little better than cleveland…
Donovan Mitchell is stinking out the joint
LeVert with a very impressive half off the bench.
Reading you guys hate watching the Cavs has become one of my favorite pastimes.
Speak for yourself. I’m hate watching both teams!
Duncan Robinson’s defense is hilarious.
Give me whatever Spida had in the locker room at halftime….
The Pistons are so limited offensively they just aren’t capable of winning easy games. The Cavs have a real chance to win this series.
Mitchell woke up
i always think of those kind that are penciled in when I see his…
Cade is a willing passer but honestly, he’s a pretty bad one…
Only reason this game is close is the LeVert and Reed show.
Atkinson’s rotations continue to be baffling
Paul Reed could play on my team any time.
Huge run there for Cleveland but they let Detroit claw some of it back, and the lead is a manageable 12
I wish we had Reed just to see the 200+ post threads here discussing if he’s deserving of more minutes. He’d be an immediate fan favorite.
i used to be angry a lot, didn’t really embrace hate too much, but understood it…
nowadays I can barely get the energy to care…
geo the last thing anyone would describe you as is someone who doesn’t care. you care greatly — for all the right things. what kinds of things have got you feeling this way? And if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s cool, too. But we’re here for you.
Bailout call for Harden there so the Cavs go into the fourth up 13.
Mitchell has it going now so they’re in a pretty good spot.
The same Paul Reed who was unplayable for the Sixers against us two years ago?
I’d rather play the Cavs but we should beat either.
Rest up OG!
I just looked up Reed’s stats page on B-R. I didn’t realize he’s only 26 years old. This year he put up 900 minutes of 5.3 BPM ball. 20/11/3 per 36 on a .650 TS% and 16.5 OREB%. And he’s been even better in the playoffs…although he only played 30 minutes thus far, which seems weird.
That dude is gonna get paid if he keeps it up.
I’ve loved Reed since he DePaul days. One of my favorite bench guys in the NBA. He’s a free agent after this season. That said, he may have played his way out of our price range unless we lose Mitch.
Will Paul Reed get a bigger contract this summer than Mo Diawara???
Credit where it’s due, the Cavs are playing like a proper team in this game. Detroit’s offensive limitations and overall greenness showing here.
Why the fuck is he sitting Mitchell, there’s 6 minutes left and he played only 30, why???
Can you even fucking IMAGINE if the Knicks got to play the #6 seed, the #7 seed and then the #4 seed in the playoffs?! Oh my god, that’d be so fucking amazing!
And then they could play the #6 seed Timberwolves in the finals!
“He’s a free agent after this season.”
Reed is under contract next year for DET that becomes fully guaranteed in January of next year.
Duren has had a miserable playoffs thus far.
Jalen Duren does not seem to be quite ready for prime time
See, it’s not that hard, put your superstar who’s literally shooting fireballs back into the game!
Tough for Detroit to make up a large deficit because they just don’t really have enough perimeter shooting. They have to work too hard to get every bucket.
cavs now 6-0 home, 0-5 on road. Pretty clear where this one’s headed.
Harden’s got to have a good game 7 in him eventually, right?
cavs now 6-0 home, 0-5 on road. Pretty clear where this one’s headed.
Harden’s got to have a good game 7 in him eventually, right?
awwwwwwww, you are the best mister hubie ❤️
feeling better actually, despite the agony and pain of all that therapy stuff – it kind of helps a lot…
different internal balancing issue and experience; however the behavioral and cognitive therapy tools still work the same…principles toward recovery are consistent…
real challenge for me is that although it’s a cognitive issue – i experience it mostly as a really unpleasant prolonged physical sensation…
sort of like my endocrine system got fucked up during the head injury decades ago, and i’m feeling shit i really shouldn’t be feeling…who’d have guessed, but that is a possible outcome from an event like that…
recent trigger was related to having such a small circle, being super blessed not to experience much real loss of loved ones in life…
so, sis’ diagnosis hit hard…scared the crap out of me…I knew though that I needed to display a whole bunch of positivity and optimism…
the disconnect between my thoughts/beliefs and necessary behavior i need to exhibit just glitches me out at times…
got my body right, did my head work, and I’m getting better now…
for a while didn’t really know what to say or how to say it…recently have been able to communicate with sis in a way that was all just love and support…
this just happened, so I’m starting to feel better already…
to be honest, the not giving a shit mostly comes from the meds…
surprisingly, probably would prefer not being so damn high at times…it’s kind of a trade off for maintaining close familial realtionships though…don’t wanna just build a bunker and hide in it…wanna build a family…
What’s the record of teams in conference finals that had to win two series in seven games prior to it?
Well you don’t see guys put up 38 point halves very often.
Check that, 39.
Lol he’ll have to put the starters back in.
Good on you for doing the work, geo. Don’t underestimate what a big deal that is!
I am unfortunately dealing with the fallout of someone who needs to do the work but won’t. The pain those people cause is immeasurable. You should be proud that you have the humility and willingness to get better. And you no doubt will!
Glad Cavs won but that’s a wild free through difference
oh my goodness hubie, although i had seen it up close and personal in my own family – never really grasped some of the damage I was dealing out to those close, namely the kids…
toward the end of my time there at work was talking with someone from hr, and she had shared with me that her dad was a vet, more importantly though – he was dealing with anxiety, paranoia and anger issues also…
she told me how severely it impacted the family for everyone to have to walk on eggshells around him…
her story hit a little too close to home…
man, the damage we can do, particularly as parents…
thankfully kids are both very observant, and resilient…and, the hope that things can and will get better…people grow…
whoa, nifty move by AR there…
nice second act for marcus smart in LA…
reaves with 3 turnovers in the box score, seems like he’s coughed it up more than that…
the thunder are putting some doubt in to the next contract he gets…
lakers scratching and clawing until the end, shai barely looked bothered the last few minutes…
thunder 8 – 0 and rolling…
Jeez, 39 2nd half pts for Mitchell.
It seems like Ausar is reaching the unplayable portion of the playoffs (19 mins last night). And if Duren is having trouble with Jarrett Allen he’s gonna love going against Mitch and New KAT.
Clarence may be right that Cleveland poses the bigger challenge. Harden will put Brunson in endless actions, and Mitchell can always catch fire. But I also think we could score 130 a night against their D. And by “bigger challenge” I really mean “might win two games.”
I don’t think we even need OG to beat either of these teams.