BlueKnickers wrote:Nalod wrote:KAT not getting his this year?
Its an interesting situation as he did not missout by very much. His numbers were down, his fouls up and perhaps the voters understood the some of the behind the scene issues? Not calling him out spefically but the team has had its ups and downs. Brunson has been brilliant but if there was a "Playoff MVP" and making others better was a key component one might argue he gets props. He has unlocked Mikal and to some extent an even better version of Brunson. The domino effect also had OG as our best player before he got hurt.
So we are reading KAT went to coach after 3 games vs. ATL and asked to be the "Hub"? Credit Kat but the true genius is when a coach can get a player to have that moment of clairty and buy in! When that occurs the team is doing it themselves. Brunson life got a bit easier and his ego was never the issues blocking it. The results speak for themselves!
KAT regular season vs. playoff KAT perhaps would have the vote a bit different. If it motivates KAT a bit more so be it.
Lets get thru Cav's in one piece and hope SAS/OCK beat each other into a pulp.
Cav's are an experienced group I expect to not fold in game 4 unless knicks really hand them an insurmountable situation.
I started to think about whom would be considered our current MVP and while Brunson is probably leading that list, what stands out is how good all of them are playing.
The more they play like a team, the more their strengths get spotlighted.
The one player whom the spotlight has really intensified on is Mikal. His strengths are on display and he has been spectacular as a lead defender and opportunistic scorer.
KAT may be getting slightly overlooked, because the refinements to his game are not in your face. In some cases, KAT's improvements are a result of doing less of what he was doing before and becoming more attentive to everyone around him. Putting him at the center of the offense was the critical adjustment for both him and the team.
Kat at some point upped his defense bymoving his feet. Maybe needed better conditioning? Maybe there was a call out by his mates and he took it to heart and showed love by responding? Good things.
Leading the NBA in fouls takes him off the court and that not good.
So many pieces that fit over a season.
Maybe a story from last year which statistically was really good for KAT and he got along well enough with Thibs on the surface but at sometime the taskmaster that he was wanted more and more from KAT and others? Or was he not calling out Kat enough and that bugged out Mikal? So many things to consider.
"Do your ****ing jobs" by mike brown has a lot behind it then perhaps we are privy too. I'd almost guarantee it! We can throw out enought theories to chock even the most ardent conspiracy theorists but results are what matters.
As for Atkinson? Cav's have 20k people coming to the game tonite and many paid big money to get in the door. They are no doubt disappointed and perhaps a bit angry? Thats a lot on Kenny and perhaps an owner breathing down his neck who coughed up the big money for this team, the taxes, and maybe he is a bit ill and wants a chip before he moves on to the big mortgage in the sky!
Likewise we read Dolan is a hands off kind of guy but he too might be a bit insistant on his FO and staff to get this done!
5/24/2026 6:16 PM