Finding some shooters should be the Knicks‘ top offseason priority, writes Steve Popper of Newsday, who notes that the lack of reliable shot-makers contributed heavily to Friday’s Game 6 loss in Miami. On a night when Jalen Brunson scored 41 points and shot 14-of-22 from the field, the rest of the starters were just 5-of-32.
New York spent several weeks last summer trying to work out a trade for Donovan Mitchell, and Popper expects the front office to be aggressive again in pursuit of another star. Brunson has established himself as the cornerstone of the franchise, but Popper states that decisions have to be made on whether RJ Barrett and Julius Randle are part of the team’s core. He adds that Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley should be considered trade assets, along with the team’s deep collection of draft picks.
“Everybody is going back to zero,” coach Tom Thibodeau said after Friday’s loss. “We have to start all over. You have to work crazy all offseason to get ready for next season. Yeah, we would still like to be playing, that’s why you do it, if you’re a competitive person, that’s what you want. We fell short. There’s disappointment, but I think to look at it and say we learned a lot, let’s use this as motivation and get better. That’s what you have to do.”
There’s more on the Knicks:
- Management has to face some “uncomfortable realities” in its offseason evaluation of Randle, states Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. For the second time in three years, Randle has followed an outstanding regular season performance with a flameout in the playoffs. Bondy doesn’t believe Randle can be one of the two best players on a legitimate contender, adding that his moodiness and his tendency to snap at teammates, officials, and coaches can be a distraction.
- Although Josh Hart was a valuable midseason addition who’s likely to be re-signed, he and Barrett didn’t work well together in playoff lineups, observes Chris Herring of Sports Illustrated. Herring believes Thibodeau made a mistake by starting Hart against Miami because it clogged the lane as defenders dared Barrett and Hart to shoot from the outside and it eliminated the lift that Hart normally provides off the bench.
- The Knicks won’t make Thibodeau or their players available for end-of-season exit interviews with the media, tweets Fred Katz of The Athletic.
What I’d love to see. Is Mavs fall to #11 in nba lottery. That would be Exquisite ….. and a remarkable way to start the 2023-24 nba season …….. NYK
Geeeeeeeezzzz I wonder who’s been saying that about Randle all yr. Stop biting Bondy.
everyone has been saying this this is not news. randle is a terrible team mate. every knickfan said that.
I’ve been talking about Randles drama. Since we drafted Obi1 instead of Haliburton. Ask every Knick what happened then ……
Everyone has and obi toppin is on his way out the door also he can’t shoot .they should have chose
haliburton.
Yeah geez we’re so glad you come now and tell us all about.
So explain it all to us please.
Everyone says you’re a clown. But I’ve never seen your clown face. Just your clown thoughts.
Hey I’m the only clown here. And if you want someone who can shoot and do ABSOLUTELY nothing else come and get LaVine. Please.
I thought the Mavs tanked their way to safety. For the first time since Willis, I’m rooting for NY.
Best thing for Hart is to opt in. And we will handle his money next yr. This way it gives us some flexibility. I see a big change next yr. Time to step up on talent. Next yr is yr4 of the rebuild. We have become a legit playoff team. Time to go for some real talent. Brunson was god sent. Considering we didn’t give up anything for him. Time for next phase …..
The problem is Tim Thibodeau. He needs to go! I’m tired of these made men recycled coaches being used over and over again. Thibs made no adjustments during the series against Miami – he made no adjustments during the first round. It was pathetic watching the Knicks continue to collapse and double team on drives to the basketball, just to watch the offender kick the ball out to a Heat player on the perimeter to knock down a three. Boston’s coach will not allow this to happen. They will run through Miami. Thibs is the problem.
Yes, we’ve seen Thibs get outcoached by Spo and the Heat before for the same reasons cited. He simply puts the gas on the pedal from Day 1 of Opening Night of every season – using up all his players and 99% of his playbook. Then in the postseason, his players are either hurt or fatigued, and he only has a few plays that opponents haven’t seen yet from his team, so there are very few adjustments to go to. On the other hand, other successful teams, like the Heat and others, manage the health of their players and only use about 75% of their playbook during the season. The 25% not really used during the season are only done in small quantities, usually in meaningless games, and rarely against potential postseason opponents. And they start turning up the intensity in their games when it counts. So, when you face a team like the Heat, etc. during the Playoffs, they’re more fresh and energized, and they can make adjustments both in plays and players used during the Playoffs. This was seen once again in the series between the Heat and Knicks.
As for the Celtics versus the Heat, I’m not sure why anyone would still doubt the Heat at this point. Yes, the Celtics will be better prepared for the Heat than Thibs had the Knicks, but the Heat have shown, as best stated by Miami-hating E!SPN, doubt the Heat “to your own peril.” It should be a good series between two teams that have proven to be among the elite teams in the Eastern Conference for the last few years. Three ECF appearance in four years don’t lie.
He’s very stubborn and is very slow to make adjustments. I can’t even remember the name of the Knicks PG who Thibs forced on everyone to be a starter instead of D Rose. The Knicks had to play too much catch up basketball. Before you knew it, you had injured Knicks players and an early exit in the playoffs vs the Hawks. The PG who’s name I can’t remember, is probably no longer in the league anymore. Fast forward to this season and he wore out Brunson and stubborn Julius Randle.
The Heat VS Boston could be interesting because of their recent history.
But I stand by my sentiments. The Knicks won’t go anywhere with overrated Thibs. The Knicks should try to trade Randle for Zion as I think he clearly wants out of NO. But an improved Knicks roster will be meaningless as long as they have a bad coach in Thibodeau.
I agree but I love thibs
Adjustments were needed – I don’t know if he believes so much in the players tht he left them out there to sort it out, but with what he had what Adjustments would you have made?
I don’t love Thibs. He’s overrated and must go. There are so many things he’s done wrong as a coach and it didn’t start with the playoffs. He wanted to get into a shoot out, but left his best shooter on the bench (Fournier). He should use McBride more. He continues to let IQ run the point when Brunson is on the bench. IQ is no point guard. He has a jump shooting offensive team. A lot of his players can’t shoot. He has no one playing the post. He continuously allowed the double team on a Heat driver, where the ball would be kicked out for a Miami Heat to shoot a three. And he’s a dumb philosopher of a coach. No team blew as many double digit leads/games than The Knicks. I’m a math guy. If my team is up by 15 or 20, we’re not going to lose many games. Under dumb Thibs, the Knicks would shoot themselves into and then out of a game. The best way to hold a lead, is to play smart, shoot high percentage (most likely in the paint) baskets, and play defense. And he had two momentum killers on the team. Randle and IQ. A smart coach, will smarten his players. I’m sorry, but Thibs is overrated. He stinks. I want him gone. Knick fans see a winning record, and fall in love with a mirage. The Knicks can’t win it all with Thibs. Sorry.