KK has a chance to toughen up and play some D.
If he adds some resilience and focus to his game on both ends, he’ll be fine. He won’t have his full adult body at all on this contract, so this year we are still projecting his future effectiveness. I think he’s making good strides this season and he’ll be able to do most if not all of what Thibs wants from him by the time we’re done.
I have been so heartened by the progress the Knicks have made this season under Thibs and Johnny Bryant and Kenny Payne and Mike Woodson.
When Thibs lays down the law, the players are buying in. Practice hard, practice smart, stay ready.
Knox being a good example.
The Houston game was surely a small sample but for all of us who have wondered about Kevin's intensity and his motor, his cameo was uplifting, and clearly that young man wants to be a Knick.
I mean, Kevin came out with some FIRE IN HIS ASS.
He played D, made a steal, ran the floor hard and Quick rewarded him with a highlight film slam.
He played off the ball, motion and movement, got the rock in rhythm, and found Obi for a terrifying one handed slam [and yes, Haliburton WAS the pick, was MY PICK, but Obi is going to be a beast].
Got to tell y'all, on the off day, I was watching some highlights of the past two games, and I've got to tell you, I was tearing up.
As someone who has been watching the Knicks since 1961, you know that old saw about PLAYING THE RIGHT WAY?
Well, during our exile in the desert since LJ finally said
OUCH and couldn't get up off the gurney? Since Don Chaney crippled Alan Houston to save his job. Since Donnie Douche traded our entire roster and future for Melo. Since Phil Jackson weed whacked his ego and his pecker in an ego driven narcissistic frenzy.
To PLAY THE RIGHT WAY?
To Be COMPETITIVE For 48 Minutes.
Winning? COMPETITIVE.
Leon Rose made good hires up and down the orginization, and has been prudent and conservative and patient, well PATIENT WITHIN REASON.
The draft and all of the mega dollar signings? We can quibble over Tyrese vs. Obi, but Quickly has surely eased the rear view mirror pain of that debate, and since Rose came on board, he has been a coach on the floor and in practice, and extension of Thibs, like we haven't had since Jason Kidd lifted Mike Woodson's squard to the second round in what seems like a lifetime ago. And Obi has shown signs that we should simply be patient, trust the process, trust the coaching, and trust our puppies.
Oh and all of the more sexy and garish free agent signings. BoD has long advocated for Christian Wood, and once has to wonder if we passed on him or he passed on us. Be that as it may, on one year make goods: Payton, Bullock, Burks, Noel, Rivers, Gibson? All reasonably priced, all motivated, and whether or not they are back in 2021-2022, they are fucking bringing it now. Up and down, up and down, but competing.
Thibs started with DEFENSE, and never looked back. Held everyone accoutantable, and made it clear that those who practiced best, most consistently, who did the extra work, would get the minutes.
UP and DOWN, UP and DOWN, we have seen that all season with our Yutes. And now, with the arrival of Rose, as the rotations have settled in the absence of Mitchell into a definable 10 man cycle, as we see RJ struggling with his offense, yet giving us 4 boards and 5 assists in his 22 minutes, as he yields some of his lead leading floor minutes to Burks and Quickley, as Kevin comes off the bench when his number is finally called, seeming to say, "Is THIS what you mean, Coach?" As all of the fears of Quickley losing minutes or influence dissipate as his role with a dynamic game closing out second unit of Gibson-Toppin-Burks-Rose-Quickley comes into sharp focus, as Thibs gradually down shifts on the heavy minutes he was playing his starters, as Elfrid makes us--WELL, A FEW OF US--focus on the attributes Thibs is moved by, and not the deficiencies which dick trigger the Geek Chorus of Dipshits and Doubting Uncle Thomases, as Julius bounces back from a crappy game with a ho-hum 22-9-2 in 33 minutes.
Right now, the Knicks settling in as a .500% team and making the playoffs seems attainable, the inevitable bumps in the road notwithstanding.
Rose & Thibs have assembled a competitive roster of Dawgs. Randle has sustained his all-star level of production and leadership. And in only three games together, Rose & Quickley have drawn the game planning attention of opposing coaches. The Knicks are no longer a laughing stock and are step by step making it plain that opposing teams will NO LONGER BE ABLE TO TREAT THE GARDEN FLOOR AS AN INSTAGRAM HIGHLIGHT REEL TO PAD THEIR STATS.
Atlanta is surely a more talented team than the Wiz and the Rockets, the obvious absence of Beal and Wood notwithstanding. Hunter's absence and that of Bogdonavich surely hurts the Hawks, but they still have Young, Gallinari and Collins, Capela, Huerter and Reddish. They are a dangerous team, who can pile on the points in a hurry. Coming off a loss to the Pacers [someone explain to me again why we traded McDermott for Mudiay]. I am looking forward to Immanuel Quickley matching up with his doppleganger Trae Young.
LOOKING FORWARD....we are ALL Looking FORWARD.
Poll
