Post by irish2u2 on Mar 15, 2021 14:50:47 GMT -5
I finally got a new computer with a fantastic keyboard though I keep trying to touch the screen like I do with my iPad. 
That means I can more easily write one of my tomes though to be honest I'm trying to cut it down a bit. So here is my State of the Knicks address just past the midway point of the season.
Thibodeau has worked miracles getting the Knicks over the .500 mark but keeping them there with the team's killer second half schedule will be a real test of his genius. The good news is the team plays better than their personnel should because they play together and they play defense. The Knicks chances of winning gams depends a lot on whether they hit their shots but over the last month they have made huge shooting and scoring progress. Randle is getting closer to 50% from the field and he's over 40% from beyond the arc. RJ Barrett has overcome his horrendous shooting start of the season to get over the Mendoza Line of 45/35/70 for his shooting from the field, the 3 point line and the free throw line. Over his last 10 games RJ is almost at 19 PPG and over 50% from the field AND the 3 point line. Show me similar numbers over the next 10 games (the shooting numbers will go down) and maybe RJ gets to star level. He's close given his defense and rebounding are stellar and he has thrown some nifty dimes.
I do think the Knicks can make the playoffs especially how they play together but they have to get Rose and Mitchell back soon. Nerlens Noel was not made to play 40 minutes a game. Rose is a catalyst. I think I like him starting better than Payton as he gives the first unit much needed scoring. I like Payton and he has a place on this team but it's coming off the bench with IQ and Burks. In fact the Knicks bench is one of their stronger attributes. To me the key issue is no longer PG but SF. Where have you gone Kevin Knox? If the Knicks are looking to make a trade then make it a SF. The perfect guys for us are not available and expensive but a player like Tobias Harris and Brandon Ingram would be perfect for the Knicks. BUT a dynamite shooting guard would fit too as RJ can easily play SF and he would be effective. While on the subject of RJ and comparisons to Kawhi Leonard don't work. Leonard is one of the best athletes in the NBA. RJ is a good athlete but nowhere near an elite athlete. I do like RJ better at SG where he can bully other SGs not named Harden and Dort.
I know the Internet is rife with rumors of the Knicks getting Victor Oladipo and/or Andre Drummond. I hope they don't especially Oladipo. Both these guys are on expiring deals but while Drummond could be had for end of the bench players and a second rounder Houston wants a big return for the 29 year old oft injured Oladipo. A healthy Oladipo would be nice keeping in mind he is a scorer and not a shooter. But to justify the cost you would have to re-sign Victor in the off season and it's said he favors Miami and wants a max extension. No thanks. Drummond puts up stellar numbers but he is selfish, lazy on defense and a potential head coach headache. He is also a free agent this summer but if the Knicks feel they must do something then get Drummond and see if he has a change of attitude.
Looking ahead obviously Randle, RJ, IQ, Obi, Mitch, Burks, Rose, and Noel are keepers. The others are still question marks but as I said earlier our New York Knicks are a sum of the parts team so while maybe the stats aren't there guys like Taj, Reggie, Elfrid, Kevin and Frank are all important cogs in the wheel. I keep thinking with the youth and progress we have seen in our young players maybe the Knicks are one superstar scorer away from being a serious playoff threat. The good news is we found the right coach though he has a major blindspot in leaving in his starters when games are won because he has no faith the game is won. That said other NBA announcers have raved about the job Thibs has done with this team. He deserves their praise and recognition.
My hope is the Knicks stand pat pretty much on the trade market. They have 2 first rounders and high second rounder in this year's draft. They have cap room. They have developed a nice core group of players who like and trust each other and it shows in their unselfish team play.
And kudos to our All Star who is playing 38 minutes a game and leading the team in most categories while playing both ends of the court with equal energy and desire.
That means I can more easily write one of my tomes though to be honest I'm trying to cut it down a bit. So here is my State of the Knicks address just past the midway point of the season.Thibodeau has worked miracles getting the Knicks over the .500 mark but keeping them there with the team's killer second half schedule will be a real test of his genius. The good news is the team plays better than their personnel should because they play together and they play defense. The Knicks chances of winning gams depends a lot on whether they hit their shots but over the last month they have made huge shooting and scoring progress. Randle is getting closer to 50% from the field and he's over 40% from beyond the arc. RJ Barrett has overcome his horrendous shooting start of the season to get over the Mendoza Line of 45/35/70 for his shooting from the field, the 3 point line and the free throw line. Over his last 10 games RJ is almost at 19 PPG and over 50% from the field AND the 3 point line. Show me similar numbers over the next 10 games (the shooting numbers will go down) and maybe RJ gets to star level. He's close given his defense and rebounding are stellar and he has thrown some nifty dimes.
I do think the Knicks can make the playoffs especially how they play together but they have to get Rose and Mitchell back soon. Nerlens Noel was not made to play 40 minutes a game.
Rose is a catalyst. I think I like him starting better than Payton as he gives the first unit much needed scoring. I like Payton and he has a place on this team but it's coming off the bench with IQ and Burks. In fact the Knicks bench is one of their stronger attributes. To me the key issue is no longer PG but SF. Where have you gone Kevin Knox? If the Knicks are looking to make a trade then make it a SF. The perfect guys for us are not available and expensive but a player like Tobias Harris and Brandon Ingram would be perfect for the Knicks. BUT a dynamite shooting guard would fit too as RJ can easily play SF and he would be effective. While on the subject of RJ and comparisons to Kawhi Leonard don't work. Leonard is one of the best athletes in the NBA. RJ is a good athlete but nowhere near an elite athlete. I do like RJ better at SG where he can bully other SGs not named Harden and Dort. I know the Internet is rife with rumors of the Knicks getting Victor Oladipo and/or Andre Drummond. I hope they don't especially Oladipo. Both these guys are on expiring deals but while Drummond could be had for end of the bench players and a second rounder Houston wants a big return for the 29 year old oft injured Oladipo. A healthy Oladipo would be nice keeping in mind he is a scorer and not a shooter. But to justify the cost you would have to re-sign Victor in the off season and it's said he favors Miami and wants a max extension. No thanks. Drummond puts up stellar numbers but he is selfish, lazy on defense and a potential head coach headache. He is also a free agent this summer but if the Knicks feel they must do something then get Drummond and see if he has a change of attitude.
Looking ahead obviously Randle, RJ, IQ, Obi, Mitch, Burks, Rose, and Noel are keepers. The others are still question marks but as I said earlier our New York Knicks are a sum of the parts team so while maybe the stats aren't there guys like Taj, Reggie, Elfrid, Kevin and Frank are all important cogs in the wheel. I keep thinking with the youth and progress we have seen in our young players maybe the Knicks are one superstar scorer away from being a serious playoff threat. The good news is we found the right coach though he has a major blindspot in leaving in his starters when games are won because he has no faith the game is won.
That said other NBA announcers have raved about the job Thibs has done with this team. He deserves their praise and recognition.My hope is the Knicks stand pat pretty much on the trade market. They have 2 first rounders and high second rounder in this year's draft. They have cap room. They have developed a nice core group of players who like and trust each other and it shows in their unselfish team play.
And kudos to our All Star who is playing 38 minutes a game and leading the team in most categories while playing both ends of the court with equal energy and desire.
