LivingLegend wrote:

MaTT4281 wrote:Missed this at half... Good start to the 3rd

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/StevePopper/status/1918105013185880181

I missed this until just now --- saw Mikal suggest this the other day and I basically said "don't talk about it Mikal - do it".

I guess Mikal stepped up and forced the team into layup lines at halftime and turns out we outscored them 37-24.

Cam now calling Mikal "Layup Line Kal"

Confirmed

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https://www.twitter.com/sny_knicks/status/1918307010837180817

martin wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:

nycericanguy wrote:

Philc1 wrote:

nycericanguy wrote:I don't think KAT or Mikal are untouchable at all, heck neither is OG IMO. Especially if Giannis becomes available, I could easily see us offering KAT and either Mikal or OG. Brunson is the only untouchable.

That would be too much even for Giannis. I’d offer Mikal and Hart tho.

Supposedly Spurs are the favorites. They have a lot of draft picks next several years and are way under the cap plus Silver wants to put Giannis with Wemby together and create another international superteam

you think the best they could get would be Mikal and Hart?

KAT + either isn't too much at all, it's not enough if anything.

Giannis, Brunson + OG or Mikal would be the best trio in the NBA

Not sure what to make of the Greeks value any longer. Sure he's great statistically but he struggled to win even surrounded by Holiday/Middleton/Lopez/Portis for a few years. If we strip down 2 of our top players (ex Kat/Mikal) and we trot out Greek/Jalen/OG --- not sure where that ultimately gets us with even less depth than this year.

I think that may be a little unfair to Greek freak official Tyrese Dad Hater. First year they won chip, another year Middleton didn't really play, and the next Giannis went down with injury when they got booted in first round. Only 1 year with the full lineup and they won it.

That Bucks team might have the worst supporting cast around their superstar of any championship team ever. I kind of agree that another 2-for-1 trade like KAT and Mikal for Giannis doesn’t leave us with much of a team left afterwards. We kind of saw what relying on spare parts to round out the team does for your depth and it would just compound that problem.

MaTT4281 wrote:

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https://www.twitter.com/NBA_NewYork/status/1918477703654555781

This stuff is unpredictable but I don’t think either of those plays work the way they did with KAT in Mitch’s place.

Panos wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:

martin wrote:Some randos have opinions on ghost screens

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https://www.twitter.com/alanhahn/status/1918354351783067748

Don't agree with any of that.

If Thompson thought a screen was coming his reaction would be to get over that screen and stay attached Jalen.

The part about sending him to his left is baloney as well - you don't want Brunson getting to his strong hand because he's going to put you on his back and either draw foul or hit his runner or get all the way to the basket.

Once Mikal flashed with the screen the floor was in balance 2 on left and 2 on right side of court. I think 2 things happened - Thompson was...
1) too aggressive in his initial position (too tight and gave Jalen his left hand)
2) he was now forced to catch-up in order to stop Jalen from getting down hill to his strong hand

Once he make those 2 boo boo's Jalen cross over sent him sailing and out of the play.

How does this play compare to the iconic Jordan shot against Utah?

Jalen's was higher resolution, for sure.

Chandler wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:

Chandler wrote:

martin wrote:Some randos have opinions on ghost screens

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/alanhahn/status/1918354351783067748

So can one of you guys who knows what they’re saying take it one step further? Is the reason this was effective that ausar was loading up expecting contact, and that’s when Jalen put the brakes on?

Me - if Ausar was tasked with guarding Brunson. I would think he would be going hard to get over top any screen. I think he was just pressed up to hard on Jalen and lost him on his initial dribble and he was playing catch up.

Let me ask a slightly different question. In theory how is a ghost screen supposed to provide any benefit? Is it supposed to make the defender move differently, or get in his head, or what? Thanks in advance

Distraction and confusion. All it takes is a second.

Instead of focusing on Jalen 100%, Ausar started thinking about what it's like in Cancun this time of year.

EwingsGlass wrote:

Chandler wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:

Chandler wrote:

martin wrote:Some randos have opinions on ghost screens

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/alanhahn/status/1918354351783067748

So can one of you guys who knows what they’re saying take it one step further? Is the reason this was effective that ausar was loading up expecting contact, and that’s when Jalen put the brakes on?

Me - if Ausar was tasked with guarding Brunson. I would think he would be going hard to get over top any screen. I think he was just pressed up to hard on Jalen and lost him on his initial dribble and he was playing catch up.

Let me ask a slightly different question. In theory how is a ghost screen supposed to provide any benefit? Is it supposed to make the defender move differently, or get in his head, or what? Thanks in advance

It’s just a fake. In football, it would be the equivalent of the initial block before a screen pass - lineman tap and show pass coverage to slow down the defense but not engage a full block. Just buy a moment for the ball handler without setting a full screen.

In basketball, it still needs a defensive read. The two defenders have to either prepare to switch. In the moment of confusion, ideally Bridges, who had the hot hand would have lost someone on a failed switch. Here, Thompson hesitated, leaning into the screen, before following Brunson and used his amazing athleticism to stay with Brunson, but at a cost of his balance. When Brunson crossed him up he went flying instead of staying with Brunson. Brunson takes a moment, puts on his cape and accepts the title of clutch player of the year on the big stage.

The fake forced Thompson to overcompensate.

Great explaination...also, Brunson is a naturaly letfy, so the scouting report told him to overplay his left hand. It was a good play-call, but the crossover by Brunson was exceptional....The play and execution by Brunson was perfection...