I would like to separate panic from concern.
Panic about this team? Not really, not even last year before the magical run in the playoffs. We knew and we know there is serious talent here and we knew and know that they have the potential to click and be unstoppable.
Now, concerns? ALWAYS KNICKS! Last year they proved to have periods of lack of discipline and focus, immaturity if you will. But the ceiling was higher than we all anticipated, and when they reached for it, it was glorious. But this is still a flawed team mentally and they are really showing it out of the gate.
I think Mike Brown and the staff made a decision to keep the KAT-centered offense mostly hidden until next postseason. This has reverted us back to Brunson ball and he hasn’t been in his clutch game yet, so we have yet to win. Can they keep KAT in the doghouse all season? Don’t think so.
I’m sorry, Im gonna say it: I’m just not a fan of Bridges. His hole tenure with us Ive tried to. When he is on, he is a two-way weapon that becomes the real X-factor. But that is not the norm, and his norm is just unplayable. I would root for him if he still tried everytime, pulled through and made his impact even on bad days. But this guy is a bad day most of the time. The “F’em picks” is cool because we won a ring and that already makes the deal worth it, but he is such a disappearing act most of the nights that I can’t see us being a perennial contender without having him traded at some point. A slow start is one thing, but this is a trend.
I love this team. Loved them through the ups and downs of last season and obviously feel amazing that they went on to become champions. It was glorious and we can still rave on all of it. But this is 26-27 and counting preseason, this team is still partying and celebrating while the rest of the league went back to work. Its just 0-3, but it can definitely get worse and as the champs, everyone will get their act together to measure up against you, so no game is a gimme. This team being prone to losing focus, they haven’t internalized it. Nobody.
They need to get their s’t together if they want to make this a respectable title defense. Everyone is gonna play their best against them.