Really fun game last night. Other than RJ's two bricked crunch time free throws, he had a great 4th quarter. 4 3s overall last night on 6 attempts. He's at 34% from distance which is steadily getting him out of non shooter territory. In fact, since Jan 1 he's shooting 39% from 3 which is decidedly a threat from distance.
Frank with another big time defensive play to seal the win. The story stays the same, if he can find a way to contribute on offense he'll get minutes. He's definitely jumped Rivers in the rotation, and if Elfrid gets traded at the deadline looks like he'll find regular time.
I someone still don't think is being made enough about Julius Randle's turnaround. The Knicks took a PF 8th overall this season because I would assume -- like literally everybody else without the last name Randle -- that they thought Julius would be gone after the year. He was a ball hog, a poor defender, an average shooter, an iffy leader. Fast forward one offseason and literally every night he is leading them in a number of categories and showing something new. Last night he held Sabonis to 15 points including a prayer banked 3 with 30 seconds left (Noel helped at the end due to foul woes) and had 4 steals. One of the most remarkable year over year turnarounds I've ever seen to be honest, and I don't think that's hyperbole. I'm actually curious if anyone can bring up some similar situations in the past, even across sports.
And then that leads into the Knicks as a team. 4th overall in the east. Still only .500, but coming into the year the question was "which top 5 guy makes the most sense in this loaded draft". Now they're on pace to pick around 20th. This is another situation I just don't remember there being another clear parallel for. Expected complete bottom dweller in the NBA turns into potential home court advantage team in the playoffs. It's a really fun group to watch too. The bench is active and gets hyped, they seem to love playing with each other. It's a really fun team to watch. I have friends from out of state texting me stuff about the Knicks for the first time in forever. Really did not see this as in the realm of possibilities this year, but wow what a pleasant surprise.
Going to be a sneaky tough game against the Pistons. Have to travel to Detroit, Taj is probably unlikely to play, and Noel just played 41 minutes. I really think they should consider bringing up Skal Labissiere from Westchester, who at least has played NBA minutes before and waiving Harper. I bet Obi gets more burn as well. Should be a fun one against a beatable team but with some challenges.
At what cost?
Also he just turned down a 2 year deal for 45 million.
If it's just for this season I would not want to give up draft capital or anything more than maybe Knox.
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Rockets are one of the few sellers in the league, Knicks have cap space to absorb the contract and save Houston some money, we could use an upgrade over Bullock in the starting lineup, and Scott Perry will use whatever power he has left to talk Leon Rose into it. It really wouldn't be that bad a gamble.
At what cost?
Also he just turned down a 2 year deal for 45 million.
If it's just for this season I would not want to give up draft capital or anything more than maybe Knox.
you wouldnt do say frank knox bullock and a 2nd?
It is not going to take a crazy deal to get him..
the deal Houston offered was the max they could offer him
i still dont understand why stan van gundy gets so much love
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They need more consistent 3pt shooting, and they could use a point guard.
Dipo's neither one. You can debate that his shooting would be better with more improved shot selection and/or lower attempts, but what the Knicks actually need is a go-to shooter who may have to take a lot of attempts.
Looking at the upcoming free agent class and its pretty weak.
Unrestricted- Kawhi, CP3 ( if he opts out), Conley, Oladipo, Derozan, Mills, Lowry and Drummond.
Restricted - Duncan Robinson, Trent Jr., John Collins, Deovante Graham, Markannen, Jarret Allen, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart.
Unless they very very unlikely happens and Kawhi wants out, I would prefer the Knicks pursue some of the restricted free agents and see if they can nab one. I really don't think Oladipo is the right move.
Thrilled Kenny Payne is here - he'll be at the gym with him whenever he wants, particularly during rough patches.
Team chemistry is great - everyone knows the Knicks have struggled and the current players want to be part of the culture shift.
Can't believe the loud "DE-FENSE" chants are only coming from 2,000 people these past couple of games.
Not much beyond that - LaGreca and Rosenberg know nothing about basketball so it's always a tough spot. Knicks have made Randle and Quickley available to The Michael Kay Show this year, and both guys are great interviews.
He's getting 44 mill next year on his option. You think 70 over 2 gets him?
I hope he never hits another shot
Hey give him a participation trophy though he actually suited up tonight!
100%, he is not what we need. We need a shooter to space the floor.
The second-half schedule is a real bear. I don't think they'll get fooled into thinking they should make a big move, but I could sure see them making a small add.
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or 2 or maybe 3, Rose and Thibs are not jjst going to sitback and ride it out..
The second-half schedule is a real bear. I don't think they'll get fooled into thinking they should make a big move, but I could sure see them making a small add.
I dont think the big move is out there unless something surprising happens..
I don't see the move being there and if they are it will be small moves.
This is a surprising year but should not have them fooled into thinking they are a big move away.
The good news is that it seems unlikely that this Knicks regime will overpay for VO. Previous regimes would absolutely have already pulled the trigger and overpaid. I feel pretty good that if VO ends up a Knick, the cost will be something we can live with.
Why not, is there any move available that can make this team a serious contender? Then why use your trading pieces on moves that will only improve your short-term playoff chances?
He's such a phony.
He's not a good shooter. That's one's easy. It's hard to provide spacing if you're shooting 32% from 3 and that's not even wildly out of character for his career.
Reggie Bullock is shooting 38%, for reference.
If Oladipo can't find the dollars he's looking for this summer, maybe we can get him on a one year deal. Wouldn't be the worst thing.
Again not saying i want him, but the idea that because he doesnt shoot 40% he doesnt improve us doesnt make sense. Everyone said the same thing about Rose and i think he has improved the team.
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or provide spacing.
He's not a good shooter. That's one's easy. It's hard to provide spacing if you're shooting 32% from 3 and that's not even wildly out of character for his career.
Reggie Bullock is shooting 38%, for reference.
The difference is Bullock only shoots wide open corner 3s.
Oladipo is letting it fly off the dribble.
I'm not saying he's a good shooter, but I'd trust him to make a 3 over Bullock.
Again not saying i want him, but the idea that because he doesnt shoot 40% he doesnt improve us doesnt make sense. Everyone said the same thing about Rose and i think he has improved the team.
Yup, look what adding Rose did to the starting unit
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In comment 15164568 Heisenberg said:
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or provide spacing.
He's not a good shooter. That's one's easy. It's hard to provide spacing if you're shooting 32% from 3 and that's not even wildly out of character for his career.
Reggie Bullock is shooting 38%, for reference.
The difference is Bullock only shoots wide open corner 3s.
Oladipo is letting it fly off the dribble.
I'm not saying he's a good shooter, but I'd trust him to make a 3 over Bullock.
I mean, yeah I agree with this, but trusting him more than Reggie Bullock is still not a ringing endorsement or a reason to pay him the contract he’s going to want.
The next big long term salary they should add should be a legit all star with very few warts who fits in their timeline. Someone 25-27. Lavine, Booker, Beal make the most sense.
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In comment 15164568 Heisenberg said:
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or provide spacing.
He's not a good shooter. That's one's easy. It's hard to provide spacing if you're shooting 32% from 3 and that's not even wildly out of character for his career.
Reggie Bullock is shooting 38%, for reference.
The difference is Bullock only shoots wide open corner 3s.
Oladipo is letting it fly off the dribble.
I'm not saying he's a good shooter, but I'd trust him to make a 3 over Bullock.
Yeah, this is the thing. They're roughly equivalent catch and shoot guys this year. (bullock 40% and VO 38%) But Oladipo offers a lot more offensively than Bullock. And a competitive team needs another guy who can take a big shot at the end of the game. Oladipo offers that.
The next big long term salary they should add should be a legit all star with very few warts who fits in their timeline. Someone 25-27. Lavine, Booker, Beal make the most sense.
bingo. They have to remain patient and look to pounce when a better/younger guy is available. Then you can overpay a bit if necessary.
I think if anything those are the 3 guys they would sell
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think adding Oladipo at any long term commitment really hurts the Knicks in the long term.
The next big long term salary they should add should be a legit all star with very few warts who fits in their timeline. Someone 25-27. Lavine, Booker, Beal make the most sense.
bingo. They have to remain patient and look to pounce when a better/younger guy is available. Then you can overpay a bit if necessary.
I agree with all of that. Basically this year is a blessing. We're way better than we have any right to be and have shown potential free agents that we're a good destination.
If we can trade a vet or someone who doesn't have future with the team for a pick or assets, that's the type of thing you do so you have more capital to maybe pursue one of these players during the offseason or draft night.
I actually think LaVine would be really good with this team right now.
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In comment 15164568 Heisenberg said:
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or provide spacing.
He's not a good shooter. That's one's easy. It's hard to provide spacing if you're shooting 32% from 3 and that's not even wildly out of character for his career.
Reggie Bullock is shooting 38%, for reference.
The difference is Bullock only shoots wide open corner 3s.
Oladipo is letting it fly off the dribble.
Is he though? I'm looking at his advanced shooting and maybe I'm interpreting the chart wrong, but it looks like 67% of his attempted 3s are off assists.
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likely feel differently, but I still think that if there's any kind of market for guys like Reggie, Elf, and Rivers, I'd be looking to sell on them. Or at the very least they should be looking to use their remaining cap space to take on a deal in exchange for a pick.
I think if anything those are the 3 guys they would sell
maybe you bring back Reggie on the cheap next season if Thibs really likes him. But he should be a rotation piece...not one of your starters logging heavy minutes.
I'd trade one of our ones and Knox. Is that enough?
Bullock Shot Tracking https://www.nba.com/stats/player/203493/shots-dash/
These stats track shots off dribbles, and shots at different times in the clock, etc.
I think if you look at these you can see that even this year, VO can do what RB is being asked to do by Thibs. He can fill that catch and shoot role. He can do as much for spacing as Bullock does.
But he's been asked to do a lot more including shots late in the clock off the dribble, etc. that Bullock hasn't been asked to do. This, combined with being traded to an absolute shit team mid season, can definitely mess with efficiency.
I think he's a good fit for the Knicks. I'll also be totally fine if the Knicks feel he's too costly to bring in.
The difference is Bullock only shoots wide open corner 3s.
Oladipo is letting it fly off the dribble.
Is he though? I'm looking at his advanced shooting and maybe I'm interpreting the chart wrong, but it looks like 67% of his attempted 3s are off assists.
NBA.com has catch-and-shoot % with VO listed at 38% on 3s.
I think you can dribble a few times and then attempt a pull-up and still have it count as "assisted".
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In comment 15164609 Ten Ton Hammer said:
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In comment 15164568 Heisenberg said:
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or provide spacing.
He's not a good shooter. That's one's easy. It's hard to provide spacing if you're shooting 32% from 3 and that's not even wildly out of character for his career.
Reggie Bullock is shooting 38%, for reference.
The difference is Bullock only shoots wide open corner 3s.
Oladipo is letting it fly off the dribble.
Is he though? I'm looking at his advanced shooting and maybe I'm interpreting the chart wrong, but it looks like 67% of his attempted 3s are off assists.
Good find. It's possible I'm off, although even if 67% of his attempts are off assists, that's 2.5 attempts per game that are coming off the dribble. Bullock attempts 4.6, I'd venture to guess a very small percentage of those are off the dribble.
I'd trade one of our ones and Knox. Is that enough?
he's a restricted free agent this summer so the Pelicans still have some control over the situation. There's no reason for them to sell low on him.
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Also that injury was in the first half and he returned to start the second so i think he was fine. Of course you would want to see that he is fine, but i think he is fine.