1. Lobs/lob threat---how many easy buckets did we get, despite getting penetration? Capela and co could sit back and measure their blocks as there was no one to keep them honest over the top. I think we got somewhat complacent with mitch's ability to throw dunks down saying that's what all 7 footers rim runners do etc. But mitch is near elite in this area. When jumpers were not falling, he would have loosened things up for rose, barett, quickley and randle, all of who struggled taking it to the basket.

2. Rim protection: noel was hobbled and taj has never really provided for us and we could have kept them more on the perimeter if we had mitch in the middle. At his best, mitch can cover ground inside and out and give shooters something to think about on both drives and jump shots.

We all know he's up for a contract extension and it's time to make a solid offer. If not, then we at least have to find replacements in the draft or FA that allow us to clean up the middle.

Randle needs to play with a stretch big because he's a TURNOVER Machine when he doesn't have the space or shooters to open it up.

fishmike wrote:no Mitch really hurt. That allowed Capella freedom to torture us. When Mitch is in the game the opposing big must stick a body on him or he's a walking dunk. 100% agree with OP and it really hurt us.

The biggest factor was Capella in this series, no doubt. He kept us out of the paint and guarded that rim like a monster. He did to us what we needed Mitch to do to them.

110% we missed Mitch big time in this series . If I can remember correctly cappella really struggled vs Mitch. He is our best interior defense player, no way tray torches us in the paint with mitch on the floor.

This might have looked like a totally different series with a healthy Mitch

fitzfarm wrote:

fishmike wrote:no Mitch really hurt. That allowed Capella freedom to torture us. When Mitch is in the game the opposing big must stick a body on him or he's a walking dunk. 100% agree with OP and it really hurt us.

The biggest factor was Capella in this series, no doubt. He kept us out of the paint and guarded that rim like a monster. He did to us what we needed Mitch to do to them.

110% we missed Mitch big time in this series . If I can remember correctly cappella really struggled vs Mitch. He is our best interior defense player, no way tray torches us in the paint with mitch on the floor.

This might have looked like a totally different series with a healthy Mitch

first game against the hawks mitch was a -5 with 8 pts 7 rb and he didn't play in the last 2 we beat them

I'm sure he would have had an impact better than TAJ, but i still don't think we win the series either way.

I think we just needed better guard play

Pay the man

Knicksfan wrote:Yep, we needed Mitch. We should also make moves so we have a solid replacement for him because his injuries are a concern. And yes, Noel was big for us, but we abused him so much he wasn't that effective at the end of it. We need young talented blood out there, talented enough that Thibs plays him.

For better or worse, we need talent that Thibs can trust. Whats the point of having talent that is kept on the bench. They need to play.

And I also remember we needed to trade Marcus Camby in 2002 because he was such an injury risk

How’d that turn out?

Mitch is really good and that's without spacing and a point guard that can get him the ball.

This series was over when Atlanta established control of the paint and Thibs refused to play small ball. If we are all in on Mitch as the key, then we need to get an elite pick and roll PG to maximize his potential this off season. Maybe Mike Conley.

Philc1 wrote:

Knicksfan wrote:Yep, we needed Mitch. We should also make moves so we have a solid replacement for him because his injuries are a concern. And yes, Noel was big for us, but we abused him so much he wasn't that effective at the end of it. We need young talented blood out there, talented enough that Thibs plays him.

For better or worse, we need talent that Thibs can trust. Whats the point of having talent that is kept on the bench. They need to play.

And I also remember we needed to trade Marcus Camby in 2002 because he was such an injury risk

How’d that turn out?

For all we know the the path to improvement might be a step back with a longer view, or a starphuch ramp up with a 2 year window. Who decides? Not us. Not even logic that Leon & Co. bring. Team owner decides just like any other franchise! Yikes!!