ramtour420 wrote:What's going on ? Last season I remember Randle not being the best at passing with the turnovers, I remember us not being able to buy a bucket to save our lives when we need it most, I remember no creativity in our offense. But I also remember us hanging tight with the best teams in the league even on nights when we shot like crap rarely were we outclassed.

This year it seems like we can only win if we shoot %50 from three. Our D is no longer able to carry us. Frustrating.

Bullock doesn’t need to pound the rock to score and he was guarding the best player. EF needs to pound the rock to score and he can’t guard average to above average players.

Payton is a defensive guard that finishes at the rim. Kemba is older and smaller. So scoring in the paint is not his strength. Plus Payton is a better defender.

I think Payton and Bullocks exit hurts us more than you think. We should’ve kept bullock in the starting unit instead of adding EF. And instead of Kemba, we should’ve added a penetrating guard or turn the keys over to IQ with Rose and McBride as thevbackups.

Hindsight is always 20/20.

Start IQ or Rose and sit Kemba. It’s worth a look. Rose starting in the playoffs wasn’t the problem. It was the extra mins he got that hurt him. Rose and IQ are play making guards that can shoot and score in the paint. Kemba at this stage in his career is better as a catch and shoot guard when he’s on. When he’s off, he doesn’t shoot u out of the game, but he’s still a threat and will help keep defense honest. So Kemba will not mess up the 2nd chemistry. RJ and Randle would…they are alpha dogs. EF wouldn’t hurt the second unit…I think he would play better with Rose. But then it looks bad on the FO if u did that. Start Rose or IQ and send Kemba to the pine.

For those still clamoring for Payton and Bullock, keep in mind, we were 11-13 when we traded for Rose. And before Thibs finally pulled Payton from the lineup in the playoffs, he was getting benched, regularly, in the 4th quarter when the game was on the line down the stretch of the season.

Speaking of abnormal seasons, Randle had a career year last year. A career 32% 3pt shooter shot 41% last year. Does anyone honestly think he will repeat that performance? Randle is a career 48% shooter from the field, and while I didn't watch him much with the Lakers and Pelicans, based on those rosters, it's obvious he wasn't a 1st or 2nd option. He didn't face double teams, and I am pretty sure he took more efficient shots, particularly in the paint. He averaged 10 shots per with the Lakers and he took 15 with the Pels playing with Anthony Davis and Rondo.

Last year was Randle's lowest FG % (45%) since his second year in the league, despite shooting 41% from 3. As a #1 option, he takes a ton of inefficient shots every game. Those baseline fallaways are the worse. To be fair to Randle, he's not good enough to be a #1 option on a team that can consistently advance deep into the playoffs on a year-to-year basis. I thought we should have sold-high and moved Randle this summer. But, with Thibs on the sideline, there was no way that was going to happen.

I know this will never happen, for the next 10 game, Thibs gives both Kemba and Evan time off to reset. Elevate Rose and burks as the starters and give McBride a chance to back up Rose and let Grimes take the minutes of Burks' back up minutes. Im curious to know if this gamble can pay off. The starting 5 is struggling, maybe a tweek in the line up is due.

It's still a long season, the knicks can still turn things around, i have a feeling the real games of both Kemba and Evan will show up on their second year in the team. Remenber, a few years back the knicks signed a talented player that stunk on his 1st year with the team but turned things around to be a difference maker last year. Can both Kemba and even emutate that?

blkexec wrote:

ramtour420 wrote:What's going on ? Last season I remember Randle not being the best at passing with the turnovers, I remember us not being able to buy a bucket to save our lives when we need it most, I remember no creativity in our offense. But I also remember us hanging tight with the best teams in the league even on nights when we shot like crap rarely were we outclassed.

This year it seems like we can only win if we shoot %50 from three. Our D is no longer able to carry us. Frustrating.

Bullock doesn’t need to pound the rock to score and he was guarding the best player. EF needs to pound the rock to score and he can’t guard average to above average players.

Payton is a defensive guard that finishes at the rim. Kemba is older and smaller. So scoring in the paint is not his strength. Plus Payton is a better defender.

I think Payton and Bullocks exit hurts us more than you think. We should’ve kept bullock in the starting unit instead of adding EF. And instead of Kemba, we should’ve added a penetrating guard or turn the keys over to IQ with Rose and McBride as thevbackups.

Hindsight is always 20/20.

Start IQ or Rose and sit Kemba. It’s worth a look. Rose starting in the playoffs wasn’t the problem. It was the extra mins he got that hurt him. Rose and IQ are play making guards that can shoot and score in the paint. Kemba at this stage in his career is better as a catch and shoot guard when he’s on. When he’s off, he doesn’t shoot u out of the game, but he’s still a threat and will help keep defense honest. So Kemba will not mess up the 2nd chemistry. RJ and Randle would…they are alpha dogs. EF wouldn’t hurt the second unit…I think he would play better with Rose. But then it looks bad on the FO if u did that. Start Rose or IQ and send Kemba to the pine.

Hindsight is 20/20, but I agree we would have been better off not signing Walker and Fournier, keeping Bullock, and giving more playing time to Grimes and IQ. I know for a fact our defense would have been better with those players, and I think Grimes could be a 10-12 point scorer if given 20 minutes a game. At this point, Thibs should give the starters like 10 more games to try to figure this out. If no improvement, then you have to put Walker and Fournier on the bench and give Grimes some minutes.

Uptown wrote:Kemba and Evan are a part of the problem, but this is bigger than just 2 new starters added to the lineup...

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https://twitter.com/statmuse/status/1459346917423398913

Randle and Mitch is a horrible mix on both sides of the ball, it didn't work under Fizdale, and it wasn't working the beginning of last season, they don't compliment each other at all, they are too fckn slow and the spacing is retarded.

When teams start running and picking up the pace swinging the ball on the perimeter, you can bet your last dollar that Randle or mitch will be late as hell on a rotation leaving guys wide open for 3's time after time

Fournier and RJ doesn't work either, I see better chemistry with Fournier and Randle than I do with Randle and RJ. In fact Fournier and Rj barely communicate on the court.

The starting 5 is way too slow, they looked forced, confused, and don't compliment each other.

Bullock had a super quick release on his shot and always rotated to the open spot beyond the arc.

Fournier doesn't have the quick release and it's easier to close out on him and force him to put the ball on the floor, he maybe more savvy on offense, but he lacks the speed bullocks had on both ends.

knicks1248 wrote:You guys keep talking about the absence of Bullock and Payton..

Randle and Mitch is a horrible mix on both sides of the ball, it didn't work under Fizdale, and it wasn't working the beginning of last season, they don't compliment each other at all, they are too fckn slow and the spacing is retarded.

When teams start running and picking up the pace swinging the ball on the perimeter, you can bet your last dollar that Randle or mitch will be late as hell on a rotation leaving guys wide open for 3's time after time

Fournier and RJ doesn't work either, I see better chemistry with Fournier and Randle than I do with Randle and RJ. In fact Fournier and Rj barely communicate on the court.

The starting 5 is way too slow, they looked forced, confused, and don't compliment each other.

Bullock had a super quick release on his shot and always rotated to the open spot beyond the arc.

Fournier doesn't have the quick release and it's easier to close out on him and force him to put the ball on the floor, he maybe more savvy on offense, but he lacks the speed bullocks had on both ends.

I think the issue with Mitch is he is hurt and not in shape. I would not be surprised if he had some undiagnosed metabolic issue or some other medical issue. I think it's also fair to question how competitive he is overall. The Mitch from the last two years was blocking 3pt attempts - he had no problem closing out. He simply isn't right.

knicks1248 wrote:You guys keep talking about the absence of Bullock and Payton..

Randle and Mitch is a horrible mix on both sides of the ball, it didn't work under Fizdale, and it wasn't working the beginning of last season, they don't compliment each other at all, they are too fckn slow and the spacing is retarded.

When teams start running and picking up the pace swinging the ball on the perimeter, you can bet your last dollar that Randle or mitch will be late as hell on a rotation leaving guys wide open for 3's time after time

Fournier and RJ doesn't work either, I see better chemistry with Fournier and Randle than I do with Randle and RJ. In fact Fournier and Rj barely communicate on the court.

The starting 5 is way too slow, they looked forced, confused, and don't compliment each other.

Bullock had a super quick release on his shot and always rotated to the open spot beyond the arc.

Fournier doesn't have the quick release and it's easier to close out on him and force him to put the ball on the floor, he maybe more savvy on offense, but he lacks the speed bullocks had on both ends.

blkexec wrote:Last year Randle was the only alpha dog on the team. This year, we added 2 players to the starting lineup, who was alpha dogs for their previous teams. EF was also paid like an alpha dog and Kemba is back home ready to play like his old self. On top of that, RJ is growing in an alpha role type player and said he wants to guard the top players. So that leaves Randle in an ark ward position. And right now he’s not handling the change very well. I’m sure he’s putting all this pressure on his shoulders to lead this team and Randle is still learning how to be the #1 option. So this starting unit is new vs last year. The only consistent theme from last year is the 2nd unit. And take a guess which unit has the highest efficiency rating and which has the lowest.

Yup, this is part of the chemistry issue the starting 5 has, no one really knows their role

Randle......I'm an All star
Fournier....I'm the Big FA signing
RJ..........Im the future
kemba.......I'm not trying step on no Toes
Mitch.......why are they even starting me