A month to go before the playoffs and I can't say I feel optimistic about this team.

But the effort and focus defensively in that first quarter was abysmal! I credit Brown for not losing it on them cause I wouldn't sent them all back to the locker room. We settled down after that crap and chipped away little by little down 21. That's now two games recently where Clarkson had his fingerprints all over a game. We wouldn't have won in Utah and we wouldn't have won last night without him. And we went 22/23 from the line which was critical. Mikal continues to struggle but he hit another big three to take the lead and had 2 blocks and 1 key steal. Diawara struggled but you get those games from a rookie from time to time.

A win is a win but we got a month before the playoffs and this team has a long way to go if they want to be legit contenders. And it's not necessarily a lack of talent. It's the little things. It's focus, attention to detail, leadership and a sense of urgency. Maybe this group just doesn't have the intangibles. We'll find out cause unless things drastically change, I'm honestly leaning towards an early elimination. But what do I know? Maybe they are coasting and bored and will turn it up a notch or two in the playoffs and none of this matters.

SergioNYK wrote:On one end, you're frustrated with the slow starts to these games and the lack of leadership and focus but on the other end, you give kudos for the resiliency and effort coming back and winning.

But the effort and focus defensively in that first quarter was abysmal! I credit Brown for not losing it on them cause I wouldn't sent them all back to the locker room. We settled down after that crap and chipped away little by little down 21. That's now two games recently where Clarkson had his fingerprints all over a game. We wouldn't have won in Utah and we wouldn't have won last night without him. And we went 22/23 from the line which was critical. Mikal continues to struggle but he hit another big three to take the lead and had 2 blocks and 1 key steal. Diawara struggled but you get those games from a rookie from time to time.

A win is a win but we got a month before the playoffs and this team has a long way to go if they want to be legit contenders. And it's not necessarily a lack of talent. It's the little things. It's focus, attention to detail, leadership and a sense of urgency. Maybe this group just doesn't have the intangibles. We'll find out cause unless things drastically change, I'm honestly leaning towards an early elimination. But what do I know? Maybe they are coasting and bored and will turn it up a notch or two in the playoffs and none of this matters.

Both Brickage and Shamet went 3 for 10. Clarkson was the only "shooting guard" who could shoot last night. I think he's legit worked his way back into the lineup

SergioNYK wrote:A win is a win but that was a lucky win.

A month to go before the playoffs and I can't say I feel optimistic about this team.

Knicks are now 1 game out of the 2 seed that’s all that matters.

nycericanguy wrote:Jose does not deserve to be playing over Kolek right now.

I half agree but Towns resurgence is the single most important thing for this team heading into the post season and for whatever reason he never clicked with Kolek. Maybe that's a coincidence, but Koleksanity had him reminiscing about the Cam Payne days in postgames. Since Jose entered the mix, Towns has played much better, and we surged to a top 5 defense. I don't think that is all a coincidence.