The NBA & NFL are a joke these days. Refs are clowns, there is home court advantage calls if you aren't the Knicks. Palming and carrying are rampant, and ticky-tack fouls are okay unless you are a Knick. If the ball is no longer going up, it is a goal tend. RJ did get fouled on that dunk. NBA cries for Lefraud yet justifies the same lack of a call when it was RJ. An excuse like the contact didn't affect the shot is weak, fouls on Shaq didn't stop him, but he was still fouled and got the call. A foul is a foul, for all players all teams. The Lakers complained the whole game, yet still, get calls, Knicks complain, too bad so sad. It takes the joy and flow of the game away, they get soft calls and still complain about everything.
Yet, this team has enough talent to compete, but not overcome these slanted-called games and not for a chip. But, the Knicks are not without their major flaws and it is just sickening to watch these days. Thibs is terrible and does need to be fired. He has no offensive plan other than give it to Jalen and hope either he or Jules makes a basket. Thibs stresses D yet gives play time to guys who can't score a basket and aren't playing elite D, but you can doghouse CAM for most of the year. 3pt D especially on the corner is a joke. Thibs play calling or lack thereof during timeouts is atrocious. How many 24 seconds violations and not even a shot taken at the end of games are enough? It happens too often and I'm sick of it. This team has no 4th quarter killer, NONE. They lack the talent to be a consistent winner. So, in this joke of a league, they are just a .500 team.
Even more issues, this team is lazy, they foul too much, and they foul soft at that to allow repeated 3pt plays. McBrick can go for 20 to 30 regularly in the G League, but can't be relied upon for a single basket in the pros. We have no 3pt game, only needed to hit one at the end of the 4th for the win. They are often outhustled, they stop 3 play shots, but the outhustle leads to an open 3pt shot on the 4th attempt. Sims is a waste, doesn't play great D, and can't create any O unless McBrick oops to him, which is rare.
Randle, despite his tough play, much like a lot of Knicks, has low IQ, takes terrible shots, and doesn't go back on defense, often while complaining, while his guy gets a layup or dunk on the other end. He dribbles into turnovers in crucial moments, which usually leads to a 4 or 5-point swing. Interior D is weak, especially with Mitch out, but still an issue when he does play. Missed FTs kill them late.
In tonight's game, 9 TOs (4 by Jules) should be a win, but 7 made 3pt shots in this league is an auto loss 9 out of 10 times. Grimes forgot how to hit an open 3, RJ looks lost without called plays, and Sims is a non-factor (-16 & 0 pts) on the court yet starting. Obi is misused. Unless they are hiding or avoiding injuries for trades, which I'm sure will be lackluster, there is NO reason not to play Rose, Cam, and even Svi for a needed 3 out of a timeout. I understand EF is too much of a liability on D, but so are several of his replacements and they can't hit the rim. I'd rather have a player who can score and plays weak D than one who can't score and still plays negative defense. They allowed Rui & Dennis to shoot 67% & 57% of their shots and their best game in several, same with Westbrook at 54%. Tired of fringe players coming to the Garden and having one of their better games. No one fears the Mecca, they embrace and thrive there. Yet stars avoid becoming a Knick, they could thrive more often as a Knick in the Mecca for 41 games, but most have no heart.
This Knicks team doesn't have enough offensive talent to be giving up the typical early lead and then play catch-up all game, to lose it late or in OT. They are usually hesitant to take an open shot but the play isn't by design, so they don't know to shoot. Brunson gets the ball, they wing it most plays. They need two pieces this deadline that will crack the rotation, and they don't need to be elite. A 4th quarter specialist and an interior defender who can score some baskets. Without more talent, a 4th quarter killer, and some NBA GD respect, the Knicks will never be relevant for chip consideration. I'm truly sick of watching this same movie play over and over again. Insanity at its worst and it needs to stop some day before I die. Goodnight.
2/1/2023 6:23 AM LAST EDITED: 2/1/2023 6:23 AM