thelesterlee
Biggest storyline of the season:
Some people can talk about Julius Randle’s regression. Others will bring up the rise of RJ Barrett. Are the Knicks angling for a Dame Lillard trade? I’ve heard it all. But the biggest storyline of the year is the return of Tom Thibodeau.
There’s a reason why Thibs was available for the Knicks to sign him. Because he was unemployed. The best coaches in the NBA tend to be too busy coaching their teams to answer craigslist job postings.
Last season, Thibs transformed them into a Top 5 defense in the NBA. But he’s known to grind his players into dust and we saw these guys too gassed to dribble a basketball in that first round series against Atlanta.
I’m genuinely curious to see if/when these players eventually revolt against Thibs.
How the Knicks can win the title:
The Portland Trailblazers have a terrible first half of the season and Damiam Lillard finally gets fed up enough to demand a trade but specifically to the Knicks. Lillard is one of the handful of guys that could lead a team to a championship. As long as the team isn’t put together by the blazers front office and he doesn’t have to face LeBron or Steph.
Key Players
RJ Barrett: This kid has slowly been progressing year after year busting his ass and adding new layers to his game. Jumping from 32% shooting from behind the arc to 40% is nuts. 61% free throw shooting to 74%. 14 points a game to 17. And now Elfrid Payton is fucking OUT of here. He has an actual point guard next to him. Future All-Star.
Julius Randle: In his first career playoff series, Randle shot 29% from the field with 23 turnovers in 5 games. He was the worst player on the planet for a 2-week stretch. But Julius seems like a psychopath who has been watching that Hawks film over and over again making sure that never occurs again.
Evan Fournier: In 16 games with the Boston Celtics last season, Evan Fournier shot 46.3% from 3. He also busted Team USA’s ass in the Olympics. Had Lillard looking like he was playing defense in wet socks.
Derrick Rose: Google ‘Derrick Rose consent’. That is all.
Obi Toppin: Obi is going to have an amazing career on another team when the Knicks eventually trade him and that’s fine because behind Julius Randle, he’s never going to get the minutes he needs to thrive.
Obi Toppin MY GOODNESS 💪 pic.twitter.com/gKkZoscXgP
— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) October 10, 2021
Immannuel Quickley: IQ scored 11 points in 19 minutes a game last season. With D-Rose and Kemba taking turns wearing suits on the bench, Quickley is going to have a huge sophomore season leading the Knicks in 3’s made.
Kemba Walker: He averaged 19 points and 5 assists last year with his knees throbbing. Elfrid Payton averaged 10 and 3 healthy as hell. Kemba can limp up and down the court every possession and he’d be astronomically better than his predecessor. Don’t tread on Kemba.
Kevin Knox: Motherfucker is still in the NBA and you have to give him credit for that. Or not. Whatever.
