Knicks are up against the second apron, and a lot of their depth will be coming back from injury which is good, but they will need some trade and signing windows to add what they need. Maybe it’s getting back Achiuwa/ Mitch and then moving the Sims contract along with a few seconds for a cheap, helpful wing like Toumani Camara from Portland. And then maybe this summer with so little cap space to go around, a guy like Bruce Brown or Malcolm Brogdon (both CAA) are willing to sign with the Knicks for the minimum. Now your bench rotation is McBride, Mitch, Camara, brown/ Brogdon as your 4 rotation players off the bench, and then you resign Achiuwa/ Payne etc.

I know I’m getting ahead of myself a bit, and getting back Mitch/ Achiuwa first will make a difference, but we will still be over-reliant on big games from our starters, and I’d like to get some more firepower off the bench on offense too. With a front office so resourceful, I’m eager to see how they will fill out the roster going forward.

I’d insert Prescious into the SL as soon as he’s ready- it helps balance the team, adds rebounding and interior defense, and then whoever goes to the bench is that scoring we miss there.

Knixkik wrote:Discussing teams who make multiple consolidation moves, chemistry building aside, he made a point that the Knicks need 2 transaction cycles to replenish the bench. Meaning deadline window and next offseason. He cited the Suns as the example. They spent time after the KD and Beal trade bare bones, and then over 2 transaction cycles were able to add Royce O’Neale, sign Tyus Jones for cheap, and find hidden gem Ryan Dunn. 3 legit rotation players to fill out the roster.

Knicks are up against the second apron, and a lot of their depth will be coming back from injury which is good, but they will need some trade and signing windows to add what they need. Maybe it’s getting back Achiuwa/ Mitch and then moving the Sims contract along with a few seconds for a cheap, helpful wing like Toumani Camara from Portland. And then maybe this summer with so little cap space to go around, a guy like Bruce Brown or Malcolm Brogdon (both CAA) are willing to sign with the Knicks for the minimum. Now your bench rotation is McBride, Mitch, Camara, brown/ Brogdon as your 4 rotation players off the bench, and then you resign Achiuwa/ Payne etc.

I know I’m getting ahead of myself a bit, and getting back Mitch/ Achiuwa first will make a difference, but we will still be over-reliant on big games from our starters, and I’d like to get some more firepower off the bench on offense too. With a front office so resourceful, I’m eager to see how they will fill out the roster going forward.

This has been my basis for NOT feeling this is the year. The lack of depth is an issue and for now our staring core is healthy. Next man up could prove difficult. Thats true of all teams with a heavy star laden starting line up. Our Rooks also need the to get acclimated and perhaps prove as trade fodder if deemed necessary. Shamet could be the vet dude (Alec Burkes/Bojan) type we have had in the past if he can return and do so better than he was last season.

I'd love to be wrong and the team goes all the way!!!

Add back the likes of Precious and Mitch and its not as bad a situation as anyone thinks. That said having that extra wing who can defend (which is why I made a post on the other thread lamenting Pacome over Dunn) would be really nice to have right now.

nycericanguy wrote:if we started 20-10 and then went through a mid 5-6 stretch like this no one would even notice, it's only because it's at the start that it gets magnified.

Well - we could say we were a really good team that hit a rough patch if that were the case.

But starting out the season, we kinda are the record that it says we are - which is a middling good team which could improve, or continue to be a middling good team.

If you look at our stats, based on our point differential, we’re ranked 9 and assuming we maintain or improve that, we’ll be a top 10 team. Last year, we were ranked 5.

The other team stat that lines up with wins is rebounding- last year we were fifth - Boston was #2.

This year, we’re 23 - which does not bode well at all!

Getting Prescious back is going to help on this front immensely! And Robinson. I’d also like to see Sims get more minutes because he is a better rebounder than the small wingstops that we have in the SL.

Knixkik wrote:Discussing teams who make multiple consolidation moves, chemistry building aside, he made a point that the Knicks need 2 transaction cycles to replenish the bench. Meaning deadline window and next offseason. He cited the Suns as the example. They spent time after the KD and Beal trade bare bones, and then over 2 transaction cycles were able to add Royce O’Neale, sign Tyus Jones for cheap, and find hidden gem Ryan Dunn. 3 legit rotation players to fill out the roster.

Knicks are up against the second apron, and a lot of their depth will be coming back from injury which is good, but they will need some trade and signing windows to add what they need. Maybe it’s getting back Achiuwa/ Mitch and then moving the Sims contract along with a few seconds for a cheap, helpful wing like Toumani Camara from Portland. And then maybe this summer with so little cap space to go around, a guy like Bruce Brown or Malcolm Brogdon (both CAA) are willing to sign with the Knicks for the minimum. Now your bench rotation is McBride, Mitch, Camara, brown/ Brogdon as your 4 rotation players off the bench, and then you resign Achiuwa/ Payne etc.

I know I’m getting ahead of myself a bit, and getting back Mitch/ Achiuwa first will make a difference, but we will still be over-reliant on big games from our starters, and I’d like to get some more firepower off the bench on offense too. With a front office so resourceful, I’m eager to see how they will fill out the roster going forward.

It's pretty true. You see it a lot when teams make a splash but don't have the depth support. Dallas is another example who sucked after the Kyrie trade until they made the deadline deals for Gafford and PJ and added some good draft pieces.

Knicks are lacking in chemistry but also in depth. We have some depth that's injured which will help and chemistry should get better. The elephant in the room is whether this team can defend well enough to go deep in the playoffs.

nycericanguy wrote:if we started 20-10 and then went through a mid 5-6 stretch like this no one would even notice, it's only because it's at the start that it gets magnified.

So true. And it’s been a tough early season road schedule too. Starting now things open up a bit. Games we need to start winning. Also, if cleveland is going to run away with the top seed, I’m good at 4. I want cleveland in the second round as opposed to Boston.

Knixkik wrote:

DLeethal wrote:

Knixkik wrote:Discussing teams who make multiple consolidation moves, chemistry building aside, he made a point that the Knicks need 2 transaction cycles to replenish the bench. Meaning deadline window and next offseason. He cited the Suns as the example. They spent time after the KD and Beal trade bare bones, and then over 2 transaction cycles were able to add Royce O’Neale, sign Tyus Jones for cheap, and find hidden gem Ryan Dunn. 3 legit rotation players to fill out the roster.

Knicks are up against the second apron, and a lot of their depth will be coming back from injury which is good, but they will need some trade and signing windows to add what they need. Maybe it’s getting back Achiuwa/ Mitch and then moving the Sims contract along with a few seconds for a cheap, helpful wing like Toumani Camara from Portland. And then maybe this summer with so little cap space to go around, a guy like Bruce Brown or Malcolm Brogdon (both CAA) are willing to sign with the Knicks for the minimum. Now your bench rotation is McBride, Mitch, Camara, brown/ Brogdon as your 4 rotation players off the bench, and then you resign Achiuwa/ Payne etc.

I know I’m getting ahead of myself a bit, and getting back Mitch/ Achiuwa first will make a difference, but we will still be over-reliant on big games from our starters, and I’d like to get some more firepower off the bench on offense too. With a front office so resourceful, I’m eager to see how they will fill out the roster going forward.

It's pretty true. You see it a lot when teams make a splash but don't have the depth support. Dallas is another example who sucked after the Kyrie trade until they made the deadline deals for Gafford and PJ and added some good draft pieces.

Knicks are lacking in chemistry but also in depth. We have some depth that's injured which will help and chemistry should get better. The elephant in the room is whether this team can defend well enough to go deep in the playoffs.

Dallas is a good call. Very similar situation.

+1

Cleveland same way last year. started out of gate 13-12. From there to the all star break, 22-4. https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/traditional?sort=W_PCT&dir=-1&Season=2023-24&TeamID=1610612739&DateFrom=12%2F16%2F2023&DateTo=02%2F10%2F2024

And then finished season 13-18. https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/traditional?sort=W_PCT&dir=-1&Season=2023-24&TeamID=1610612739&DateFrom=12%2F16%2F2023&DateTo=02%2F10%2F2024

Injuries and such. Ebb and flow of a team. Still near 50 wins and not a bad season at all.

I'm guessing that the starters are playing slow in part because they're being relied on so much, and want to have something left for the 4th quarter.

Philc1 wrote:We had such great chemistry last year we were eliminated in the second round

Chemistry don’t got none on injury, I guess.