ToddTT wrote:Obi going for 50 tonight.

I didn’t flinch when we moved Obi for 2 seconds because we were kind of programmed it was going to go down for cap space and Thibs kind of kept him in a defined box.

I have to say I could not be more proud of Obi for how he has continued to evolve and improve his game.

This was a skinny 6’8” kid who played as a center for small school and really couldn’t shoot from range early on.

Today Obi is showing a lightening quick release from 3 with a high rate of success and the kid is defending and playing more physical around the rim - defending, rebounding in traffic.

Maybe most underrated part of his game is he is a low turnover guy who can expedite the ball up the floor without constant TO’s - he’s super safe with the ball.

He’s better with the ball than all 3 of our starting wings —- not even an argument in that point as our guys need a knife and fork to dribble.

- if they win chip hopefully they get full of themselves and let Knicks sneak past them next year
- everyone on OKC outside Shae/J-Will appear to have shrunk in the finals
- don’t want OKC to go on 4-5 year finals run
- Indy playing this well makes me realize they played us tough - they are a far more disciplined and balanced team than Knicks were this year

Don’t think we can run this back and only add 2 vet mins and new coach and beat these teams regardless of game 1 collapse

LivingLegend wrote:

ToddTT wrote:Obi going for 50 tonight.

I didn’t flinch when we moved Obi for 2 seconds because we were kind of programmed it was going to go down for cap space and Thibs kind of kept him in a defined box.

I have to say I could not be more proud of Obi for how he has continued to evolve and improve his game.

This was a skinny 6’8” kid who played as a center for small school and really couldn’t shoot from range early on.

Today Obi is showing a lightening quick release from 3 with a high rate of success and the kid is defending and playing more physical around the rim - defending, rebounding in traffic.

Maybe most underrated part of his game is he is a low turnover guy who can expedite the ball up the floor without constant TO’s - he’s super safe with the ball.

He’s better with the ball than all 3 of our starting wings —- not even an argument in that point as our guys need a knife and fork to dribble.

For a guy who doesn't really put the ball on the floor that often or attempt to create for others his Turnover rate isn't exceptional. His primary scoring is finishing and catch and shoot - he dribbles less on average than most wings and he rarely ends an action with an assist, so that's gonna keep his opportunity for turnovers low.

That said the 3 point shooting is what is impressing me as he's so much more confident in his shot and the way that he takes it then he ever was in New York. In fact so is every player on the Pacers. Even Tony Bradley let a few 3's fly vs. us and Thomas Bryant of all people smoked us in Game 6. This is what happens when you play 10-12 guys and give them a green light and trust them in any kind of spot. Obi undoubtedly was never allowed to have that kind of leash by Thibs and that certainly held back his development (at his deteriment for sure, but probably not the team's). He was not the right fit in terms of playing style for this team and we were never gonna pay his next contract (BTW Indy may not afford to be able to keep him either and keep Turner), but going to Indy was the best thing for his own personal development and career and he has fit right into their style of trying to make quick actions and catch teams in transition because of the quickness of passing/shooting decisions.

Almost every player these days needs to be a threat from the Corner 3. Almost everyone can shoot it these days, so they just need to be empowered with the green light. Thibs was never gonna play that way, but look at the way that these other teams hurt you when you are swaming on D with every player's willingness to shoot out there.

Nalod wrote:Pre OG/KAT/Mikal Knicks with Thibs was not a good fit for Obi.
He could not bring what was needed for that team.
Perhaps two years later with our current roster and another coach we can look at him in the finals on a team within one game of the ultimate and retreat.

Maybe there really this inside the knick organization not all thrilled to see what transpired with OBI and Thibs. To his credit, OBI might have also tightened up his game some also. Thibs does get dudes paid and perhaps a part of OBI knows he was right about some things. It happens.
As said, I'd be happy for Herb Simon and Obi if Pacers win. Not for that fanbase.

Now if Hali wins on a buzzer beater we all just gonna have to live with it. Not saying you have to like it. LOL........
If they lose and he misses that last shot y'all go to town and rejoice on his misfortune. I get it. Obi will be fine and the Herb Simon still has his vast empire to keep him distracted. We can all fawn over Presti's genius and how we can model the Thunder. As for iHart, lets just say that whomever locked in on him for 8mm per as a knick did a great job and gets major Kudo's. Shame he over shot his value but it's a not a failure we could not retain him. A very bittersweet situation.

If Thunder loses he goes home, counts his money again with his honey of a wife and their baby.

Are you not entertained by this finals? Game 7!!!!!!

You don't need to many brain cells to see that Obi demanded a trade from the Knicks. His relationship with Thibs unrepairable.

I'm in the 'I don't really care who wins' camp. This has been one of the most boring matchups for me and I struggle to watch for more than 10 minutes without losing interest. Heck, I looked up how to watch WNBA and tried to watch the Liberty game which was only slightly less boring.

martin wrote:

VDesai wrote:Fuck Indy--- them going 7 I think does whatever I needed to feel like the Knicks didn't totally blow it. Pacers were damn good and are playing at a very high level. Haliburton's stupid "no-look" passes after he's seen a guy who's wide open and then des stupid pirhouette afterwords can go to hell. I think Thunder will run them in Game 7 and Hali will go down with his calf "injury" in the 3rd. Good series/season with a fair amount of surprises and some crazy shotmaking all through the playoffs.

Ha +100

I hear you guys BUT I only wish we had someone who loved to pass and could pass like Hali.

Hell it's possible only 2 guys we've ever had who could really pass were M-Jackson and broken down J-Kidd.

Hali is annoying as hell but he's got some quick ass feet, see's the whole court and isn't afraid to pass the ball.

The steal, the save on the sideline, the fast break pass to Siakim and the subsequent dunk would have had 99% of Knick fans wetting themselves if that was Jalen/OG.

VDesai wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:

ToddTT wrote:Obi going for 50 tonight.

I didn’t flinch when we moved Obi for 2 seconds because we were kind of programmed it was going to go down for cap space and Thibs kind of kept him in a defined box.

I have to say I could not be more proud of Obi for how he has continued to evolve and improve his game.

This was a skinny 6’8” kid who played as a center for small school and really couldn’t shoot from range early on.

Today Obi is showing a lightening quick release from 3 with a high rate of success and the kid is defending and playing more physical around the rim - defending, rebounding in traffic.

Maybe most underrated part of his game is he is a low turnover guy who can expedite the ball up the floor without constant TO’s - he’s super safe with the ball.

He’s better with the ball than all 3 of our starting wings —- not even an argument in that point as our guys need a knife and fork to dribble.

For a guy who doesn't really put the ball on the floor that often or attempt to create for others his Turnover rate isn't exceptional. His primary scoring is finishing and catch and shoot - he dribbles less on average than most wings and he rarely ends an action with an assist, so that's gonna keep his opportunity for turnovers low.

That said the 3 point shooting is what is impressing me as he's so much more confident in his shot and the way that he takes it then he ever was in New York. In fact so is every player on the Pacers. Even Tony Bradley let a few 3's fly vs. us and Thomas Bryant of all people smoked us in Game 6. This is what happens when you play 10-12 guys and give them a green light and trust them in any kind of spot. Obi undoubtedly was never allowed to have that kind of leash by Thibs and that certainly held back his development (at his deteriment for sure, but probably not the team's). He was not the right fit in terms of playing style for this team and we were never gonna pay his next contract (BTW Indy may not afford to be able to keep him either and keep Turner), but going to Indy was the best thing for his own personal development and career and he has fit right into their style of trying to make quick actions and catch teams in transition because of the quickness of passing/shooting decisions.

Almost every player these days needs to be a threat from the Corner 3. Almost everyone can shoot it these days, so they just need to be empowered with the green light. Thibs was never gonna play that way, but look at the way that these other teams hurt you when you are swaming on D with every player's willingness to shoot out there.

Fair enough on the TO rate but it's hard to argue that Obi has not looked great off the Pacer bench.

He's had enough big moments to be as impactful as anybody (including Caruso) coming off OKC bench.

ramtour420 wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:

martin wrote:

VDesai wrote:Fuck Indy--- them going 7 I think does whatever I needed to feel like the Knicks didn't totally blow it. Pacers were damn good and are playing at a very high level. Haliburton's stupid "no-look" passes after he's seen a guy who's wide open and then des stupid pirhouette afterwords can go to hell. I think Thunder will run them in Game 7 and Hali will go down with his calf "injury" in the 3rd. Good series/season with a fair amount of surprises and some crazy shotmaking all through the playoffs.

Ha +100

I hear you guys BUT I only wish we had someone who loved to pass and could pass like Hali.

Hell it's possible only 2 guys we've ever had who could really pass were M-Jackson and broken down J-Kidd.

Hali is annoying as hell but he's got some quick ass feet, see's the whole court and isn't afraid to pass the ball.

The steal, the save on the sideline, the fast break pass to Siakim and the subsequent dunk would have had 99% of Knick fans wetting themselves if that was Jalen/OG.

Ironically, we have a guy on the team that loves to pass and not only can he pass like Hali but can pass better than Hali. But he cannot ISO so he was useless for Thibs

Kolek?

ramtour420 wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:

martin wrote:

VDesai wrote:Fuck Indy--- them going 7 I think does whatever I needed to feel like the Knicks didn't totally blow it. Pacers were damn good and are playing at a very high level. Haliburton's stupid "no-look" passes after he's seen a guy who's wide open and then des stupid pirhouette afterwords can go to hell. I think Thunder will run them in Game 7 and Hali will go down with his calf "injury" in the 3rd. Good series/season with a fair amount of surprises and some crazy shotmaking all through the playoffs.

Ha +100

I hear you guys BUT I only wish we had someone who loved to pass and could pass like Hali.

Hell it's possible only 2 guys we've ever had who could really pass were M-Jackson and broken down J-Kidd.

Hali is annoying as hell but he's got some quick ass feet, see's the whole court and isn't afraid to pass the ball.

The steal, the save on the sideline, the fast break pass to Siakim and the subsequent dunk would have had 99% of Knick fans wetting themselves if that was Jalen/OG.

Ironically, we have a guy on the team that loves to pass and not only can he pass like Hali but can pass better than Hali. But he cannot ISO so he was useless for Thibs

Kolek height/length/quickness and almost total lack of a right-hand are all major detriments to his passing -- don't think he's in the ball park with Hali myself.

I do like Kolek -- need to see him diversify his offense more outside of taking open 3's and having to finish in traffic at the rim with his left hand. Needs to add floater, needs to add mid-range and 100% needs to use right hand more often. He does have a great feel for passing the ball - not knocking him on that front.

LETS GOOOOO OKC!! But I have a feeling this will end with the Hicks winning it. It's been their year and they kind of deserve it if I'm being honest. Hope I'm wrong.