For sims to play, you decrease our centers value and I agree with that. So make a simple trade, shouldnt be hard to make room for sims.

blkexec wrote:So let’s move this back to my point. Duece and sims. We need a PG correct? I agree sitting Kemba will hurt his value maybe but everybody knows what Kemba brings.

For sims to play, you decrease our centers value and I agree with that. So make a simple trade, shouldnt be hard to make room for sims.

I do think the Knicks need to hold the line until at least the trade deadline. Mitch getting more minutes is a very good thing. I would love more Jericho but can sorta see why Taj getting minutes. Jericho looks real nice on alley oops and putback dunks, but what do we know about his defensive organization or PnR defense or weak side help? That's where he needs to grow and see how Taj does things. I do like him long term though.

nyvector16 wrote:Crazy we are still in limbo on a point guard and have to suffer through games without a playmaker and we have McBride sitting at the end of the bench doing nothing.

I would love to be wrong but I don't think he is ready yet. He will show flashes but I think with hard work next year he can make the jump. I am for giving him some time but he will be inconsistent.

martin wrote:

blkexec wrote:I think thibs messed up by pulling Kemba out of the rotation so early. Now it’s going to be difficult to do that again. So duece may not get his chance.

Martin where we disagree, is making the playoffs is better for duece development than duece actually playing meaningful minutes in an nba game. I disagree with that.

But for the most part I agree with everything else without going into a long reply.

Just to be sure: Making playoffs is better for Knicks team development, better for RJ and Randle and IQ and Mitch and Grimes development and has nothing to do with Duece.

Cause we all know Thibs ain't giving him minutes in playoffs

martin wrote:didn't realize he shot so poorly to go along with the 16 assists

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://twitter.com/EDemirNBA/status/1484181924658565121

Yes, he's not perfect and thats an issue he needs to address. I could create the same issues with RJ on his Turnovers. Same with Randle. My point is, even the vets on this team are far from perfect. At some point, we need to sit the vets and release the deuce / sims. When? I don't know. Just frustrating to watch these vets perform less than expected.

blkexec wrote:So let’s move this back to my point. Duece and sims. We need a PG correct? I agree sitting Kemba will hurt his value maybe but everybody knows what Kemba brings.

For sims to play, you decrease our centers value and I agree with that. So make a simple trade, shouldnt be hard to make room for sims.

Who would you trade a Kemba for? What makes you think Deuce is the answer? You would think Thibs would have given him some minutes with Rose and Kemba out if he did.

HofstraBBall wrote:

blkexec wrote:So let’s move this back to my point. Duece and sims. We need a PG correct? I agree sitting Kemba will hurt his value maybe but everybody knows what Kemba brings.

For sims to play, you decrease our centers value and I agree with that. So make a simple trade, shouldnt be hard to make room for sims.

Who would you trade a Kemba for? What makes you think Deuce is the answer? You would think Thibs would have given him some minutes with Rose and Kemba out if he did.

Don't know. What I do know is Kemba is a short term rental. And we can't find out if Duece is the answer if he's at the end of the bench or playing in the G league, and not get NBA minutes. But Thibs played his card too early by removing Kemba from the rotation. I would've waited until it was clear that we are not going to make much noise in the playoffs. With Kemba or with Deuce, I believe our record will not change. Kemba is in and out of the rotation anyway. At lease Deuce will get some NBA experience. In both scenarios, with our without Kemba, we are losing in the first round (if we even make the playoffs). How does that help this kids development by sitting on the bench or playing against non NBA players for the rest of the season?

blkexec wrote:

HofstraBBall wrote:

blkexec wrote:So let’s move this back to my point. Duece and sims. We need a PG correct? I agree sitting Kemba will hurt his value maybe but everybody knows what Kemba brings.

For sims to play, you decrease our centers value and I agree with that. So make a simple trade, shouldnt be hard to make room for sims.

Who would you trade a Kemba for? What makes you think Deuce is the answer? You would think Thibs would have given him some minutes with Rose and Kemba out if he did.

Don't know. What I do know is Kemba is a short term rental. And we can't find out if Duece is the answer if he's at the end of the bench or playing in the G league, and not get NBA minutes. But Thibs played his card too early by removing Kemba from the rotation. I would've waited until it was clear that we are not going to make much noise in the playoffs. With Kemba or with Deuce, I believe our record will not change. Kemba is in and out of the rotation anyway. At lease Deuce will get some NBA experience. In both scenarios, with our without Kemba, we are losing in the first round (if we even make the playoffs). How does that help this kids development by sitting on the bench or playing against non NBA players for the rest of the season?

I do not think that Thib's job is to "Develop" second-round picks. Nor is it to give those players minutes, if not earned. His job is to win games. At least until the Knicks are out of the playoffs. Maybe that is when "hopefuls" can get some experience. Thibs is playing the guys he feels gives him the best chance to win. Unfortunately, that is not Deuce.

Agree that Kemba is a short-term rental. So did Rose and Thibs given the minor investment. Also agree that he was taken out of the rotation too early. But to be fair, defensive stats showed a lot of concern and Kemba was having trouble blending in. In any case, it seems to have had a positive effect on his play. So that is a positive.

In terms of who can Kemba be traded for, do not think it will be the type of player that can go on a shooting streak like we saw the last few games from Kemba. Nor have I seen anyone on the trading block that is considerably better. Think the Knicks were hoping that someone would be selling at this point. But just do not see anyone worth giving up assets for. Pacers are rumored to want Fox in Sabonis trade. Fox a kid shooting 25% from three? Brunson will be available in the summer so why trade assets now? And to be honest, feel he is one of those players that will not live up to expectations or his new costly deal. Watch a lot of Mavs ball. He disappears for long stretches. Good energy and penetrates well but have not seen enough to justify his predicted contract. Fans here got to see him recently and I am sure were expecting much more. Lavert is available f=but rumor has it they are asking for a 1st and a good young player. Is he worth that? Maybe but not a guarantee to get back to the way he was playing on the Nets. Definitely do not want us blowing up the roster and sending several picks for guys like Simmons or Wall. Think that is the Knicks of the past.

blkexec wrote:I guess I'm on an island with this topic, but I never understood why the knicks continue to play vets towards the end of the season, when we clearly have nothing to fight for.

Come on man.

Did the Knicks not have anything to fight for last year while at 25-27 overall and two games below .500 (after 52 games); before finishing 10 games above .500 and an Eastern Conference 4th seed?

We still have plenty to fight for here in the Eastern Conference and more importantly is giving our trio of R.J. Barrett/Julius Randle/Coach Thibs an opportunity to redeem themselves come postseason play and this time alongside of Mitchell Robinson (because Atlanta doesn't eliminate us round 1 with Mitchell Robinson as our starting Center).

And it would be awesome for the likes of Immanuel Quickley/Quentin Grimes/Obi Toppin to gain playoff experience because NBA stars can only become born come postseason play.

Nothing left to fight for? Come on man.

Knicks are only...

▪︎ 7.0 games back of Chicago for the 1st seed (who've lost 4/5 games).

▪︎ 7.0 games back of Miami Heat for the 2nd seed (who I'm still not sold on being able to keep it up).

▪︎ 6.5 games behind Brooklyn for the 3rd seed (who's now without Kevin Durant for a long time + Kyrie Irving (during BKs home games and will soon fall off the map because of it).

▪︎ Only 5.0 games back of the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks for the 4th seed.

▪︎ Only 4.5 games back of Philadelphia for the 5th seed.

▪︎ And only 4.5 games back of the 6th seed Cleveland Cavaliers (with still another 2 games against them head to head).

There is still plenty for NYK to fight for and it's up to our players to fight for it because we're only 1 game below .500 after 45 games (and with still another 37 games renaming within a jam packed Eastern Conference).

We're literally a 5 game winning streak away from making noise while climbing up the Eastern Conference Standings.