SergioNYK wrote:So proud of this team! To be able to come back after the beatdown against Phoenix and go on the road against the team that sent you home last spring and do it when they are on a 7 game win streak and 8-1 at home is just such a big time win and it tells us a lot about the character and heart of this group! You cannot play better than that fourth quarter. Everyone was in sync and it was beautiful to watch!Everyone played a part in this win but the game ball has to go to Burks and IQ. Burks was outstanding with his shot making and IQ played such great defense on Young and he also had his best game of his career in terms of playmaking. Alan Hahn mentioned it last night and I agree with him - at what point does IQ graduate and get promoted to the SL? I really do not wanna mess with our bench because I think it's one of our biggest strengths but our SL has played so poorly (but is getting a little bit better) and IQ's shot making ability, defense, ability to get into the paint and his overall demeanor and energy would be such a boost to that starting lineup, which is missing that energizer and floor general. I know it's very unlike Thibs to demote a vet like Kemba but it's something to consider. At the very least, I hope he continues to give IQ as many minutes as possible, especially in the fourth.
Great game by Fournier too. He made all the big shots, especially those 5 points in the third quarter when the Hawks started the quarter on a 7-0 run. Absolutely loved what I saw from Obi. Gallo just couldn't keep up with his speed and athleticism. That alley-oop off Grimes pass was sick! Gotta give kudos to Sims too. He was big with his rebounding, altering shots and he's probably our best pick-setter. Great find by the front office to find this kid at the end of the second round.
I also have to give Randle some credit. His lack of aggressiveness and body language are concerning but he played and contributed to this win with key plays despite shooting poorly. He made some great passes off double teams, had that nice drive at the buzzer to end the third and played good defense when he was switched on Young. But something is off with him. He seems distracted and depressed. Like he's not all there. I really hope he's OK and this is just a slump but it's getting concerning to me.
At least RJ snapped out of it and made some shots. Overall, great win!
I think if our life was under a microscope and we are constently being recorded at work. There will be up and down days, thats not related to work (We are humans not robots). I just think he's a typical human being in his 20s with a wife and kid and will eventually pull himself out of whatever he's in. He's already proved that much last year. Same with RJ. They both have proved they can improve with extra work for mental and physical toughness.
What I hope this proves to Randle is to trust EF and developing those catch and shoot timing chemistry Randle had with Bullock. Thats the key to us being a playoff team again with this current roster. Randle and EF chemistry. Along with Thibs navigating political powers and playing the right guys (Grimes) to win, regardless of paycheck (Randle) or status (Kemba / Rose) or high draft picks (RJ). But play the guys that brings energy (Sims), easy fastbreak points (Obi), and opens the floor while playing down hill (Quick). We have a nice balance within our young core of players. All of our young guys are positive, energetic, plays hard on defense and fits our culture.
Big props to Burks. Yes, it was a team win, but Burks continues to show he's the engine that makes this team work. He's the ultimate glue guy that every successful team should have. We need more players like him. A professonal who plays with the same energy, regardless if he starts or comes off the bench. or DNP. He's had a few of those last year, and still played hard. Guards 3 positions. "He's as valuable to this club now as D Rose was last year." And Burks showed this last year as, but he had Bullock in the way. And Bullock was our starter.....This year, Burks needs to be our starter. Either for Kemba or EF.
Most say Kemba, but that will leave 3 rotational guards under 6'3 on the bench, ready to play. Second unit lineups might look small. But you can't play Kemba, Rose and IQ at the same time. Thats the negative for moving Burks up and Kemba down. And playing EF like a starter, just to make him come off the bench, doesn't look good on the FO. But somehow Burks should start.
Knowing Thibs, he will adjust minutes to over compensate, instead of changing the starting lineup. It's stubborn, it's old school, but it's a smart long term strategy. The starting unit will eventually improve with this strategy. Backups will grow in confidence, since they understand their value and role in the teams success. And if the starting unit builds enough chemistry come playoff time, we will have a strong Starting unit and Bench, at the right time. With a healthy Rose and Kemba.
Born in Brooklyn, Raised in Queens, Lives in Maryland.
The future is bright, I'm a Knicks fan for life!