Following Sunday’s loss against the Nuggets, the Knicks are now 11-12, giving them the 11th-best record in the Eastern Conference and putting them 5.5 games behind first place. After finishing last season fourth in the conference, the team’s sudden mediocrity is puzzling, Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post contends.
“We have to understand we have to be more consistent and get guys healthy,” Julius Randle said, clearly not deterred by his team’s underwhelming start to the season. “But we’ll be fine. A great run could put us at the top of the East in two weeks. We just have to have a sense of urgency.”
New York signed Kemba Walker to a two-year, $18MM deal in free agency, but head coach Tom Thibodeau recently pulled him from the rotation. Walker struggled defensively and the starting lineup had noticeable chemistry issues. The team has since started Alec Burks in his place, choosing to keep Derrick Rose in his role off the bench.
Here are some other notes from the Atlantic:
- Celtics star Jayson Tatum dismissed the notion that he’s been playing selfish basketball, Jay King of The Athletic writes. A recent ESPN story from Tim Bontemps quoted an anonymous assistant coach who questioned how bad Tatum wants to win. “I laughed,” Tatum said when asked about the topic. “I think when people get upset or you get a reaction out of somebody, it’s probably because they feel like it’s kind of true. But I just laughed because I know it’s not true. I know my teammates, my coaches, anybody I’ve ever been around, selfish is the last thing.”
- The Knicks will need energy from Evan Fournier to help turn their season around, Fred Katz of The Athletic writes. Fournier, who signed a multi-year contract to join the team in free agency, has started in all 23 games this season. He’s coming off a campaign where he averaged 17.1 points per game, splitting time between Orlando and Boston.
- Speaking of Fournier, Peter Botte of the New York Post examines the recent disagreement between him and Randle that was caught on camera. The Knicks teammates engaged in a heated debate before halftime of the club’s loss to Chicago on Thursday. “It was a disagreement over I think the last defensive play about the double [team] and the rebounding,” Fournier said. “It was just frustration. But I think the key was it was communicating.”
Only other team Lillard wants to play is Knicks
McCollum needs to be traded first
Can someone tell us what position RJ Barrett played in college at Duke?
Center
RJ ceiling is Wiggins
He’s already passed it.
@padam the last 2 seasons Wiggins is averaging 18.6 with .479/.378 shooting while being a top 25 wing defender. Barrett showed signs last year but he’s not there yet and really needs to turn it around this season. Still early though.
That’s a pretty good cowling the way Wiggins has played the last 2 years.
RJ needs the ball more and have shooters around him.
RJ should be the point guard.
Barrett/Walker
Fournier/Quickley
Burks/Know
RJ Barrett is a superstar point guard with great size
Thibs is an inside the box thinker can’t even see it
0-3 since sitting Kemba. Not that we win with him. But clearly he ain’t the problem. Like some here want to target. It’s simple minded to blame one guy. One move, one signing. When you don’t really watch.
The first thing that shouts out at you. Is we are not the D team we were last year. And why is that. Well here’s Randle telling it >>>>>>>>
Randle went on long rant saying the Knicks have lost their defensive identity.
“We’re going to win games with our defense,” he said. “That’s who we are. We’re not the superstars, three, four superstars on the team like Brooklyn or all these other teams. We’re a team. How we were last year, how we have to be this year as well.
OK >>>>>>>>
Well he’s the ball stopper this yr. He was two yrs ago. He’s the one who wants to play point. Jokic wasn’t only one who killed us. Their 4 who hasn’t played much Nnaji had 24 and 8. Yeah good D Julius.
I’ve said this since first loss to Magic. I’m sorry I’m way ahead of everyone. Mitch is out of shape. Then Noel goes down. So we got no middle anchor. That was our Rock last yr as a D team. It starts there. Then we are playing like we have accomplished something. Which we haven’t. This team wins and competes as a TEAM. Or we don’t have a chance. Randle right now is part of problem. Thibs needs to wake up and get a grip. There is no reason in the world. You get down by 20 to Bulls and Nuggets, At MSG. Seems other teams are more motivated to play at Garden than Knicks are (5-8). They play like they are beaching up to the pressure. I know Dolan is not going to take much of this. So they better wake up. Cause there could be changes Soon.
So how is not signing Dinwiddie sitting right now. There is no PG better than Dinwiddie on Knicks. He’s a 2way player who doesn’t turn the ball over. It’s the reason he helps close out gms. Exactly what we need …….
Two guys Knicks should be targeting. Is Myles Turner and Jerami Grant. Both good solid 2way players. We got plenty of picks to move.
Defensive intensity is not there right now ,I think quickley should be the starter right now he pressures the ball full court overall pace will faster then play grimes and mcbride more spot minutes those young guys are ready to contribute immediately.
They lost to Brooklyn, Chicago and Denver since Kemba exited the rotation. They weren’t supposed to beat BK or CHI but came very close and looked a lot better. Didn’t get to see the game today, but they obv didn’t play that well. But in the 2 games I saw, they look ten times better without Kemba. I wish you’d stop posting so much, they’re actually pretty annoying. You act like you’re the only one who watches the Knicks here, and degrade anyone who disagrees with your opinion. Which I often do. And how many times do we have to hear about Dinwiddie as if the Knicks didn’t go after him lol. He just didn’t wanna sign here. Of course Fournier was a plan B or C. We can thank Clifford for the bad recommendation. In my opinion the Knicks just don’t have a superstar. Randle needs to be a number 2 or 3 on a great team. It’s that simple.
I only degrade clowns like you. I talk to the wannabes. I guess you must consider yourself one. They actually won gms with Kemba (11-9). And my posts have nothing to do with Kemba. Just the fact that he’s not the issue.
But why would you want to know that. And your opinion, well it sucks. See I actúaly played this gm and played it well. It’s why I know it so well. And I am opinionated when it comes to the team I follow. But I don’t GAF if you agree with me or not. Half of you that post about Knicks are the most asinine fans out here.
This ain’t personal. You want to criticize me or talk about the game. Go for it. But you want me. Well , Cause I do take stuff personal and I will let you know about it.
Don’t read it and don’t answer. I’m not here for your reaction. I post what I see and feel about what they are doing. I’m sorry you can’t understand that.
And you have no clue about Dinwiddie. Let me explain it to you. Since it seems I must.
PG was the one thing this team needed most. Dinwiddie was a 2way guard who fit us like a glove. Got NOTHING to to do with Kemba. You are late to this conversation. Like you are late with the knowledge you don’t have. I wanted Dinwiddie and Fournier two yrs ago. For obvious reasons you obviously can’t understand. It’s a phrase to show how smart I am. And how so much more advanced I am.
Unfortunately someone has to explain the Knicks. Cause most don’t get we are not like any other team, place, city, or franchise. Yes I take that responsibility to elaborate.
And why is a non like you talking about things you do don’t know or understand.
Listen YFI Randle got nothing to do with this. Knicks are built as a team. And Randle is part of that. 10 deep YFI is better that finding superstars. That’s your answer to a good team. Thibs has been here, not EVEN a year and half . And you got Freegin answers. You gotta be the biggest non out here. You do t like me posting. Then why read it. I do t read 70% of the BS on here. But I love straightening out FI like you.
Keep readin,’one day you might actually understand what I’m saying lol.
#1 you’re a wannabe
#2 you most certainly DO do it for the reaction
#3 “YFI” you sound like a panicking Knicks fan tbh
After 20 gms. Go away child. This is what a knowledgeable upset fan sounds like. I know you can’t get it. It’s why the response is never about the Balling.
Thibs doesn’t like playing rookies but Grimes is getting minor minutes not McBride. Look at Toppin last year, never gave Know a chance Closed minded disciplinarian works sometimes fails others
Thibs plays rookies if they were ready and he believed in them. Quickley is not the answer. But he plays him. Thibs is loyal to a fault. And it works against him. None of you understand he’s from NY. His father is a huge Knicks fan. He knows what he’s up against. He knows he doesn’t have a superstar.
But he believes in work ethic and team concept. Meaning a real TEAM 10 deep can beat anyone. You might not win a ring. But we ain’t trying to do that. We are trying to become a consistent good team. So we can add a star to the mix. Why is that so hard for the clowns to see.
I’m not saying Bulls are a contender. But you add a all star vet. That most here didn’t even like in DeRozan. And a solid big In Vucevic. That most here didn’t like. To a young star in the making in LaVine. And it starts to make sense if you got team support. The Knicks are still rebuilding. So first you build a core and solid pieces around it. Every team wants two or three stars. Don’t mean you’ll get it
So build it thru draft and numbers. That’s what we are doing. And that’s what needs to be done. So you can add another piece. Like a Turner or a Grant. Guys who are young vets. And can add depth and talent upgrade to team. In numbers you have a good product. But only if they play as a team. The simpletons who think you just get superstar. Please explain how Knicks do that.
Def not reading any more of your comments over a paragraph. You’re just annoying
It’s that easy see.
This team had their success last year. As a team. A team that played hard. A team that played D. And a team that looked for each other on offense. And a team led by a guy who played hard every gm. Who worked out twice as hard. A guy who always tried to fit in. A guy who was a 1st time all star. A player who led by example.
Thibs will always be loyal to that. Unfortunately this yr. Randle is not really doing all those things. Add the Team D falling apart. It makes for losses. Kenny Smith has criticized Thibs for his use of Kemba. I agree with Kenny. Why sign him.
There are a few things affecting this team. All fixable imo. But it’s on Thibs. It’s time to stop talking and working. This has gone on long enough. No way you lose all these gms at home.
NY media —————
Instead, the Nuggets turned a spotlight on the Knicks’ biggest problem: their lack of consistent competitive heart.
NY pressure us a real thing.