Kat

[Porckchop]

Rumors of Knicks players sharing the same frustrations some of us had with Kat.
Something or nothing? Kat equipped to play down the rumors?

[rapsuperstar31]

They had their best season in 35 some years, but they also lost in 6 to a team they took to 7 games last year with Randle hurt and OG only played in 2 full games. The Knicks went 2-0 in the two full games OG played in, and the Knicks basically swapped out Donte and Hartenstein for Towns and Bridges from the Knicks team that lost to Indiana in 7 last year. Hard to say, but they should be happy for making the ECF, but focused on making it further now which is what we wanted to do and ended up in the same place of losing in 5 in the WCF.

[Coolbreeze44]

Already seeing lots of KAT trade rumors

[WildWolf2813]

His former agent is the President of the team.

His former POBO is the GM.

His former coach here is the coach there.

All those players knew KAT's strengths and weakness and were predisposed to not liking him.

Fact of the matter is, his shortcomings shouldn't have been a surprise, but dammit he was good for them all in all. What's Bridges' excuse for not being the defender he used to be? Also, Brunson looks like he's been figured out.


Basically, Brunson and Towns defensively doesn't look like it'll work, but Brunson the beloved athlete in NYC, not KAT so if someone has to go, that's an easy choice and now Knicks fans think KAT will get them Giannis.

[Q-is-here]

They had their best season in 35 some years, but they also lost in 6 to a team they took to 7 games last year with Randle hurt and OG only played in 2 full games. The Knicks went 2-0 in the two full games OG played in, and the Knicks basically swapped out Donte and Hartenstein for Towns and Bridges from the Knicks team that lost to Indiana in 7 last year. Hard to say, but they should be happy for making the ECF, but focused on making it further now which is what we wanted to do and ended up in the same place of losing in 5 in the WCF.

The trade really was a win-win in that the Knicks did advance further than last season and the Wolves extricated themselves from the 2nd apron stuff without taking a step back, but I know Knicks fans aren't satisfied as I'm sure they expected to beat the Pacers.

I feel like both Minnesota and New York encountered a similar fate. Both teams ran up against an opponent that was 100% secure in their identity and executed to it like a well-oiled machine. For Indiana at least, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts and Rick Carlisle should get a ton of credit. OKC on the other hand is both well coached AND ridiculously talented. That's how you win 68 games and just destroy people along the way.

As for KAT, he played pretty damn well overall relative to his career playoff history. Why on earth does Thibs put him in drop coverage though!? He's always been absolutely terrible at it.

[Wolvesfan21]

His former agent is the President of the team.

His former POBO is the GM.

His former coach here is the coach there.

All those players knew KAT's strengths and weakness and were predisposed to not liking him.

Fact of the matter is, his shortcomings shouldn't have been a surprise, but dammit he was good for them all in all. What's Bridges' excuse for not being the defender he used to be? Also, Brunson looks like he's been figured out.


Basically, Brunson and Towns defensively doesn't look like it'll work, but Brunson the beloved athlete in NYC, not KAT so if someone has to go, that's an easy choice and now Knicks fans think KAT will get them Giannis.

No one is really saying he's not a good player. He's biggest weaknesses though are his bloated contract and defense/fouling. Not to mention his roller coaster history in the playoffs. Too much hit and miss for his contract when that money can more wisely be used.

[FNG]

They had their best season in 35 some years, but they also lost in 6 to a team they took to 7 games last year with Randle hurt and OG only played in 2 full games. The Knicks went 2-0 in the two full games OG played in, and the Knicks basically swapped out Donte and Hartenstein for Towns and Bridges from the Knicks team that lost to Indiana in 7 last year. Hard to say, but they should be happy for making the ECF, but focused on making it further now which is what we wanted to do and ended up in the same place of losing in 5 in the WCF.

The trade really was a win-win in that the Knicks did advance further than last season and the Wolves extricated themselves from the 2nd apron stuff without taking a step back, but I know Knicks fans aren't satisfied as I'm sure they expected to beat the Pacers.

I feel like both Minnesota and New York encountered a similar fate. Both teams ran up against an opponent that was 100% secure in their identity and executed to it like a well-oiled machine. For Indiana at least, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts and Rick Carlisle should get a ton of credit. OKC on the other hand is both well coached AND ridiculously talented. That's how you win 68 games and just destroy people along the way.

As for KAT, he played pretty damn well overall relative to his career playoff history. Why on earth does Thibs put him in drop coverage though!? He's always been absolutely terrible at it.

But is it Thibs' fault, Q, or is it just the way KAT likes to defend? The TV team made it seem like the latter, questioning over and over again what he was doing on defense as Indy continually targeted him in the pick and roll. But overall I thought KAT was very good on offense throughout the playoffs. His opponents made a concerted effort to take away his 3-ball, so instead he relentlessly drove to the basket...and quite effectively!

But I'm not surprised that there are already trade rumors swirling around him. He's always going to be appreciated less than his offensive brilliance because of three things: his glaringly bad defense, his weird stray voltage offensive fouls, and his odd interviews. He's an intelligent, nice guy it seems, but some of the things that come out of his mouth are cringeworthy.

[Monster]

Wait it's Towns fault that the Knicks lost to the Pacers?

It wasn't Bridges putting up something like Jaden McDaniels (playoff) level scoring?

It wasn't the lack of bench production compared to the Pacers? The Pacers had 3 players that scored more than the highest scoring Knicks bench player. Shamet was basically the only guard that was effective offensively. The Knicks played their bench the 2nd least only to Denver in the playoffs and also scored the 2nd least points. The disparity is pretty stark compared to other playoff teams and especially the conference finals teams and their bench shot 38.5 from the floor in the playoffs. Only 2 Knicks bench players scored more points in the playoffs than TSJ who played a whopping 57 minutes. Ben Shepard played almost 4 times as many minutes and scored 47 points which again would have been an easy 3rd place on the Knicks bench scoring.

It wasn't the Knicks losing the rebound and turnover stats and shot worse from the field and 3 than the Pacers?

I didn't watch all the series but I didn't see this massive targeting of Towns on defense. I did see Mitchell Robinson do some of his own silly fouls. I often forgot Bridges and/or annaoby where even on the floor. But yes it's Towns fault they didn't go farther. The guy basically put up 25 and 12 on reasonably good efficiency in the Pacers series and yeah it's him.

I don't get it. It seems to me like they need more depth.

[FNG]

Wait it's Towns fault that the Knicks lost to the Pacers?

It wasn't Bridges putting up something like Jaden McDaniels (playoff) level scoring?

It wasn't the lack of bench production compared to the Pacers? The Pacers had 3 players that scored more than the highest scoring Knicks bench player. Shamet was basically the only guard that was effective offensively. The Knicks played their bench the 2nd least only to Denver in the playoffs and also scored the 2nd least points. The disparity is pretty stark compared to other playoff teams and especially the conference finals teams and their bench shot 38.5 from the floor in the playoffs. Only 2 Knicks bench players scored more points in the playoffs than TSJ who played a whopping 57 minutes. Ben Shepard played almost 4 times as many minutes and scored 47 points which again would have been an easy 3rd place on the Knicks bench scoring.

It wasn't the Knicks losing the rebound and turnover stats and shot worse from the field and 3 than the Pacers?

I didn't watch all the series but I didn't see this massive targeting of Towns on defense. I did see Mitchell Robinson do some of his own silly fouls. I often forgot Bridges and/or annaoby where even on the floor. But yes it's Towns fault they didn't go farther. The guy basically put up 25 and 12 on reasonably good efficiency in the Pacers series and yeah it's him.

I don't get it. It seems to me like they need more depth.

Monster, Wild Wolf is more tuned in to the NY media than any of us, so he'll have to weigh in, but my observation is that KAT's defense is being thrown out there as a big reason for the Knicks losing. I don't expect that Bridges is getting a pass, but the fans also know he makes half of what KAT makes, and they know KAT will be making $61 million in a couple years! Expectations for him have to be much higher. And you needed to watch the series to see how relentlessly Indy targeted KAT in the pick and roll, knowing it was going to yield a wide open midrange shot every time...it was frankly sad to watch. KAT is a remarkable talent and might be the best shooting big in the game today, but I found myself whispering a silent prayer to TC often during this series for getting us out from under that ridiculous $61 million.

[Lipoli390]

They had their best season in 35 some years, but they also lost in 6 to a team they took to 7 games last year with Randle hurt and OG only played in 2 full games. The Knicks went 2-0 in the two full games OG played in, and the Knicks basically swapped out Donte and Hartenstein for Towns and Bridges from the Knicks team that lost to Indiana in 7 last year. Hard to say, but they should be happy for making the ECF, but focused on making it further now which is what we wanted to do and ended up in the same place of losing in 5 in the WCF.

The trade really was a win-win in that the Knicks did advance further than last season and the Wolves extricated themselves from the 2nd apron stuff without taking a step back, but I know Knicks fans aren't satisfied as I'm sure they expected to beat the Pacers.

I feel like both Minnesota and New York encountered a similar fate. Both teams ran up against an opponent that was 100% secure in their identity and executed to it like a well-oiled machine. For Indiana at least, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts and Rick Carlisle should get a ton of credit. OKC on the other hand is both well coached AND ridiculously talented. That's how you win 68 games and just destroy people along the way.

As for KAT, he played pretty damn well overall relative to his career playoff history. Why on earth does Thibs put him in drop coverage though!? He's always been absolutely terrible at it.

I agree with your take, Q. It’s a natural impulse for fans and pundits to look for individual scapegoats in the face of disappointment. In fact, it’s human nature to do so. KAT has his faults and we all know what they are. TC acquired Rudy to cover for those mistakes. But let’s remember that this team with KAT also won 46 games and took the team with the best record in the West to 6 games in the playoffs the year before Rudy arrived. Note that Jaden and Ant were only 20 years old and playing in their 2nd NBA season back then. Yes, it’s frustrating to watch KAT defend the pick and roll and even more frustrating to watch him commit so many dumb fouls. So I understand some of the NY sentiment. But blaming KAT for losing the Indiana series seems off base to me.