martin wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:him coming back has been illuminating

I had mistakenly thought our 'Big 3' was Randle, Brunson, Barrett... it really is Randle, Brunson, Robinson. I think of RJ as more of a wildcard these days

Never thought about it that way and you prob right

This season feeling more to me like Randle/Brunson/Quickley.

• Our best Rim Protector.
• Our best Shot Blocker.
• Our best Offensive Rebounder.
• Our best Rebounder.
• Our best Offensive finisher down low.
• Our most valuable Defensive Anchor for Coach Thibs.

And now @ the age of still only 24 he's now coming into his own but yet still scratching the NBA surface @ only 24 and on the verge of gaining postseason experience;

Because Stars are born in the Playoffs.

He's the perfect type of Center to fight both Joel Embiid and Greek Freak down low come postseason play.

gradyandrew wrote:

NYKMentality wrote:He's the perfect type of Center to fight both Joel Embiid and Greek Freak down low come postseason play.

That's the big question. I think defensively Knicks can harass Embiid and Harden enough but I think Milwaukee will be the team to beat in the playoffs.

That’s the thing about guys like Embiid and Giannis. You can harass them, but they are big enough, skilled enough to still get buckets. We can turn them both into jumpshooters. And that’s the plan. But at that point you are just playing eFG game - you need the higher points per possession. And we can have that, most of the time.

Brunson thrives in the mid range and gets to the line through deception.

Randle can get forced to becoming a jump shooter, lately he’s been getting a toe into the box before jump shooting. His 3 has been there for him though and it’s been creating leads early.

Barrett is getting into the paint but taking a while to get there and then has settled for some mediocre shots once he’s there. His 3 is feast or famine. From an eFG/ points per possession, we blow teams out on Barrett’s good nights and are fighting for a win on his bad nights.

Mitch is our savior, when these guys put up clangers, he creates additional possessions for the Knicks. I don’t know if he can do much more to work on his mobility while keeping this bulk, but man does he turn shots less than 8 feet into lower eFG shots and he creates additional offensive opportunities. Throw in that he rarely takes a bad shot (I know the criticism that if he had more in his arsenal we would be better), but he stays plus cause he can’t have a bad game. His line is always 5/5 or 7/7. He is like bonus eFG to everyone’s shot. Unless he gets fouled. Then whoever missed just missed.

Harden can get harassed but will kill you with assists. I don’t think his stamina is great though. I think you just have to make him work on defense. He’ll sputter out. I’m playing Grimes man up on him and taking away his assists by cutting off passing lanes instead of doubling him. Could be painful, but my money is on Grimes’s young legs.

martin wrote:

Philc1 wrote:How did Mitch improve? He already became an elite defensive center 3 years ago

He wasn't though, he was an elite athlete who made some spectacular blocks.

You do not see that difference?

Mitch has been an elite defensive center since his rookie year. His issue was fouls.

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