smackeddog wrote:Bulls win, Hawks win:

1. cavs: 8-26

2. Suns: 8-26

3. Knicks: 9-25

4. Bulls: 9-25

5. Hawks: 9-23

6. Wiz: 13-21

The January schedule is brutal. May very well have the worst record in the league by Feb.

SupremeCommander wrote:

smackeddog wrote:Nice night- Hawks win, Cavs win. Latest tank standings:

1. Suns: 7-24 14% chance of the top pick

2. Bulls: 7-24 14% chance of the top pick

3. Hawks: 7-23 14% chance of the top pick

4. cavs: 8-23 12.5% chance of the top pick

5. Knicks: 9-23 10.5% chance of the top pick

6. Wiz: 12-19 9% chance of the top pick

To be honest, it's hard to see us finishing with a worse record than any of the teams who currently have a worse record than us, but I definitely don't want to finish in a worse slot than we currently are. The main worry is that the odds of a team overtaking you in the draft are much higher this year, so I'd probably expect to fall at least 2 spots when it comes to the draft (so if we finish 5th, prepare to pick 7th or 8th).

For me, it's easy to see us finishing with the worst record. Who do we have that's actively playing that's better than Ayton or Booker? Who do we have that's active and better than Markkanen or LaVine? How about Nance Jr, Thompson, or Love? The Hawks are the only team I would expect to finish worse than us but John Collins looks pretty damned good and I could see Trae Young hitting 100 40' 3pt'ers in a week, so I could see a scenario where they top our record

Funny we finally decide to tank after they shaved the odds

I'm sceptical because at the end of the day, when the chips are down and we're heading into the last stretch of the season, those teams will all tank shamelessly, while we won't

So while it's nice to think about a shiny-new top of the lottery pick, it's far short of being magic. Personally I'm super conflicted about it because i think it creates conflicted message to the team

Trying to be an optimist, I'll stick to the notion that there is some secret system and plan for our team and that Fizdale is either somehow developing individual skills or doing some Karate Kid-**** waiting for a more opportune time (e.g., next season) to reveal that he actually has an offensive and defensive system and strategy (sorry I'm disqualifying a zone defense).

Also I hope people disillusion themselves about a big FA signing. While everyone would be psyched with a prime FA we all have to consider that the top guys will make max money wherever they go. Unless KP comes back this season and shows he is a big deal still, there is very little incentive for a top FA to join this hot mess. NY will have higher taxes and at least a historically dysfunctional chain of command (with the current FO probably rated as unclear). (FWIW this is perfectly fine by me. I think were at least a few years away from reasonably thinking a big FA will push us to where we all want to be)

If the Knicks wanted my advice it would be to focus on winning ways moreso than wins. If for example they honestly feel having Kanter and Mudiay playing starting minutes is teaching the rest of the team to play the right way then so be it. If they think it will add to wins but not the development of the other team members then it's a bad choice.

right now i find a huge number of their decisions so perplexing i think we have actually regressed from Hornacek and Fisher. The only thing that gives me real hope is a number of their players who i just think play with the right professionalism or passion: KP, Frank [though he's been disappointing, i think he would thrive with a better coach], Knox, Mitch, Trier, dotson, Vonleh, even Kornet to a certain degree. Everyone else i think is too old for our time line or simply does not play "winning" basketball.

Also think consistency is key. Whether that’s based on minutes. Time of the game or even the criteria to go to the dog house. I feel all of that is as helter skelter as the lineups

Our philosophy if any seems to be like Miami’s in short effort and iso. We’ll do as well as they do (ie meh) unless and until we get a team stacked w me don and wade level talent

John wooden used to begin a season teaching guys how to put their socks on and tie their shoes — the idea being if you don’t do that right you get blisters. You get blisters and you don’t move right or miss practice and so on

The great ones think about that stuff.

Chandler wrote:not trying to be a debbie downer about the tank, but it's not a panacea by a long shot! if you look at the top 5 teams in the east and west the only candidates who tanked were the sixers and if you have a thumb on the scale the lakers (though my view is without Lebron as FA that team would stink and thus be off the list). Indeed even if you expand to top 10 east and west the only other tank candidate is the Kings.

So while it's nice to think about a shiny-new top of the lottery pick, it's far short of being magic. Personally I'm super conflicted about it because i think it creates conflicted message to the team

Trying to be an optimist, I'll stick to the notion that there is some secret system and plan for our team and that Fizdale is either somehow developing individual skills or doing some Karate Kid-**** waiting for a more opportune time (e.g., next season) to reveal that he actually has an offensive and defensive system and strategy (sorry I'm disqualifying a zone defense).

Also I hope people disillusion themselves about a big FA signing. While everyone would be psyched with a prime FA we all have to consider that the top guys will make max money wherever they go. Unless KP comes back this season and shows he is a big deal still, there is very little incentive for a top FA to join this hot mess. NY will have higher taxes and at least a historically dysfunctional chain of command (with the current FO probably rated as unclear). (FWIW this is perfectly fine by me. I think were at least a few years away from reasonably thinking a big FA will push us to where we all want to be)

If the Knicks wanted my advice it would be to focus on winning ways moreso than wins. If for example they honestly feel having Kanter and Mudiay playing starting minutes is teaching the rest of the team to play the right way then so be it. If they think it will add to wins but not the development of the other team members then it's a bad choice.

right now i find a huge number of their decisions so perplexing i think we have actually regressed from Hornacek and Fisher. The only thing that gives me real hope is a number of their players who i just think play with the right professionalism or passion: KP, Frank [though he's been disappointing, i think he would thrive with a better coach], Knox, Mitch, Trier, dotson, Vonleh, even Kornet to a certain degree. Everyone else i think is too old for our time line or simply does not play "winning" basketball.

Knicks present day circumstances make tanking the logical choice. With KP set to miss the season with injury. Philly traded Jrue Holiday when he was up and coming and Andre Igoudala in his prime in order to start the tank. Knicks aren't giving away stud pieces to tank. The potential upside of landing a Zion, Barrett, Morant etc... is greater than the downside.

Also as for max cap slots. All the young pieces are pretty much locked in Knicks control except Mudiay and Vonleh who can possibly be retained through exceptions.

Knicks want to start winning they need KP back and to hit on their lotto pick in the form of a play maker that can create easy shots for the team. I'm wondering if they should also target Vooch from Orlando. He is just a good all around player that pretty much does everything on the court pretty well. And will probably come cheaper due to how the league is gravitating to. But would depend on if Zion was drafted or not.