The Knicks outperformed expectations this season, finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference standings and winning a playoff series, but their impressive run came to an end on Friday with a Game 6 loss in Miami.
One player who couldn’t be blamed for the Knicks’ Eastern Conference Semifinals loss? Jalen Brunson. New York’s major 2022 free agent addition poured in 41 points in just over 45 minutes, with the Knicks winning those minutes by three points — they were outscored by seven in the 2:50 that Brunson spent on the bench in a 96-92 loss.
Brunson had no help on Friday, with the Knicks’ other four starters combining to shoot 5-of-32 from the field, writes Mike Vaccaro of The New York Post. As Vaccaro notes, Brunson blamed himself for a late turnover that helped the Heat seal the game, but if it weren’t for his efforts, New York wouldn’t have had a chance to win at all. With his Game 6 performance, the veteran guard put an exclamation point on an incredible first season as a Knick and earned effusive praise from the head coach on the opposing bench.
“How’s that dude not an All-Star or All-NBA?” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after the game when he spoke to reporters, including Nick Friedell of ESPN. “He should be on one of those teams. I wish he was still out West. But man, you gotta respect him as a competitor. He’s like a lot of the guys in our locker room. He’s got an iron will. There’s something about these Villanova guys. … He’s just an incredible competitor.”
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Knicks forward RJ Barrett and Julius Randle weren’t happy with how they played on Friday with the club’s season on the line, but they view the highs and lows of the playoff experience as good teaching moments for the future and are optimistic that better things are ahead, Friedell writes at ESPN.com.
- In a separate story for ESPN.com, Friedell examines the three biggest questions facing the Knicks this offseason, including whether they’ll revisit the trade market in search of a disgruntled star. Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype and ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Insider link) also preview the biggest decisions facing New York in the coming months.
- The Knicks are in an enviable position entering the summer, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic, who points to the team’s playoff run and Brunson’s breakout season as reasons why it should be easier than it was a year ago to sell a star player on the situation on New York. Armed with promising young players and plenty of future draft picks, the franchise has the assets to acquire an impact player or to continue building patiently, as Ian Begley of SNY.tv writes.
- Asked about the future of Josh Hart, who can turn down a player option to become a free agent this offseason, head coach Tom Thibodeau replied, “I love the guy so that would be … we’d love to have him back” (Twitter link via Begley). Rival executives reportedly consider Hart extremely likely to sign a new deal with the Knicks.
They need a guy like kuzma
I agree, he would be a good fit cause he is versatile. Can play SF and PF and is a decent defender.
That is literally the exact opposite of what the Knicks need.
Barrett, Robinson, Randle, Grimes played terrible.
Hart actually played decent, should have played him more instead of Grimes in my opinion.
Knicks should be looking to upgrade up-front, and behind if they want to crack the curse of the semi’s
Randle hid like he does for the playoffs, double team and he is lost. I wouldn’t resign Hart for a big deal. He is a nice player but let’s not over pay. We need to package picks Obi, or Barrett for a legitimate scorer. Give us 1/2 and Randle.
We are close
Ok ……. here’s the real scoop !!!!
RJ is still young and improving. But he did have a terrible gm6. This team didn’t help him cause they didn’t use him right. That’s coaching and the makeup of this team. RJ did not shoot well but was effective in first half. Cause he put pressure on their D going to the rim. Knicks should have posted him to help him. A motion offense also would have helped him…….
Unfortunately Randle is not built for a motion offense. And again did not handle the double teams well. And this offense did not help him.
Takes too much space to explain this iso offense. That Thibs just loves. And I’m sick off.
When you play bully ball, as both do. And are pretty good at it. You should be posting miss matches. There should be plays run for you on post. Not only iso ball 30 ft from basket. Doing this also gets their D in foul trouble. Which is part of bully ball. And you get Bam in foul trouble. Then the WHOLE gm changes.
I am not a fan of Randle. He’s a ball stopper and a drama Queen. Been saying this for yrs. Rose and Mgmt also have their questions about Randle. It’s why they drafted Obi1 instead of Haliburton. Seems Thibs is big on Randle. And Unfortunately this loyalty can backfire. I’ll be watching to see how mgmt handles this. I would include Randle in a trade (Mavs). And I would do all I can to improve RJs shooting woes …..
It’s not about a disgruntled star. It’s about one that fits us. It’s a rebuild we need to see thru. Not jump at the first offering. We have become a playoff team with toughness. I believe Cavs are better and we beat them. So it’s a huge step this yr. Heat toughness and chemistry is what we strive for. We are a lot alike imo.
NYK is definitely a place a player would want to come to now. I agree. But it’s not for everyone. There aren’t star FAs we can sign. So it’s going to take a trade. I just know we will be better next yr.
Year THREE of “The Rebuild” …. is done
preseason odds for Knicks 38.5 gms
Future is bright once again in NYK land.
link to basketball-reference.com
For all the geniuses and lunatics who Only come here to hate. This is how you build a team, a winner. It starts from the draft. And you get a coach who can teach. Not all can do this in NY. Thibs is from the area. And has coached here. So he understands what he is up against. It’s why he was a good choice. Now the HARD part begins. Expectations will be higher. And patience will be thinner. Cause the amateur fan in NY. Is ten times worse than the clowns who come here.
And I’m talking about a certain group. You know who you are. So change your handles, Again.
First, I’m sure a lot of your fan base did change their handles today so they can root for the remaining teams.
Now you’re right about rebuilding teams. I see it with the Heat. Bam and Herro, who are both younger than both Brunson and Randle (neither drafted by the Knicks) who are 2/3rds of your team’s “Big Three”. Yes, these types of young players are how you build a team.
And Spo says that he loves loves loves the idea of Thibs being the Knicks coach. He’s loved coaching against Thibs for years in the postseason. And Pat Riley showed he could coach in NY. Shame that James Dolan didn’t give Riley what Micky Arison did – full control to run the team as he saw fit…six
finals appearances and three championships ago!
Knick fans don’t run lol. We are not the crazy Yankee fans. We are for the most part the educated fan. This goes back to the beginning of the NBA . Try reading the history. NY put basketball on the map. Look it up ……
And this post is for a certain group who only come here to hate. Didn’t take you for one of them. I’m talking the ones from planet Uranus.
But let me school you about Riley. He got a big ego cause he was fortunate to have Ewing. NY will do that to you. Give you a false sense of greatness. Cause we love and support our teams so hard. And no coach will ever get part ownership of Knicks.
Again you are showing your lack of knowledge. Knicks are bigger than most MLB and NFL teams. Only sorry City s give away piece of team to lure a coach. And half of Miami population comes from north East. It’s Why third of arena there roots for Knicks. All you need to know is. Even thru all the losing yrs. Knicks have always sold out MSG. We are the highest valued team in NBA since for ever lol. I’m the real thing remember that.
Yeah, Knicks fans are educated. Spike Lee gives the air of a knowledgeable basketball fan every single time he squawks. So does Steven A. Smith when he yells the same thing over and over and over again to let everyone know that yelling makes him right. And Mike Lupica wreaks of wisdom. And those lifelong Knicks fans that wear Brooklyn Nets jerseys are the epitome of knowledgeable.
I’m not one here to hate. I just got a kick out of you pretty much doing what NY sports fans do – dismiss opponents, guarantee success, and make plans like something has already happened. Sorry, but you have to admit that you set yourself up for ridicule the second you dismissed the Heat – which has been one of the elite Eastern Conference teams for a long time, and known for their culture that no one…absolutely no one should ever dismiss. Even Miami-hating E!SPN made a statement about dismissing the Heat “to your own peril.”
And school me about Riley? While I will agree that an owner giving part ownership is a high price to pay, but it’s what Arison does with his team…even giving a little to former players that he wants to stay with the organization in special roles (building the culture). That’s his choice whether you, I or anyone agree with it. However, be honest. You know that Dolan has not been the model of ownership – and the vast majority of your Knicks fan brethren don’t like him.
Now for the rest of the Riley stuff, Riley got an ego because he was fortunate to coach Ewing in NY? Really? I didn’t realize that Ewing was the best player that Riley ever coached up to that point? I didn’t realize that NY was the only major metropolitan city he coached in either. I also didn’t realize that his one trip to the Finals with the Knicks was his highest form of success in his career at that point. Somehow, I always thought Riley’s ego was already in place prior to the Knicks because he was fortunate to coach some guys name Magic, Kareem and Worthy in some small town called Los Angeles where…hmmm…let me see what’s in that rural town…I think it’s part of Hollywood. And while there, I may be wrong about this, but I think he may have won some championships, but it’s hard to remember since he played in such an irrelevant town and coached some forgettable players.
As for his time with the Heat, the proof is in the pudding that bringing him was worth it. I know you wish your Knicks had the success Riley brought here. Remember, we were a middle of the road franchise before he came here. As for the fans, yeah, good luck with thinking that 1/3rd of our arena are Knicks fans. It’s a lot less than that. NYers are just loud people – and South Floridians, including the transplants from other places, find being a loudmouth obnoxious, especially when you hear about 5% of the arena having louder mouths than the other 95%. And guess what, the majority of that small “Knicks fan base” down here have no problem wearing their D-Wade, Alonzo or LeBron jerseys to our parades (true fact that I personally know about so-called Knicks fans I know).
Finally, so the Knicks are the most valuable franchise since forever? So you’re schooling me? Really? Ahem….link to nbcsports.com
Enjoy doing the NY thing of living in the state of denial.
This is the response to the articles posted from espn …. here.
Definitely need to resign Hart. They definitely could use more shooting but, the best move would be to add to the defense. Their defense is all ready good, but theu should maximize it, become dominate in that part of the game
You’re not going to win any game, much less an elimination game in the playoffs when your other four starters go 5/32 from the field. Randle isn’t that guy. Barrett? He’s wildly inconsistent. This team lacks an interior scorer like a KAT. They have good role players but no alpha male besides Brunson. The window for NYK is now. Brunson is only there for 3 more years. If harden leaves the east and Brown gets traded from Boston, NYK could move up if they play this right. I’d go after DeRozan and they offer us Barrett. Then flip Randle because him and Brunson do not work well together. They both need the ball in their hands. I trust Brunson. Kid is made for MSG and NYC. I don’t trust Thibs getting this team to the next level, especially with Nurse out there having to be had.
Nurse ….. geez man. I wouldn’t want him as an assistant coach. It’s year three here for Thibs. We are way ahead of schedule. Let’s see what they do this off season. Relax
Brunson and Hart played their first yr in NY. We are one of youngest team in playoffs. We have options and deals we can make. It’s looking up for Knicks now.
Al,
Do you honestly trust a coach who has gone to one conference finals in his entire coaching career? Or do you trust the guy who delivered a title to a city that had no business winning? Nurse is light years ahead in terms of coaching. Thibs act will wear thin if they start off to slow again. Nurse has the ability to coach up young guys. Look at how FVW, GT III, and OG have played since he became the HC. It’s a no brainer. You need to get to the next level and Nurse gives you that opportunity and window with this ridiculously “cheap” Brinson contract.
First off this is year three. Why would Knicks even mention another coach lol. I trust him to keep rebuilding. He still has time to get it right. We need players now. Not a coach. Knicks have talent. They win by playing as a team. That’s cause of Thibs. Brunson is the only star we got. And he just got here. Yes Spoelstra out coached him. But we weren’t even suppose to beat Cavs. We don’t need a coach. We need a DeRozan or Beal. Or a younger player with star potential. Like Ayton, Wiseman, OG. SGA. But it’s not what we want that matters. It’s who will be available. And we don’t know that yet. I know that Rose is not as big on Randle as Thibs is. I know that this is the yr they go for the HR. I’d be happy with a Triple or a shutout. All about who’s out there. Patience we need patience ….. Let’s see what they do for next yr.
Hey, I’m happy with the Knicks season overall. They finally solved their long standing PG issue , won a 1st Round series for the first time in almost a decade, and have young players and trade assets to either play the long game again, or go star hunting.
I’m concerned with Randle being a Robin to Brunson as Batman. I don’t know that Julius’ game doesn’t play as well in the playoffs. I’m also not sold on Barrett making the Andrew Wiggins leap. That all said, based on where the team was three years ago, it’s exciting times in lower Manhattan.
I’ve tried to school people here about Randle for yrs. He deserves a lot of credit for becoming the player he is. He’s got Thibs respect, that’s for sure.
But he is not a fit here. He’s a ball stopper and emotionally needy. Not a good sign in NYC. He’s not a good fit with Jalen. And clearly Jalen is top dog now. He’s from Dallas. So I think he’d love to play there. And would not go against Luka or Kyrie. He’d try to fit in there. Absolutely believe we should explore trading him.
Mitch, Fournier, Quickley, Randle are the four players I’m comfortable trading. Plus we got plenty of picks we can use. And DeRozan is first player I’d try to get. He could finish his career as a Knick. As far as Mavs are concerned. I would look at Wood and Bertans in some combo for Randle.
RJ has to improve his shot, has to.
The offseason agenda is the same as it was before the MIA series. They’re 3 years into a rebuild, and the decisions are tougher now.
The FO likes the guys in the current group, and for the most part should. But they can’t add the skill sets they want to, without deducting (or downsizing the roles of) some of the current guys. There are only so many minutes and shots to go around.
Obviously, they need better 3 pt shooting. Its as much (or more) a spacing issue than a scoring issue, and principally a wing problem. When I look at the skill sets and shot distribution of the current group (including Hart as a core piece), it’s hard for me to see a real resolution of the shooting/spacing issue as long as both Randle and Barrett are on the team at their current usage levels.
I always had a hard time pegging who, or what, or how, and when with Randle in LA
Although he’s gotten a million times better in Ny I oddly still kinda have those same questions with him today relative to how he fits in todays NBA
Never expected to be at tha game last night, but it was technically a childhood dream to be there, and I had a couple of tears in my eye in the final seconds, remembering where I was when the Heat played the Knicks year after year in the playoffs, losing some devastating way…Alan Houston.
Knicks played hard. I strongly disagreed with their rotation decisions in this series, and think their young players are a lot better than they do. When Yoppin made those 3s in the first half, I was nervous. I thought they played better with certain guys at different positions, and its unfortunate Thibodeau didnt make any adjustments at all
I wouldn’t move anybody of the main pieces, and look to add a spacer at the 4 that can adequately defend and/or another 2/3 wing shooter that doesnt need the ball in their hands, in addition to keeping Hart
Randle needs to be used more at the 5 in the appropriate matchups, same as Toppin
Mitch has not become the force he should be. Bam abused him. Heat took Mitch out of middle and they abused him. Heat had 18 more points in paint. So please don’t tell me about Mitch’s D. The guy doesn’t have quick feet. He still can be a solid rim protector. But frankly I’d rather go in another direction. There’s a reason Knicks were looking at Turner ok. I like Hartenstein as a backup. To me Sims can give us what Mitch gives us. And what bothers me more. Is we passed on Duren in the draft. I would have traded Mitch and drafted Duren. Who I believe has a better future.