Post by irish2u2 on Feb 8, 2021 16:14:54 GMT -5
I like Tom Thibodeau and respect him mightily as a coach but certain concerns are coming to fruition. He’s playing his best players too many minutes (Randle and RJ) and it feels like he has made winning a bigger concern over patience and development. I’m not sure if he feels pressure from management as much as following his own DNA but there we have it. The Knicks are a fringe playoff caliber team and with the addition of Derrick Rose they are closer to the playoffs now more than at any point during the season.
I was against the Rose trade even though it cost the Knicks virtually nothing. That second rounder we gave Detroit will likely be replaced in the next trade which should involve Austin Rivers or Elfrid Payton. My guess is Rivers is on the block because neither Rose or IQ plays his type defense. Plus Payton has a no trade clause in his contract. Rose should enhance the Knicks offense and he’s a terrific pick and roll PG which helps Mitch, Noel and Obi. Rose is not a 3 point threat though so I propose the Knicks platoon their 3 PGs with Rose starting and Payton off the bench and IQ subbing between PG and SG with Burks starting at SG and RJ moving to SF. Let Bullock and Knox fight it out for back up minutes at SF.
But to me the essential move now is to get more minutes for IQ and Obi. IQ is inconsistent but the more you play him the less of a concern that becomes as he figures out ways to get the best shots he can. We need Immanuel to hit 3 pointers and we need Immanuel to break down defenses when he is playing. He’s going to get better on defense as he gains experience mainly because he’s smart and he works hard. Slowly but surely I see him getting Payton minutes while being the primary backup to Burks.
Obi Toppin has shown me some glimpses of real progress in his last few games. Less hesitancy and a lot more confidence. I love the way he took Melo one on one against Portland. Melo isn’t a good defender but he certainly works hard at it and Obi just took him to the hole and easily scored over him. I also like the dunk against Miami because it showed great footwork and quick explosiveness to get to the rim. When he has time Obi’s shot is pretty good and he as has shown flashes of defense and rebounding. Mostly, like IQ, he has shown some native basketball smarts and as the game starts to slow down he will do better. He’s got a great motor and he’s coachable.
Now that Thibs has his wubby
in Rose and you know Rose will have a green light on offense the next month or so should be interesting. Are the Knicks a playoff team? Are they capable of sustaining an above .500 record or even reaching a .500 record? We shall see soon. Miami beat the Knicks by aggressively doubling them on the perimeter forcing te Knicks to use up the shot clock. Rose can beat that kind of pressure and he has a very good midrange game to go with getting to the rim and either finishing or passing. That certainly makes the knicks offense better. How much the Knicks lose on defense with Rose is the real issue.
I think another trade is in the future. If the knicks are committed to making the playoffs I reiterate they need to get an impact player. Malik Beasley is my choice right now but that might change depending on who becomes available. But ask yourself this question. How good would the Knicks be if they had Luka Doncic? Dame Lillard? Bradley Beal? The Knicks are one superstar away from being a force. I’m not advocating a trade for these guys. I hate trades. You tend to give up too much capital. I do like developing your own superstar types organically. RJ could be the guy. Toppin could be the guy. Someone we draft this year could be the guy. Or we could just buy the guy.
Add quality depth , build talent, play hard at both ends of the court and play together as a team and then pray we can develop/draft/buy that special player who will make us all forget the last 10 years.
I the meantime welcome aboard Derrick. I just hope Tom doesn’t play you into the ground like he did in Chicago.
One last thing. Go to NBA.com and vote Julius on to the All Star team. You will have to vote him a starter over either Durant or Giannis but just so he gets the votes to be selected as a backup counts. I would expect all you guys against Randle to vote more than once as a means of penance for your sins.
I was against the Rose trade even though it cost the Knicks virtually nothing. That second rounder we gave Detroit will likely be replaced in the next trade which should involve Austin Rivers or Elfrid Payton. My guess is Rivers is on the block because neither Rose or IQ plays his type defense. Plus Payton has a no trade clause in his contract. Rose should enhance the Knicks offense and he’s a terrific pick and roll PG which helps Mitch, Noel and Obi. Rose is not a 3 point threat though so I propose the Knicks platoon their 3 PGs with Rose starting and Payton off the bench and IQ subbing between PG and SG with Burks starting at SG and RJ moving to SF. Let Bullock and Knox fight it out for back up minutes at SF.
But to me the essential move now is to get more minutes for IQ and Obi. IQ is inconsistent but the more you play him the less of a concern that becomes as he figures out ways to get the best shots he can. We need Immanuel to hit 3 pointers and we need Immanuel to break down defenses when he is playing. He’s going to get better on defense as he gains experience mainly because he’s smart and he works hard. Slowly but surely I see him getting Payton minutes while being the primary backup to Burks.
Obi Toppin has shown me some glimpses of real progress in his last few games. Less hesitancy and a lot more confidence. I love the way he took Melo one on one against Portland. Melo isn’t a good defender but he certainly works hard at it and Obi just took him to the hole and easily scored over him. I also like the dunk against Miami because it showed great footwork and quick explosiveness to get to the rim. When he has time Obi’s shot is pretty good and he as has shown flashes of defense and rebounding. Mostly, like IQ, he has shown some native basketball smarts and as the game starts to slow down he will do better. He’s got a great motor and he’s coachable.
Now that Thibs has his wubby
in Rose and you know Rose will have a green light on offense the next month or so should be interesting. Are the Knicks a playoff team? Are they capable of sustaining an above .500 record or even reaching a .500 record? We shall see soon. Miami beat the Knicks by aggressively doubling them on the perimeter forcing te Knicks to use up the shot clock. Rose can beat that kind of pressure and he has a very good midrange game to go with getting to the rim and either finishing or passing. That certainly makes the knicks offense better. How much the Knicks lose on defense with Rose is the real issue. I think another trade is in the future. If the knicks are committed to making the playoffs I reiterate they need to get an impact player. Malik Beasley is my choice right now but that might change depending on who becomes available. But ask yourself this question. How good would the Knicks be if they had Luka Doncic? Dame Lillard? Bradley Beal? The Knicks are one superstar away from being a force. I’m not advocating a trade for these guys. I hate trades. You tend to give up too much capital. I do like developing your own superstar types organically. RJ could be the guy. Toppin could be the guy. Someone we draft this year could be the guy. Or we could just buy the guy.
Add quality depth , build talent, play hard at both ends of the court and play together as a team and then pray we can develop/draft/buy that special player who will make us all forget the last 10 years.
I the meantime welcome aboard Derrick. I just hope Tom doesn’t play you into the ground like he did in Chicago.
One last thing. Go to NBA.com and vote Julius on to the All Star team. You will have to vote him a starter over either Durant or Giannis but just so he gets the votes to be selected as a backup counts. I would expect all you guys against Randle to vote more than once as a means of penance for your sins.
