DLeethal wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

DLeethal wrote:The wolves are coming out now

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/shaxnba/status/1930401570560119259

It was bound to happen. Question is to what extent? Brunson might be retained, but I doubt he will be sitting next to the new coach on the bench next season. Might be enough of a check for some.

Yea he should never have been promoted to associate HC in my opinion. He should be a second row coach.

My guess is that OG has been a little bit leaky about some of these things. Doubt Mikal or Hart or KAT mind having Rick around.

KAT may have been unhappy. Since Rick probably pushed for an JB led offense.

Are these players coming out now or before Thibs was fired?
If now, maybe it’s because they feel Rick was the one pushing Thibs out.
Saw something mentioned when Thibs was fired that only a “few” players and coaches were interviewed by management.
Is that just JB? KAT? Rick?

Like I said before, if Rick stays somehow and they hire Wright, it’s clear it was the Brunsons behind the firing. Maybe that’s why players are unhappy.
If it’s Bud or Kidd, it’s to bring the Greek here.

Said Udoka would be tough because they are right in middle of build but Kidd in theory could have a discussion with Nico Harrison and ask out as a favor.

Said compensation isn't that big anymore threw out 2 seconds as a potential price.

LivingLegend wrote:

ToddTT wrote:

martin wrote:

ToddTT wrote:

martin wrote:Ha Marc with the best shiv takes

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/nypost_berman/status/1930046810870947943

I’ve been ready to ****can Leon for nearly a year.

Randle grudge runs strong within you young Skywalker!

Kemba/EF. Strike one.
iHart. Foul ball.
Mikal. Strike two.
Randle. Strike three.
Thibs. Strike four.

Four strikes, you're out!

Let see if karma bites Leon in his disloyal ass next year. He's got nowhere left to hide.

Randle in effect traded himself by telling Knick management he would not extend - which would have left them with payroll/cap uncertainty in building out the rest of the roster. A big factor in the Knicks moving him/Donte for Kat was that Kat's contract was established/set and he gave you the certainty of either him being on the roster or you trading him.

With Julius right now - he could choose to just leave us via free agency (at least I think he can opt out).

I think the issue was paying KAT 53 million vs. paying Randle between 51 and 39 million, a range which includes George, Kawhi, Markkenan, Siakim, Sabonis, Williamson, and OG.

DLeethal wrote:For what it’s worth also, which is probably not much, but the BKE account is saying Knicks want to get Giannis without trading KAT. I’m sure the Kidd pursuit is related to this to some degree. And maybe some of this leakiness might be from OG’s camp. You can’t really get Giannis without OG going out.

I think Giannis+OG >>> Giannis+KAT personally

If you keep KAT and swap OG you are much worse on D, have less 3 pt volume and have a ballsharing issue.

I love Brunson but perhaps over reliance on him stifled the bench. There were times the bench did really well in his absence. Thibs was coaching for his life and perhaps had too short a vision. This team was not a true championship contender. Thibs stretched the season which he should get credit for but he stressed the roster and was fortunate to have the health to do so. Going forward next coach needs to make things easier. Thibs might have been able to do this but likely there are long standing issues and it was time to move on. What's done is done.

If there is discord with Rick Brunson and others Im curious what that is and how its resolved with Jalens blessing or not.

DLeethal wrote:

VDesai wrote:I think if you swap out KAT for Giannis we become an overwhelming defensive team and a similar offensive team where KAT's 3 pt ahooting is negated by the fact that Giannis gets foul calls.

If you keep KAT and swap OG you are much worse on D, have less 3 pt volume and have a ballsharing issue.

Only in Thibs world is OG better than KAT in 3 pt volume.

Giannis kind of needs a stretch 5 IMO and he’s a DPOY caliber defender himself. I see the vision of Brunson - Deuce or other - Mikal - Giannis - KAT being optimal lineup to build.

I think Giannis is a great defender, which is why with OG I think we're a top tier if not the top defensive team. However if you swap OG for Giannis, while you get a good defender back you lose defensive versatility in that OG can guard more positions and has more range.

DLeethal wrote:

newyorknewyork wrote:

DLeethal wrote:

VDesai wrote:I think if you swap out KAT for Giannis we become an overwhelming defensive team and a similar offensive team where KAT's 3 pt ahooting is negated by the fact that Giannis gets foul calls.

If you keep KAT and swap OG you are much worse on D, have less 3 pt volume and have a ballsharing issue.

Only in Thibs world is OG better than KAT in 3 pt volume.

Giannis kind of needs a stretch 5 IMO and he’s a DPOY caliber defender himself. I see the vision of Brunson - Deuce or other - Mikal - Giannis - KAT being optimal lineup to build.

If you trade for Giannis, you target Bobby Portis in the deal as well. Brook Lopez is a FA who you attempt to sign for with the Mid level which would be appealing to him after Giannis reaches out hypothetically.

Lopez, Giannis, OG, Mikal, Brunson. Huk, Portis, McCullar, Hart, Kolek.

IMO you can afford to include Mitch because there’s a lot of good options for backup bigs for cheap FA this year and Hukporti also looks ready.

U flip Mitch with Portis in the deal. Bucks would then look to get draft capital back for Mitch and probably Kat as well. Bucks would probably want Kolek as well honestly.

Can see Bucks then trading Kat to Toronto for Scottie Barnes or something.

VDesai wrote:

DLeethal wrote:

VDesai wrote:I think if you swap out KAT for Giannis we become an overwhelming defensive team and a similar offensive team where KAT's 3 pt ahooting is negated by the fact that Giannis gets foul calls.

If you keep KAT and swap OG you are much worse on D, have less 3 pt volume and have a ballsharing issue.

Only in Thibs world is OG better than KAT in 3 pt volume.

Giannis kind of needs a stretch 5 IMO and he’s a DPOY caliber defender himself. I see the vision of Brunson - Deuce or other - Mikal - Giannis - KAT being optimal lineup to build.

I think Giannis is a great defender, which is why with OG I think we're a top tier if not the top defensive team. However if you swap OG for Giannis, while you get a good defender back you lose defensive versatility in that OG can guard more positions and has more range.

I would say, that the combo of Mikal and Giannis would be able to cover the majority of wings/forwards effectively. Might even give you more versatility than OG/Giannis would. Mikal can get back to what he does best which is guard wings and not point guards. Then you need to find a POA defender or promote Deuce to the starting lineup.

HofstraBBall wrote:

blkexec wrote:Thibs is like a skilled mechanic who revived an old car, but when entering the big race, he couldn’t get the car out of first gear—great at the rebuild, but never able to hit top speed when it mattered most.

Would add more context:
Who just drove us to the best result in 25 years.
And who finished 3rd in this year’s premier race and has built the race car to respectability and beat the defending champion. But gets fired after the race.
Think the only reason you fire a coach is because he failed to meet expectations or has lost his team. Nothing I feel Thibs has done.

With this type of thinking, we should release KAT, JB, OG, Bridges, Hart, MR and Deuce. Who all made many mistakes and did not play their best. Unless we want to blame Thibs for shooting percentages and many dumb unforced turnovers. While we are at it, for Rose for the incomplete roster he handed Thibs?

Some context regarding player performance mentioned above:

KAT 36% from 3pt. In foul trouble 4 out of 6 games. Deuce 33fg 313pt.
Brunson 33% 3pt, 2 5 TO games. Averaged 5 dimes including a 1 assist game vs Hali’s 10.5. APG
OG 29% 3pt including 2 14% games.
Bridges 9 total foul shot attempts for entire series as a SG = SOFT
MR No need to lookup offensive stats especially FT’s
Hart , like in Atlanta series cost us the most. 18% 3pt and -27 for series.

As always, Coach is first target.tube we can be better with another coach.
But no one is going to tell me this was dirty or well deserved.

I don't think anyone is putting all the blame on Thibs. It's his job however that his player are put in the best position to succeed. Following this year, the FO judged that it was not the case. The FO didn't feel any pressure to fire the coach after a disappointing season. As you stated, they managed to reach ECF.

Apart from KAT, Jalen, Mikal, OG and Miles had their worst 3pts shooting % of the last few years. They didn't forget how to shoot. They were not put in position for quality shots.

The roster is formidable. Far from perfect but largely superior to Detroit's whom they almost lost to. A few possessions that goes the wrong way and they lose in the first round. There's something wrong in the way they played. Not to say Thibs is bad coach but he's not the right fit for this roster.