LivingLegend wrote:

martin wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:

gradyandrew wrote:It just seems the Knicks are less than the sum of their parts.

Kind of true isn't it.

Why though - given we have 3 really good role players playing 2-4?

System? PG who is really a scorer 1st and 2nd?

Or maybe collectively we just don't have the ball handlers and passers who can get shots on their own -- this may be real reason.

That’s it for me.

Oh wait, your ball handling point too

For whatever reason we are underutilizing both Kat and Mikal -- not enough easy shots for Kat and not enough initiation (or high screen) touches for Mikal. When Jalen is in everything kind of runs thru that lens and we hope he's great.

They are stifling Brunson and options 2-4 are underperforming their season averages. I think we gaveed for about 10-12 mins of the series. Mitch is a +23 and missing all his FT. Every single other player is underperforming what they did all year. Fortunately we played great defensively for 2 games.

VDesai wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:

martin wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:

gradyandrew wrote:It just seems the Knicks are less than the sum of their parts.

Kind of true isn't it.

Why though - given we have 3 really good role players playing 2-4?

System? PG who is really a scorer 1st and 2nd?

Or maybe collectively we just don't have the ball handlers and passers who can get shots on their own -- this may be real reason.

That’s it for me.

Oh wait, your ball handling point too

For whatever reason we are underutilizing both Kat and Mikal -- not enough easy shots for Kat and not enough initiation (or high screen) touches for Mikal. When Jalen is in everything kind of runs thru that lens and we hope he's great.

They are stifling Brunson and options 2-4 are underperforming their season averages. I think we gaveed for about 10-12 mins of the series. Mitch is a +23 and missing all his FT. Every single other player is underperforming what they did all year. Fortunately we played great defensively for 2 games.

We've underutilized them all year -- the offense should be moving much faster and the ball flying around. Watch Indy --- Kat/Mikal should be getting open looks and the ball on the move just like Turner/Siakim are getting for Indy.

No reason Brunson can't be off the ball more --- big issue is our secondary ball handler is an error prone Josh Hart who is also little threat to most defenses.

Still need a secondary ball handler guard -- what Grimes was supposed to be at one point in time.

VDesai wrote:There isn't a player immune for some criticism in this series. We have lead for only 12 mins of 150 or something.

The starting lineup continues to be worst performing unit. The offense continues to underperform its talent. While the resiliency and never quit that won us two games is absolutely Thibs, the muddy offense for whats been months without changes is also largely on Thibs.

They way we have to win revolves largely around defense and generating turnovers for transition offense.

At some point we have to figure out if the downsides to Thibs will prevent this team from reaching the next level. If we stick with Thibs, I hope we pivot back to defense and bully because he's not the guy to coach an offense-first team that this current roster is built to be.

The inability to get Towns going is absolutely a schematic hurdle. Myles Turner got more 3s off last night than Towns has gotten off all series. Towns can literally shoot high % from right inside the logo - there is no reason we can't get him volume 3s while he has guys 4-5 inches shorter on him. Mikal averaged 23ppg in Brooklyn without any legit playmakers, he can create his own shot and get to his spots. No reason at all he should be putting up donut scoring efforts for 3 straight quarters every night. This team on offense has no direction or identity whatsoever despite loads of offensive talent.

This team is the biggest enigma I have probably ever witnessed. This playoff run has been the most exhilarating I can remember. But somehow this team who beat DET in 6 and is up 2-1 on Boston looks completely lost for 90% of every game they play. Brunson's clutch mastery has masked issues all season long IMO, and it's the reason we are still alive in the playoffs despite loads of flaws rearing their head on a nightly basis.