Instead of using that as fuel to confirm their status as championship contenders, they slacked their way to another loss, both at home, where they proved somehow overwhelmed by the pressure.

From there, the bad Knicks trends of the season had proved to be here to stay this series. A solid win in Game 3 wasn’t replicated like they should’ve in Game 4. The coaching in the series from New York was seriously inconsistent.

Game 5 showed us finally what this team could do, but too little too late as the monster had been fed and only a perfect game would’ve stoped it. The Knicks proved incapable of a consistent effort from game to game, sometimes even from quarter to quarter.

They lost as the talented but maddeningly inconsistent team they were throughout the whole season. I really expected them to finally come together as a team and this loss disappointingly proves they aren’t that close to it, but they could get there.

The thing is, I’m not confident this team will make the right decisions to improve and reach the NBA Finals next season. Something was definitely wrong on the coaching staff, but this run might stop changes from being made.

In the players front, while the Towns trade was heavily maligned and his defense is a cause for concern, I think the Mikal trade was the move too much we made. Kidd all you want about the “high schoolers” who wouldn’t have made a difference, but actually two of those could net you a guy like Walker Kessler, who would be a significant contributor to this defense. And either Deuce takes the step forward we expected from him but didn’t really get, or we need a scorer off the bench. Kolek and Huk need to be prioritized as pieces next season. That means having a coaching staff willing to develop AND use them.

Overall, I’m more disappointed than hopeful. Why? Because this team seems mostly built, while still not being the most ideal mix. Still the impression if that a new direction could improve the direction and consistency, but again, I wonder if the right decision are made or not.

1. Why did it take so long for Robinson to start? After he entered the starting lineup, the hack a Mitch defense never happened again.

2. Why did it take all season + 15 playoff games for their to be any non injury adjustment to the starting lineup, despite them clearly not being a dominant group?

3. Why did it take a similar amount of games to play an 8,9, 10 player rotation? Once committed too, the bench played well.

4. Why weren't any in game adjustments made to stop the Pacers from scoring off of made fg's?

5. Why was KAT's 3 point shot downplayed for much of the season and then ignored the deeper the Knicks went in the playoffs?

6. Why waa Deuce not given more opportunity as a PoA defender despite him being part of 4/5 best net rating lineups

I think the Knicks were extremely lucky this year to basically be healthy the entire season. I think the huge comeback games were a result of grit and talent- grit and talent that could have been better employed getting and maintaining leads. While KAT might have his defensive limitations, the key factor is that the Knicks didn't practice switching all year. Not easy learning a new defensive scheme halfway into the playoffs.

I have been a big supporter for years but,Thibs has got to go. I hope Knicks can bring in Budenholzer.

houston20 wrote:

gradyandrew wrote:Seems kind of ridiculous to me that people are talking about players when the Knicks were clearly less than the sum of their parts. To whit:

1. Why did it take so long for Robinson to start? After he entered the starting lineup, the hack a Mitch defense never happened again.

2. Why did it take all season + 15 playoff games for their to be any non injury adjustment to the starting lineup, despite them clearly not being a dominant group?

3. Why did it take a similar amount of games to play an 8,9, 10 player rotation? Once committed too, the bench played well.

4. Why weren't any in game adjustments made to stop the Pacers from scoring off of made fg's?

5. Why was KAT's 3 point shot downplayed for much of the season and then ignored the deeper the Knicks went in the playoffs?

6. Why waa Deuce not given more opportunity as a PoA defender despite him being part of 4/5 best net rating lineups

I think the Knicks were extremely lucky this year to basically be healthy the entire season. I think the huge comeback games were a result of grit and talent- grit and talent that could have been better employed getting and maintaining leads. While KAT might have his defensive limitations, the key factor is that the Knicks didn't practice switching all year. Not easy learning a new defensive scheme halfway into the playoffs.

I have been a big supporter for years but,Thibs has got to go. I hope Knicks can bring in Budenholzer.

I don’t Mike budenholzer is the answer he did terrible with the suns . If the Knicks make a change at coach it’s either Taylor Jenkins or Mike Malone.

Don’t think Mike Malone is the answer either. He had similar issues as Thibs.

houston20 wrote:

Gudris wrote:Knicks got lucky by beating Boston, Knicks are not ready to win it all. Brusnon is too small and Kat too slow

We beat Boston fair and square there was no luck about that.

KP was not healthy.

Jalen Brown had a bad meniscus.

Tatum tore his Achilles.

That was not the same team we faced in the regular season.

Yes — making the conference finals is an accomplishment. Brunson continues to show he’s a generational talent and a true leader. Beating the Celtics was a statement win.

But it’s hard to feel good about this series. We lost to the same Indiana team in seven games last year with essentially DDV and iHart. This time, we go out in six — with Bridges (who cost Siakam and three firsts) and KAT. That’s a step back.

It’s also tough to imagine we’ll ever have a healthier squad than this — with both KAT and OG available — and still, we couldn’t get it done.

KAT’s defense was a real issue. It wasn’t just a tactical liability — it looked like it drained the team mentally. That’s not something you can coach around.

ToddTT wrote:

houston20 wrote:

Gudris wrote:Knicks got lucky by beating Boston, Knicks are not ready to win it all. Brusnon is too small and Kat too slow

We beat Boston fair and square there was no luck about that.

KP was not healthy.

Jalen Brown had a bad meniscus.

Tatum tore his Achilles.

That was not the same team we faced in the regular season.

Health is always part of the equation. Hence all their efforts to keep this core good, but they clearly didn’t achieve it. Now they face huge changes.

That’s why you should never underestimate a playoff run. Last year we had huge health issues and in the end we thought we didn’t move forward because of it. This year we did so much better, yet still lost to the Pacers, not even being able to push to a Game 7.

The defeat of Boston can’t be underestimated, but the glaring issues shown against Indiana can’t be ignored either.

MS wrote:There are two ways to look at this.

Yes — making the conference finals is an accomplishment. Brunson continues to show he’s a generational talent and a true leader. Beating the Celtics was a statement win.

But it’s hard to feel good about this series. We lost to the same Indiana team in seven games last year with essentially DDV and iHart. This time, we go out in six — with Bridges (who cost Siakam and three firsts) and KAT. That’s a step back.

It’s also tough to imagine we’ll ever have a healthier squad than this — with both KAT and OG available — and still, we couldn’t get it done.

KAT’s defense was a real issue. It wasn’t just a tactical liability — it looked like it drained the team mentally. That’s not something you can coach around.

I’m not sure I agree. Shaq and joker to name a couple were not nimble on the perimeter or w switches. All 3 of the Celts bigs have their issues.

I get it that he’s an Achilles heel at the moment (JB too). But to me this is purely a coaching issue. How do you leverage strengths and mitigate weaknesses?

Chandler wrote:

MS wrote:There are two ways to look at this.

Yes — making the conference finals is an accomplishment. Brunson continues to show he’s a generational talent and a true leader. Beating the Celtics was a statement win.

But it’s hard to feel good about this series. We lost to the same Indiana team in seven games last year with essentially DDV and iHart. This time, we go out in six — with Bridges (who cost Siakam and three firsts) and KAT. That’s a step back.

It’s also tough to imagine we’ll ever have a healthier squad than this — with both KAT and OG available — and still, we couldn’t get it done.

KAT’s defense was a real issue. It wasn’t just a tactical liability — it looked like it drained the team mentally. That’s not something you can coach around.

I’m not sure I agree. Shaq and joker to name a couple were not nimble on the perimeter or w switches. All 3 of the Celts bigs have their issues.

I get it that he’s an Achilles heel at the moment (JB too). But to me this is purely a coaching issue. How do you leverage strengths and mitigate weaknesses?

It seems its not necessarily about his relative strengths or weaknesses, but about his teammates not knowing what he is going to do. You have to play with 5 guys together. OG as a help defender is incredible, but he can't help a guy who is not playing to the game plan.

VDesai wrote:The Katz article says it all....the team never consistently communicated well. Brunson is a bad defender, but if he follows his assignment and gets beat that is something you can work around. If you dont't know what the F KAT is doing out there you are scrambling. OG and Hart found themselves rotating to multiple players every posession all year.

Once in a while they would reset, or talent could overcome, but looking confused every 3rd or 4th game was reality.

Can you teach KAT discipline within the system after a full season and full offseason? What does he need for this to be a realistic possibility?

The one positive I can take from the answer is that maybe it isnt all a talent issue and they just need more chemistry. But I also question whether KAT can do it.

I have to read that article. Fortunately KAT is very smart and seems willing to sacrifice to win. hopefully with scheme and coaching we can solve that.

We just got beat by a team where their best player was also probably their weakest defender.

Everyone deserves blame. Love JB and I'll live and die with him but he was not good enough in the biggest game of the season last night and was outplayed by Haliburton in the series. His lack of defense was also a big reason why we lost. Not sure how this will ever get much better.

Same with KAT and the rest of the team. Simply not good enough, especially on defense. Indiana scored 4 layup's after made baskets! How does that happen? You cannot turn the ball over 18 times on the road in a game six! Points off turnovers was such a killer and we never adjusted or got better.

I feel bad for Hart but I'm also super pissed and disappointed with him. He's the heart and soul of the team but he was awful in this series. Mikal and OG weren't much better. They were brought here mostly for their defense and Haliburton and Siakim embarrassed them.

The only player I'm not really disappointed in is Mitch. He was ready and came to play and left it all out there.

Zebras sucked but we knew they would coming in. That phantom out of bounce call on Deuce's corner three killed our momentum but I don't think it matters.

Thibs got outcoached by Carlisle. No other way you can say it. Carlisle had every counter and answer. And maybe it's unfair and it's more on the players but I'm blaming Thibs the most for the third quarter issues. All season the team has come out unfocused and unprepared. I'd say that's mostly on Thibs and JB. We were down 4 and Indiana scored the first 9 points of the third. You kind of saw it coming too. And one of his biggest failures was not developing a two man game between JB and KAT.

It pains me to say this but give Indiana credit. They sent us home for the second straight season and we cannot use injuries as an excuse. It's also the fourth straight playoff series they have beaten us - 2000, 2013, 2024, 2025. They own us. Reggie Miller and Haliburton can mock us as much as they want. This season will be remembered for that game one choke. And it will define JB, KAT, Thibs and the rest of the team their entire careers until it doesn't. And there is only one way to get that off their back.