I loved the intensity Thibs brought to the team last year, especially on D. Big emphasis on accountability.
Now that has diminished. The defense is weak. Guys are floundering on offense. And the news that Thibs hasn't even talked to Walker since the demotion is a disappointing revelation of his shortcomings.
We need to coalesce quickly. How will it be done? For me, the idea that magically everything will be good with the next trade is a pipe dream. We've got enough talent to work with right now.
Agree. Brother ELEPHANT.
Pipe Dreams?
Just ciicked a Sports Illustrated link on on line no less, not some Adam Dressler blogosphere pseudoPseudo expertise, though I was nevertheless suspicious: THREE PLAYERS THE KNICKS SHOULD TRADE FOR. Take a wild guess. Buddy Hield. A top tier three point player, for sure, though in his own way, as inconsistent as Fournier. OKAY [he was in flame thrower mode against the Spurs last night, hitting 7-9 treys]
WHO ELSE?
Bradley Beal and Damian Lilliard.
DUH. Why not Allan Iverson? Spare me.
As for Thibs? Difference in defense between last year and this year. Payton and Bullock or something else? I'm not advocating putting Thibs on a slow boat to China. Certainly not a good message for our NEXT COACHing candidates, should that day eventually arrive.
Still, while I think the THIBS DOESN'T DEVELOP YOUNG PLAYERS rap has been substantially discredited, it is worth noting that two enduring criticisms of TT were that he plays his top tier players too many damn minutes, and--AND--that
there comes a point where his players tune him out.
Not sure that has happenned.
HOWEVER, I agree with ELEPHANT that the revelation in which Thibs has NOT SPOKEN TO KEMBA since his demotion was VERY VERY TROUBLING.
Whatsoever his failings might be on the down side of his autumnal years, Walker remains a potent scoring option AND A REALLY REALLY GOOD PERSON,beloved by team mates annd foes alike.
Oh, and what is the team record since Kemba was benched. Fuck the analytics. WHAT IS OUR RECORD?
And it took injuries to Rose and a COVID outbreak for Thibs TO BE FORCED AT GUNPOINT TO INSERT MILES MCBRIDE IN THE STARTING LINEUP, where lo and fucking behold, he demonstrated why we drafted him and WHY HE IS OUR BEST PG, before sure enough he went into Health & Safety Protocols.
So now presumably we cannot even spot Kemba 10-15 minutes a night because of his
crummy D.
THIBS managed to find 23 minutes a night over 63 games last season for Elfrid, due to his superior D, never mind his
crummy O.
Finally, agree with ELEPHANT that a trading frenzy fire sale is PRECISELY WHAT WE DO NOT NEED, that we have the talent on hand. I mean, a sensible trade? Why not? But again, a fire sale is NOT THE MESSAGE WE WANT TO CONVEY TO FREE AGENTS, now, is it? Two months and you're done? By that reasoning we should have dumped RJ after his first season.
PS: Kemba cited AC Johnny Bryant for his support during this challenging period.
PPS: One thing we are clearly lacking, howsoever well Noel and Mitchell guard the paint, is some sort of offensive presence down low. It doesn't--DIDN'T--necessarily need to be Myles Turner, but the likes of Robin Lopez were out there, Javele McGee, and BoD's disdain notwithstanding, wouldn't 25 minutes a night of Bobby Portis look good right about now? NO, I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF DUMPING NERLENS OR MITCHELL, let alone for Eric Gordon, and we do have Jericho Sims pickling on the bench, but....
In any event, now is not the time for fire sales, and as for Thibs and Kemba, the least TT can do for Kemba is respect him as much as he did Elfrid Payton.
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