franco12 wrote:

martin wrote:

franco12 wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

franco12 wrote:

Knixkik wrote:It’s rough but there’s a long season to go and a good stretch of winnable games coming up. I think we still have a better record than this point last year right ?

we are 1 game better than last year.

Plus with more games remaining due to the normal schedule I assume ? It’s not ideal, but this team can go on a run. But at some point Randle and Fournier need to get their acts together.

I don’t think this team has a run in him, and that is getting ahead of us.

I just want to see energy, effort, grit and some smarts.

I would like to see the young guys, especially Kevin Knox. Is he going to turn into a serviceable player if he leaves here? Find out first.

Guys can certainly turn things around but haven't the Knicks seen Knox for 3+ years ongoing?

Just cause guys haven't played under Thibs doesn't mean they can't contribute. We've been screaming for Obi to get time.

And yes - I get Knox has been around- but he was drafted with an eye on his offensive game. And if he turns into a 6'9" Hubert Davis, that is decent value for where he was picked.

Put Knox out there- maybe he shines a little bit and we can trade him and Kemba? Who knows. But it seems like a lost opportunity to just release Knox end of this year and get nothing from him.

If half the team wasn't out on protocols, we wouldn't even be seeing Knox.

BRIGGS wrote:Is a disastrous bust. How do we get out of it????

Hit the reset button. Remove the new players (EF and Kemba) and replace them with 2 way players (which is what we had b4 in Elf and Bullock). RJ and Randle needs shooters and defense around them. Players like Grimes is a perfect example of what this SL needs.

BRIGGS wrote:Is a disastrous bust. How do we get out of it????

Weren’t you saying just a few weeks ago this team was near title contender ? You can’t overreact either positive or negative. This Knicks team can go many ways. But most important thing to remember is there’s a ton of ways to improve with the draft picks and short-term contracts. This team is in a healthy state to improve still.

martin wrote:

knicks1248 wrote:

blkexec wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:Is a disastrous bust. How do we get out of it????

Hit the reset button. Remove the new players (EF and Kemba) and replace them with 2 way players (which is what we had b4 in Elf and Bullock). RJ and Randle needs shooters and defense around them. Players like Grimes is a perfect example of what this SL needs.

This is a time where im siding with the player.

As long as THIBS offensive game plan is telling Randle to be our ball handler, post up and draw double teams and make the right reads, we will look ugly on offense, take contested shots, and have a passive/aggressive approach.

This is what you think Thibs wants? That's your insight?

listen, if it's happening on almost every possession and he doesn't seem to have a problem with it, than it looks as if its thats the game plan.

If the coach says." Randle I don't want you to be the one to initiate the offense" and you run plays in where Randle is not posting up, then i would think other wise.

In other words a team would not spend hours practicing a high octane offensive system, then play at a snail pace during the game.

You practice what you want to do on game day.

THIBS is a defense coach, that what he cares about.

OBI can drop 40 and missed 2 defensive assignments and get benched

Do you have another explanation on why Randle is still our primary ball handler?

Knixkik wrote:

Nalod wrote:Let EF shoot out of his slump. Thats what Thibs is doing.
Don’t matter what any of us really say. Its my opinion.
Players don’t fall off the cliff normally at age 29. We’ll see how it plays out.
Im rooting for all the knicks!

For Randle and Fournier, it’s a NY/MSG/expectations issue. Randle needs to adjust to playing in front of a crowd after overachieving last season and having guys against him raise their level of play for the first time in his career. Fournier needs to learn how to play in an arena that matters for the first time in his career. Orlando is literally the worst fanbase in the league, and their arena is mostly vacationers. His Boston pit stop was in an empty arena. This is a huge adjustment for both players. We always forget about this aspect but meeting expectations at MSG is tough when everyone is trying to ball out in front of celebrity row. Knicks need an elite sports psychologist to help them figure this out. How do you know what guys will be able to carry over to this stage and which ones won’t ?

Its a theory as good as any……
Anyone have EF’s road stats when on Denver or Orlando vs home games prior to pandemic?

BRIGGS wrote:I guess Leon roses first year luck quickly ran out.

I think we can still be good but we’re gonna have to start by making serious decisions. Ef can’t just play based on his pay.

There’s plenty of directions to go from here. The Knicks are not stuck. Fournier doesn’t seem to have the mentality for NY but maybe he can eventually settle into a good bench role with DRose where he can feast on second units and have more freedom. The struggles this season will put pressure on Leon to accelerate his rebuild. Randle can still be a main cog if he finds the right PG who can push the pace and play on and off the ball, as well as replace Fournier in the lineup with a 3&D wing (Grimes or Burks can work), and maybe make that Myles Turner deal to give Randle more spacing and have more firepower at the center position.

Knixkik wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:I guess Leon roses first year luck quickly ran out.

I think we can still be good but we’re gonna have to start by making serious decisions. Ef can’t just play based on his pay.

There’s plenty of directions to go from here. The Knicks are not stuck. Fournier doesn’t seem to have the mentality for NY but maybe he can eventually settle into a good bench role with DRose where he can feast on second units and have more freedom. The struggles this season will put pressure on Leon to accelerate his rebuild. Randle can still be a main cog if he finds the right PG who can push the pace and play on and off the ball, as well as replace Fournier in the lineup with a 3&D wing (Grimes or Burks can work), and maybe make that Myles Turner deal to give Randle more spacing and have more firepower at the center position.

We aren’t stuck but if we continue to play like this we will be in full on tank mode in 3 weeks