I see two distinct threads passing each other. I totally get how Knicks fanatics, who I am sure head to the Bronx in other months to rain all manner of mayhem down on those other poor squads who dare even step foot in the hallowed halls of the Toilet, can (and maybe should) be called to task for their unbridled optimism over this squad. Anyone who doesn't appreciate the team going to war without 4 of their top 7 players and holding a 2-0 lead in the ECSF is just not being objective. I will enjoy seeing the walking wounded eschewing the bench for even 10 seconds of game action as they head toward certain ultimate defeat, but fighting valiantly along the way. As a non-C's fanatic, I would feel the same way about a team missing Jaylen, Derrick, Horford, and Pritchard doing the same thing.
New York Knicks (2) vs Indiana Pacers (6) - 2024 EC Second Round
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As a Knick fan myself, Knicks fans are generally mouth breathing meatheads and vaguely know it. There's kind of a sweet moronic honesty to it that I like. It's hard to be truly condescending / pretentious when you're shouting amusingly low brow shit like "Fuck you reggie" and "Bing bong" or "We coming 4 u celtics" or whatever.
Obviously i'm hyper generalizing, there's bad spirited people and holier-than-thou erudites in every fanbase.
Obviously i'm hyper generalizing, there's bad spirited people and holier-than-thou erudites in every fanbase.
The Knicks doing what they are doing and in the style, is perfect for that fanbase. And the Knicks being good is great for the sport as it pulls in so many folks who haven't had much to cheer for in a long time. As I noted upthread, the fact that they have a superstar like Brunson and another player like Hart who plays all the minutes with an edge, is quotable/memeable and seems to have a flair for the dramatic makes this team so fitting for that region. This Knicks team embodies a lot of what tri-state folks like to believe is part of their culture even if that's a stretch (giving the finger to someone in traffic is not the equivalent as telling Miller they are saying "FU").
With OG hurt on top of all the other injuries I think a 2017 IT4 Boston run would be a great accomplishment. Even up 2-0 I think making the ECF is unlikely if he can’t go.
But beyond that, I think very few Knicks fans ever expected more than an EFC showing. The shit talking from some otherwise is just fans blustering and having fun. There is a lot of joy with this wounded team and this run.
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Which is why I'm not really understanding the assumption that the Knicks are roadkill in a prospective ECF with the Celtics. We still don't know how the Celtics will respond in the last few minutes of a tight game and the Knicks just live at that altitude. I do think Anunoby is critical in any matchup and if he is done, or significantly limited, then it does seem to be too tall a hill to climb, especially when also losing Robinson's rim protection.
The thing about Hart is he spends most of every game passing up open shots in the halfcourt (which can be infuriating as a fan), so then when it's late in the game, the other team often leaves him open and those he takes and often hits.
The Celtics' usual answer, against not-elite teams, is to not let most of the games be tight in the last few minutes.
The Knicks' 25-4 record with OG is indicative of their being a good team with him, but a lot of that was compiled when a lot more guys were healthy.
Literally from a couple minutes ago in another thread, about the potential West champ:
Problem is they can only offer Hartenstein like 16 million a year. Similar situation to Nuggets and Bruce Brown last year
This is one of the stats (like Philly being 31-8 with Embiid in the regular season) that just isn't big enough to mean all that much, though it sounds great. The Celtics are 23-4 without KP, what do we take from that?
The Cavs went 18-3 or something like that at one point. Doesn't seem to make a difference now.
View: https://twitter.com/IanBegley/status/1788683118976680008
As expected. People have joked (not without merit) that the Celtics are getting a super smooth path to the finals, but the Pacers have stumbled into an unbelievable patch of luck here.
As expected. People have joked (not without merit) that the Celtics are getting a super smooth path to the finals, but the Pacers have stumbled into an unbelievable patch of luck here.
As a Syracuse fan, the big minutes the Knicks are piling up doesn't faze me. Cuse would almost always whittle its rotation down to 6.5 for the NCAA Tourney, and they'd end up having 2 or 3 guys go a full 40 minutes each game.
I don't think Brunson getting 4-5 more minutes off each game would make much of a difference. These guys all get banged up regardless just due to the physical intensity of playoff games.
To me the bigger issue is that NYK has fewer options to turn to when someone is having an off night. I think that's the challenge of playing with a short bench.
I don't think Brunson getting 4-5 more minutes off each game would make much of a difference. These guys all get banged up regardless just due to the physical intensity of playoff games.
To me the bigger issue is that NYK has fewer options to turn to when someone is having an off night. I think that's the challenge of playing with a short bench.
Phi had a hobbled Embid, who was crucial to Phil. Indiana has a good coach and talented team that are reverting to passive knuckleheadism when the going gets tight.
Thus: is NKY a team that is great until the pressure is turned up to 9.3 fpr 48 minutes (no need to go to 11). Like the Celts Play Did After Game 2 !!
I doubt it. But the question, as always with the Celts, is whether their worst enemy show up -- entitled lethargy.
That enemy showed up once these playoffs, and was quickly vanquished. It barely made appearances at all during the regular season. This team is different from prior iterations.
I'm less concerned now that this team will shoot itself in the foot, and more concerned that a physical defense like Minnesota's, with the new rules, can drag them into the mud.
what’s the headline supposed to say? Every single day “Celtics still the best team by far.”To wit, this is ESPN five minutes ago:
It's concern trolling, and to DotB's point, C's fans are reacting to a more negative tone about their team than other teams.
It's basically the same thing we talk about with NYTimes election coverage.
To be fair also, Anthony Edwards has been better than probably everyone else in the playoffs (including Brunson given his defensive value), so that's not even really a knock on Tatum anyway, despite ESPN's attempt
That’s kinda fair to ask with the way Minnesota and Edwards have played in the postseason. The easy answers are Yes and PossiblyTo wit, this is ESPN five minutes ago:
Because of tonight. They haven’t won anything yet and are a .500 team at home in the playoffs over 3 seasons.
No one watching this game?
IND starts Nesmith on Brunson. Brunson looks like he doesn't have his usual lift.
IND starts Nesmith on Brunson. Brunson looks like he doesn't have his usual lift.
It's not as much intensity as there's a lot more movement.
IND has missed or not taken a ton of layups.
It feels like a lot of guys are so used to driving and kicking that they don't notice when they have a layup available on their drive.
It took awhile, but haliburton finally showed up. Excellent first half for him, 23 points with a minute left.
If Carlisle has him on Brunson for another possession in this series it would be borderline criminal. Nesmith’s minutes need to mirror Brunson’s and if he needs a blow you bring in McConnell. It’s not that hard Rick.
As if Brunson’s postseason performance hasn’t been jaw dropping enough….he’s doing it under the post-ASB whistle.
I agree. I would also argue his game is better suited for a more physical style allowed than most. He had a drive last game where he initiated contact on McConnell three separate times on one drive. Minnesota and New York have probably benefitted more than any two teams with the "new" rules.
Agreed. I'm not sure how many minutes Nembhard should get in the rest of this series. Doesn't really have a role since he can't guard Brunson.
I watch this series, this game, and it bothers me that there are players on both teams that are playing their hearts out, Brunson, Hart, DiVicenzo, Hartenstein, Siakim, Haliburton, Nesmith. The games seem to mean something more important to them. I’ve yet to see that intensity from any of the Celtics this playoff season, and I’ve seen nothing that tells me the Celtics will be able to match up with either of these teams. If it comes to that.
He’s simultaneously so much improved from his time in Boston and holy cow not someone you want to count on for big playoff minutes.
To be fair, it is tough to have same intensity when all Knicks games have been close (win or loss), and none of Celtics games have (win or loss)