Knixkik wrote:I believe the Knicks have a full rotation of championship level players. The challenge is at the top. Is Brunson a player that can carry a team all the way through the playoffs when it matters most? And can either Randle or Barrett become a consistent star-level playoff performer? These 2 areas are what are needed to get there. The good part is it wouldn’t have to be this year given the ages of this group.

We can justify it all day long and of course verbalize what needs to be. Randle has to be in form and hitting from all over, IQ needs to be hopping about in his happy place, and Brunson needs to stay healthy.
Given that, youung StarJay and Grimes can chime in every other game.

We have not demonstrated this all coming together orchestrated with any regularity but few glimpses of potential.
Yes, for that I am grateful and having fun.

Even a complete collapse could not undo what has been a successful season. Prefer we at least get thru this round to label it as such. Would make for an unpleasant off season.

EwingsGlass wrote:

Knixkik wrote:I believe the Knicks have a full rotation of championship level players. The challenge is at the top. Is Brunson a player that can carry a team all the way through the playoffs when it matters most? And can either Randle or Barrett become a consistent star-level playoff performer? These 2 areas are what are needed to get there. The good part is it wouldn’t have to be this year given the ages of this group.

The Knicks having been finding ways to win when their 3s percentage are horrific. The Knicks are not this bad at shooting the 3. If they just go back to their season average from 3, they are going to be a tough out for anyone.

Let's finish Cleveland tonight. I'll take a 1 point win here in triple overtime.

I think the Knicks should blow out the Heat. I wouldn't look past the Heat cause Butler is a legit competitor. But, I would want that series to be a statement series. We got beaten up in Cleveland. I don't think any other team is going to put such a defensive force up against us. And without Herro and Dipo, I think they really lack the depth to compete with our second unit. Butler can play 48 though and we don't have much answer for him.

That leaves the winner of the Celtics/Sixers. Embiid is unlikely to play the whole series. I don't think Philly can beat Celts without Embiid. I have the Celts as our the ECF most likely. We played the Celts hard, but caught some breaks across the season with Celts injuries. I do believe the Celts are the team to beat. We have the season series, so we have to be in their heads. But this is where I think we either advance as a team or talk about that time we made the ECF. This is gonna be on Randle, Barrett and IQ. Everyone else just needs to keep doing what they do. The frozen tundra that has been their 3 point shooting needs to find an early spring and thaw out.

Regarding the 3pt shooting, I don’t expect them to go back to regular season form overall. This is the playoffs. The biggest stage. Most teams will shoot worse. Some guys have it and some guys don’t. Quickley is always a threat to score 30+ in the regular season and hasn’t made a shot in 2 of the playoff games. Randle might still be really hurt but 2 playoffs he’s shrunk. It’s not a major knock on these guys. We need regular season players to get us here too. Not everyone can be Brunson and Josh hart. Maybe RJ can get there. Maybe Grimes too, who hasn’t made many threes. And quickley is young of course. But I’m not expecting all of these guys to shoot it the way they did in the regular season. The defense is tighter, the game is more intense, and guys have to be better. The good news is Quickley and Grimes are both grind-it-out defenders so they can make an impact either way.

We definitely seem to be en route to something special and I'm strapping in to enjoy the ride. I'm saving up my loose change to afford an MSG ticket once we're in the Finals.

We also don’t have a 3 man to guard Lebron

GustavBahler wrote:

Moonangie wrote:Rather than indulge in a fever dream of grabbing our chip this year, I'm focused on seeing a competitive group for the next 5+ years and rekindling that 90s magic. We eventually win with our homegrown depth, a lucky FA add, or a trade for a superstar that doesn't deplete the roster in a destructive way (i.e., we use more picks than talent in the trade).

We definitely seem to be en route to something special and I'm strapping in to enjoy the ride. I'm saving up my loose change to afford an MSG ticket once we're in the Finals.

Well said

Most of us will have to take out a mortgage, for a ticket to a Finals game at MSG-lol.

I looked for tickets for this Friday's "close out" game 6 for me and my youngest son...the cheapest acceptable seats were $500 each. I could do it, but that's a bit rich for one game. Still might, on the fence about it.

Moonangie wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

Moonangie wrote:Rather than indulge in a fever dream of grabbing our chip this year, I'm focused on seeing a competitive group for the next 5+ years and rekindling that 90s magic. We eventually win with our homegrown depth, a lucky FA add, or a trade for a superstar that doesn't deplete the roster in a destructive way (i.e., we use more picks than talent in the trade).

We definitely seem to be en route to something special and I'm strapping in to enjoy the ride. I'm saving up my loose change to afford an MSG ticket once we're in the Finals.

Well said

Most of us will have to take out a mortgage, for a ticket to a Finals game at MSG-lol.

I looked for tickets for this Friday's "close out" game 6 for me and my youngest son...the cheapest acceptable seats were $500 each. I could do it, but that's a bit rich for one game. Still might, on the fence about it.

Imagine what they would cost for the Finals! At least we dont have to watch games on a screen the size of a postage stamp anymore

I will be disappointed if we lose to them.

franco12 wrote:I would almost have preferred the Bucks over the Heat.

I will be disappointed if we lose to them.