After last night's game I remember I now remember why I was so relieved last season when the Knicks were eliminated in the semifinals of the NBA playoffs. It’s a freaking exhausting sport. And the sad truth is the Knicks are getting beaten by Atlanta. Or maybe it's not so sad, because then I can tune into the playoffs with a detached interest, and save my kvetching for the Mets, and there is plenty to complain about there, LGM. #
I almost never question a coach's decisions, because they have complicated jobs I'm just a schmuck in the cheap seats but -- why didn't they put their top defenders, Mitchell Robinson or KAT and on the court with 12 seconds left with the Knicks ahead by 1. Instead they put in all these fast small players, as if they were planning on giving up a bucket and then quickly running down the court with what little time remained and scoring a quick one to win the freaking game. Why not just hold them right there and run out the clock and win the game?? It all happened so fast. (I asked ChatGPT about this theory and it says I'm wrong, they put in the small players because they can switch more easily, and that's likely how Atlanta was planning to defend their shooter.)#
The Knicks were out of timeouts, so they couldn't stop the clock. So I guess kind of predictably, esp the way things were going last night, the Hawk with the Hot Hand, CJ McCollum, gets the ball, dribbles a bit, and nails the shot that wins the game and now the Knicks are down 2-1 in a series they were supposed to win handily. #
I didn't and don't buy the idea that the Knicks are destined to appear in the finals this year, when you boast about it, or expect it, god has a way of goofing on you. The Knicks don't have it, because as great as Brunson is, he sucks all the energy out of the rest of the team, and when he's having a bad night, there really isn't an alternative. It's not a good configuration. As in the Melo years, Brunson doesn't make it as the captain. Melo had the size and talent, but he's sweet labrador retriever, the sidekick of the engine of the team, somone like LeBron, Steph Curry or Giannis. It's not just about skill and hard work, it's about how do you get the team to follow you. That isn't something you can learn, you either have it or you don't. And of course I will torture myself in this mode, wondering in vain how my Knicks will fare in this quarter, or that game -- until I get to retire from the NBA for the year, and instead get a belly ache about the Mets. #
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