Game #48 New York Knicks (23-24) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (28-19): A Tale of two Cities

[Dr. Detfink]

Stayin' Alive: The mighty Womack, born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Native New Yorkers might scoff but the "outsiders" who have lived and struggled in our fair city, redefined our consciousness. Can't say too much about it the other way around.
This season started with so much promise, then the wheels came off. Julius Randle regressed. Kemba Walker's chronic arthritic knee. Injuries. COVID protocols. Inconsistency. And a thumbs down gesture. At the end of the day, the Knicks are still within striking distance of a playoff spot. For now, they just have to tread water.

The Furious Five Thoughts:
1. Re-visiting James Harden Trade: When "the Beard" went to Brooklyn, many dismissed big man Jarrett Allen coming to Cleveland. It took Jarrett Allen five seasons to break-out. Five. After Kevin Love's contract is up (next season), he'll be the highest paid Cavalier locked in at $20M/season over next 4 yrs.

2. Salary Capology refined: F Isaac Okoro has $15M over 2 seasons, F Evan Mobley has $28M over three seasons, and Darius Garland $8.9M next season. Essentially 3/5 Cleveland Cavaliers starting line up cost roughly $23M to field. What a steal.

3. Win at any Cost or Develop (?): The New York Knicks hired ex-Cavalier Brock Aller expert capologist to help keep the Knicks flexible: FA signing Julius Randle $104M over 4 seasons, FA signing Evan Fournier $59M over 4 seasons. FA Derrick Rose $50M/3 seasons. Alec Burks $30M/3 seasons. Mitchell Robinson UFA, RJ Barrett team option $10.9M. True, some of these deals have a team option for the 3rd season. Does this trying to make the playoffs with vets while developing young players work? Seems to contradict itself. It's like the Knicks are going in two directions while creates a ZERO effect.
After losing in the 2014 Stanley Cup finals, the NY Rangers put out an ad announcing to the fans that they are going to undergo a 3-5 yr rebuild. They committed to a direction. Today the Rangers are battling for 3rd best record in the NHL. The Knicks and the media, looking at you, Alan Hahn have an answer for everything but never a true answer to where this team is headed. What is the plan? Is there a plan?

4. What do Golden State, Cleveland, Memphis, Toronto, and Detroit have in common? They put all their money into scouting and drafting well. None of these teams previous to drafting their franchise guy had much luck signing mega free agents.

5. What about Collin Sexton (?): Before the season began, there was all this talk about moving him. With the trade deadline approaching on Feb 10th, it's been very quiet.

The Cavs are a very talented, deep young team who are much more balanced than the Lebron James era where it was split between LJ and everyone else. I actually like this Cavs team. They're still kids. Knicks can play into that. They have a shot to get back to .500.

Let's GO Knicks!

[still a fan]

Capology 2.0, those are rookie contracts, if they don't win by the time for extensions, what happens?

That's what Sac was saying for a few years, now they are trying to blow it up? Clev looks good with the bigs though and Garland.

No Way Sexton ever puts on a clev jersey again on the court, they are not going to pay that when their success has come without him.


As far as tonight:


Marc Berman
@NYPost_Berman
·
3h
Knicks listed center Mitchell Robinson as questionable for tonight on latest injury report. Robinson tweeted yesterday's was just a little "tweak'' and to "relax". Actually he didn't tweet relax.

[ShadyOne]

LOL at that Rangers comment…

They 100% DID NOT rebuild after losing the cup in 14. Or say they were going to do anything like that. They only said that in recent years. Then went ahead and fired the coach and GM, and then signed a bunch of 3rd/4th liners

The foundation was there. And Dolan couldn’t stay out of the way. All the pieces that are producing now, were there prior to Drury taking over

[DeeJay]

Kemba Walker (left knee soreness) will play on Monday vs. the Cavs.

[DeeJay]

Mitchell Robinson (left ankle) has been ruled out for Monday's game vs. the Cavs.

[still a fan]

mitch is going to be missed for sure, two bigs and Taj hasn't been playing well lately, and all of a sudden he just complains endlessly to the ref's.

Love to see Obi, but oh wait, had a brain freeze on who our coach is, sorry,

[callmeDro]

Mitchell Robinson (left ankle) has been ruled out for Monday's game vs. the Cavs.

****. We need interior defense in the worst way today

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[DeeJay]

Nerlens Noel (knee) will start in Monday's game vs. the Cavs, with Mitchell Robinson (ankle) unavailable

[ewing]

Burks starting center!


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[still a fan]

ommy Beer
@TommyBeer
·
4m
The Cavs may also be without their starting center.

Jarrett Allen is a game-time decision due to a non-COVID-related illness.

[still a fan]

Guess Cam picked a really bad time to be traded and especially here.



Tommy Beer
@TommyBeer
·
3h
Over the Knicks last nine games (dating back to the RJ buzzer-beater vs. Boston),

Evan Fournier is:
32-of-62 from downtown (51.6%, which is the highest percentage in the NBA)

RJ Barrett is:
23-of-53 from downtown (44.2%)

[DeeJay]

Dean Wade is expected to move into the starting lineup for Monday's matchup with New York.

[callmeDro]

Burks starting center!


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Reddish starting PF
Wayne Selden starts at Forward
Noel as shooting guard
Randle starting at point something


We got this.

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[still a fan]

Kemba, Fourn, RJ, Randle, Noel

At the 6 min mark we will see Burks sub in for Kemba, unless Kemba is going off. At the 5 min mark we will see Grimes in for Fourn, and Taj in for Noel.

At the 8 min mark we will see IQ in for RJ, shifting Burks to SF.

at the 10-11 min mark we will see Obi in for Randle.

[flimflamman]

Guess Cam picked a really bad time to be traded and especially here.



Tommy Beer
@TommyBeer
·
3h
Over the Knicks last nine games (dating back to the RJ buzzer-beater vs. Boston),

Evan Fournier is:
32-of-62 from downtown (51.6%, which is the highest percentage in the NBA)

RJ Barrett is:
23-of-53 from downtown (44.2%)

Great for Evan and let's use that stat to sell him in a trade asap. Ricky Rubio's expiring for Evan. Just dump his deal. Then Burks. Trade the vets go with the youth.