[ IMAGES: Images ON turn off | ACCOUNT: User Status is LOCKED why? ]

Playoff time!
Author Thread
martin
Posts: 80517
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
5/18/2026  9:22 AM
NY keeping it classy

Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
AUTOADVERT
NardDogNation
Posts: 27810
Alba Posts: 4
Joined: 5/7/2013
Member: #5555

5/18/2026  9:28 AM    LAST EDITED: 5/18/2026  9:40 AM
Chandler wrote:
NardDogNation wrote:Finals....here we come. Donovan Mitchell is streaky; James Harden is a bum and Mobley/Allen are soft. Knicks in 5!

IMO the key will be neutralizing Mobley/allen. We could dominate there but don’t need to; just don’t let them have field days. And after that don’t let Merrill, wade or strus have all star performances.

Media wants to talk about Mitchell but as you said he’s streaky. I’ll add that’s on offense. On defense he’s pretty reliably underwhelming.

Merrill was instrumental w his shooting and wade and strus had solid defensive assignments on Cade. I don’t think that formula translates to us but we’ll see

Strus does concern me (the rest doesn't). He'll have two good games every series, which is enough to swing one but I think his performance is context-dependent and that the Cavs - as a team- are lacking in that respect. They are soft, are inconsistent with their efforts, 3-point reliant and very vulnerable defensively at the point of attack. Lesser teams have a difficulty in exploiting those advantages but we are much better than anything they've faced.

Jarrett Allen had a quote a couple seasons ago about "not being ready for the bright lights" and I think the same can be said about the Cavs today as a whole. They have so much looming drama off the court that I think it will eventually fracture them from within, when under real pressure: (1)They are already in the second apron and know they can't keep this team together; (2) Harden is an impending free agent and well-established cancer if he doesn't get his way; (3) Mitchell is due for a big dollar extension they can't afford because of the apron...and has also been very non-commital, even if the Cavs can afford it; (4) Jarrett Allen forever being in trade rumors and the likeliest player to get dumped for cap flexibility. Teams with these many questions always end up imploding at some point.

NardDogNation
Posts: 27810
Alba Posts: 4
Joined: 5/7/2013
Member: #5555

5/18/2026  9:29 AM
Chandler wrote:
BlueKnickers wrote:
Chandler wrote:
Chandler wrote:
Chandler wrote:Anyone else watch the cavs game? At least to my eyes it cemented the notion we need to play fast against Detroit if we meet them. Brunson can’t walk it up.

That said I’m still sticking w my cavs upset pistons prediction. Allen and Mobley finally showed some fire and signs of life so we’ll see

Do I win a cookie, or do I have to wait until the end!

Kidding aside I mentioned during the early part of the Orlando series that it was apparent Detroit could give it out on D but couldn’t take it. Yes it would be nice to score on them but the key to victory was physical defense against them. Yesterday Cavs trapped Cade repeatedly. If we see Detroit instead of Cleveland we should keep this in mind and obviously have our own wrinkles to it

Where’s my cookie prize?

Let me guess, cookie is her nickname?

Well played, sir. Well played!

NardDogNation
Posts: 27810
Alba Posts: 4
Joined: 5/7/2013
Member: #5555

5/18/2026  9:37 AM
DLeethal wrote:I am a little uneasy with Cleveland tbh. I think in general Knicks fans are feeling too good about this one. They played their best game of the playoffs last night and have a lot of weapons to contain. They are also able to exploit Brunson/KAT on defense much better than Detroit could. I was rooting for Cleveland because I wanted home court, but I think we should be prepared for a real battle and not the easy road many are predicting.

Weapons that are fairly one-dimensional. I think Kenny Atkinson is an elite coach, whose schemes hide some of that but cannot eliminate them. The cornerstone of playoff basketball is to take away what your opponent can do well. The fact they have two sieve defensively in Mitchell and Harden means they are not stopping or even slowing anything down, which is especially bad when you consider that they have to play both big minutes across all their lineups. They are fatally flawed in my opinion and doomed before this series even begins. If we're healthy, I'm not concerned.

SergioNYK
Posts: 22978
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 10/8/2002
Member: #333
USA
5/18/2026  10:07 AM
I hope the players and even the fans have learned their lesson not to overlook or disrespect their opponent. And do not listen to the media or the odds makers cause they don't know anything. I remember we went into the ECF last season already planning our Finals trip and disrespected and overlooked Indiana and look what happened! Cannot take Cleveland lightly! They just won back to back games on road in Detroit!

This series will not be a easy or another Philadelphia and if we think it is, we're in a rude awakening!

Philc1
Posts: 29302
Alba Posts: 2
Joined: 9/2/2020
Member: #8897

5/18/2026  10:10 AM
martin wrote:NY keeping it classy

Quoting 2010 LeBron!?!

martin
Posts: 80517
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
5/18/2026  10:47 AM
Maybe not so good from your star player and the guy with the ball in his hands all the time

Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
martin
Posts: 80517
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
5/18/2026  10:53 AM
Also NY Spurs NBA Cup coincidence

Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
martin
Posts: 80517
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
5/18/2026  10:55 AM
Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
martin
Posts: 80517
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
5/18/2026  10:56 AM
Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
martin
Posts: 80517
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
5/18/2026  11:04 AM
Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
fitzfarm
Posts: 25301
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 10/28/2010
Member: #3285

5/18/2026  11:15 AM
I can’t believe we lucked out and get to play the Cavs. This is our year !! I watched every game of the Cavs vs pistons . And neither of these teams are on our level… it’s not even close the pistons offense went cold Harris was a no show in the last game .

Also both teams aren’t at our level of conditioning… both played way to much iso with our double team magic we will force the ball out of there stars hands . … for the Cavs, keep the ball out of Mitchell’s hands and they are toast. James harden is a shell of himself. The Cavs play extremely slow. We have the bigs that will dominate Allen . Cavs don’t Stand a chance !


Knicks in 4 !!

martin
Posts: 80517
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
5/18/2026  11:17 AM    LAST EDITED: 5/18/2026  11:18 AM
fitzfarm wrote:I can’t believe we lucked out and get to play the Cavs. This is our year !! I watched every game of the Cavs vs pistons . And neither of these teams are on our level… it’s not even close the pistons offense went cold Harris was a no show in the last game .

Also both teams aren’t at our level of conditioning… both played way to much iso with our double team magic we will force the ball out of there stars hands . … for the Cavs, keep the ball out of Mitchell’s hands and they are toast. James harden is a shell of himself. The Cavs play extremely slow. We have the bigs that will dominate Allen . Cavs don’t Stand a chance !


Knicks in 4 !!

Did you end up poking your eyes out like nearly everyone else or are you just into the self harm stuff?

Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
martin
Posts: 80517
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
5/18/2026  11:30 AM    LAST EDITED: 5/18/2026  12:03 PM
Lin is a Randle hater is what I got from this

Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
Philc1
Posts: 29302
Alba Posts: 2
Joined: 9/2/2020
Member: #8897

5/18/2026  11:59 AM
martin wrote:Lin is a Randle hater is what I got from this

Probably also a low key FU to Melo who was Randle before Randle.

Nalod
Posts: 72205
Alba Posts: 155
Joined: 12/24/2003
Member: #508
USA
5/18/2026  1:02 PM
NardDogNation wrote:
Chandler wrote:
NardDogNation wrote:Finals....here we come. Donovan Mitchell is streaky; James Harden is a bum and Mobley/Allen are soft. Knicks in 5!

IMO the key will be neutralizing Mobley/allen. We could dominate there but don’t need to; just don’t let them have field days. And after that don’t let Merrill, wade or strus have all star performances.

Media wants to talk about Mitchell but as you said he’s streaky. I’ll add that’s on offense. On defense he’s pretty reliably underwhelming.

Merrill was instrumental w his shooting and wade and strus had solid defensive assignments on Cade. I don’t think that formula translates to us but we’ll see

Strus does concern me (the rest doesn't). He'll have two good games every series, which is enough to swing one but I think his performance is context-dependent and that the Cavs - as a team- are lacking in that respect. They are soft, are inconsistent with their efforts, 3-point reliant and very vulnerable defensively at the point of attack. Lesser teams have a difficulty in exploiting those advantages but we are much better than anything they've faced.

Jarrett Allen had a quote a couple seasons ago about "not being ready for the bright lights" and I think the same can be said about the Cavs today as a whole. They have so much looming drama off the court that I think it will eventually fracture them from within, when under real pressure: (1)They are already in the second apron and know they can't keep this team together; (2) Harden is an impending free agent and well-established cancer if he doesn't get his way; (3) Mitchell is due for a big dollar extension they can't afford because of the apron...and has also been very non-commital, even if the Cavs can afford it; (4) Jarrett Allen forever being in trade rumors and the likeliest player to get dumped for cap flexibility. Teams with these many questions always end up imploding at some point.

They survived two game 7's in a row. Thats not imploading. They look "Disinterested", but one can say they look cool?
The issues of free agency, extensions, trade rumors.....all are not relevant now. They are dialed in as best they can.
Knicks are favored and I agree. I expected knicks and Cleveland to have been best in the east all season long and here we are in the ECF's fulfilling the logic. Detroit and Boston defied it and to their credit had great seasons. Pistons and their fans Im sure are a bit dissapointed but that team goes further each of the last two years!

This very well could be our run. OG needs to be his best self and have to hope that hammy holds up. He needs to manhandle Mobley and were him out. I expect this. On defense he is quick enough and long to give Kat some problems. Mobley and Allen are a bit wiser than two years ago. Kat was not here. With Mitch was have size advantage.

Chandler
Posts: 27053
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 11/26/2015
Member: #6197

5/18/2026  1:40 PM
Philc1 wrote:
martin wrote:Lin is a Randle hater is what I got from this

Probably also a low key FU to Melo who was Randle before Randle.

Lin is right. And that energy translates to D. Everyone starts playing for each other.

I got a chuckle out of the Melo Randle comment but a bit of an over statement IMO. Yes once he committed to a drive there was tunnel vision, but Melo always had tunnel vision

(5)(7)
Rookie
Posts: 27365
Alba Posts: 28
Joined: 10/15/2008
Member: #2274

5/18/2026  2:37 PM
Detroit really choked. They were starting to whine about the refs again just like last year when we kicked their ass. Have fun in Cancun bitches
markvmc
Posts: 22118
Alba Posts: 3
Joined: 1/6/2008
Member: #1797

5/18/2026  5:46 PM
martin wrote:Ha

Loser, surely?

markvmc
Posts: 22118
Alba Posts: 3
Joined: 1/6/2008
Member: #1797

5/18/2026  5:50 PM    LAST EDITED: 5/18/2026  5:50 PM
Not sure what to make of Cleveland. I only watched the last two games of the series (and game 7 of their first round series). They seem even more Jekyl and Hyde than we are (though for now, we seem to have solved that issue). I couldn't believe I was watching the same team last night as in game 6. Game 7 Cavs will give us all we can handle, and maybe more. Game 6 Cavs, we sweep.
Playoff time!

©2001-2025 ultimateknicks.comm All rights reserved. About Us.
This site is not affiliated with the NY Knicks or the National Basketball Association in any way.
You may visit the official NY Knicks web site by clicking here.

All times (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time.

Terms of Use and Privacy Policy