Right where I want them to be

Yesterday the Knicks set Frank Ntilikina free, thank goodness. I know Frank is relieved and so am I.

I am as tired of all the unfair bust talk that he is. Hopefully Frank's agent will find him a spot in the Western conference where his wide open fast paced style of game can finally find a good fit.

Today, the Knicks signed Evan Fournier, another player from France to a contract of 4 years 78 million dollars which is utterly ridiculous but I love it. I hope the Knicks sign Carmelo Anthony next.

Derrick Rose was resigned by the Knicks because he is a coach Thibodaux favorite. Good for him. But, the Knicks still need help at the point guard position. 

They could also use another big body center despite bringing back Nerlens Noel because I am not certain of how Mitchell Robinson's foot is going to heal.

So far, with the current picks, free agent signings and tougher schedule next season the Knicks are still a middle of the pack basketball team. Right where I want them to be.

Set him free

Over the weekend, the USA men's basketball team lost again. 

This time the defeat was to France who had too much length inside when they played two centers in the 4th quarter. France pulled away from the USA team that shot nothing but bricks in the final minutes.

One thing that you did not see from the France team was Frank Ntilikina playing a single minute.

Apparently he had some sort of leg injury that prevented him from playing. But for Knicks fans it was just confirmation that Frank is soft and turns down opportunities to shine in big moments.

That is possible or maybe Frank felt that by not playing and doing well the Knicks would completely sour on him, remove his restricted free agent status and finally set him free.

In December, when asked what he thought about the Knicks not offering him an extension before the season began, Frank replied saying 'It is what it is'. Not exactly the words from a guy eager to stay in a Knicks uniform.

The Knicks should do everyone a favor, renounce his cap hold now and let him walk.

We all know the Knicks will the looking for a point guard in the draft and in free agency so why continue the charade.

You have your own problems stop worrying about the Nets.

 

The rest of the Eastern conference no longer takes you lightly. Every game against you now has playoff consequences and your pesky defense is no longer going to sneak up on anyone to steal a game here and there that you have no business winning.

Add all that to the more difficult schedule next season and, Oh no Knicks fans you will not be making any kind of run remotely like the Phoenix Suns.

In fact, your team is going to be worse before it gets better.

I even heard some of you fools saying that the Nets are in turmoil and worse off than the Knicks because of some obscure Kyrie Irving trade rumors.

C'mon guys you cannot claim to own New York yet the Nets are in your mouths all the time.

You idiots even have the audacity to claim that the Nets window of opportunity for a championship is now closed when Brooklyn's big three have two years left on everyone's contract. A bunch of Nets role players came off the books after the season, so they are free to sign vets who want to compete for a ring immediately at veteran minimums.

Tell me, honestly, in what way does that make the Nets worse off and in turmoil. You guys are delusional.

No team could the Knicks put together next season that could come close to competing against the Nets.

It is one thing to be a fan but keep your wits about you, please or you don't sound like the informed fans you always claim to be.

Go ahead, continue to have Dame/Kawhi fantasies. Nothing wrong with that. Maybe someday your dreams will come true but, in the meantime, keep a sane head will you please?!?

Here are the things you sad Knicks fans need to ponder.

Will RJ become a toughened young vet and have a good season after all the trade rumors, or will he have a season like Ben Simmons because he is worried about his place on your team? 

Could your fan base recover from another off season that a superstar is not signed, and you have to lie to yourselves about "rebuilding" again? 

Can Mitchell Robinson's foot come back as good as new, or will he be a big man with foot problems and never reach his potential like many big men of the past? 

If everyone now wants to come to the Knicks as you claim, then you should have your choice of free agents and therefore not have any pressing need to make irrational trades for one star.... again.  

These are the things to concern yourselves with Knicks fans not what is going on in Brooklyn. Sheesh

Enjoy your summer

Welp, it's finally over.

No more delusional fans dreaming of a magical playoff run that would see them defeating Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference finals and on to a chance at a championship.

Yeah, I know, crazy talk right. But hey these fools were really on one just because the Knicks made the playoffs.

The most important source of angst for the Knick fan this morning is the realization that this team is not one "more" star player away from competing for a title. Unfortunately, this team... has no stars.

Julius Randle, whom I like to call Regular Season Randle, is not on the level of Trae Young when it comes to performance in the playoffs. This team is still two stars away from vying for a championship.

Will the Knicks have enough cap room for two max contracts, Julius, and RJ Barrett? I don't know but that is the only way for this team to be competitive sooner than later.

Derrick Rose tried his best to will the team forward but if he is your best player, as he was this playoff season, you cannot count on being more than a one and done team.

Is there a veteran point guard willing to step in and take control of this team while being young and healthy enough to be the corner piece for the next five years? Oladipo maybe? Trade for Caris LeVert maybe? I don't know but that is the position that needs to be addressed first.

When Randle lost his confidence and the offense needed to make adjustments there was no point guard to direct this team on the fly and put players in position to be effective as well as showing ultimate leadership.

All I know is the Hawks of all teams came into the Garden game 1 and punked the Knicks out of homecourt advantage before running them out of their own building and the playoffs last night.

I don't ever want to hear a Knicks fan talk about how tough a team this is and how great they play defense. Clint Capela ripped your hearts out and laughed in your faces. Your team sucks. Its okay to admit that. It's the first step towards healing and getting better.

Knicks Lose Again and for the last time, Hawks 103 - 89 Knicks. Enjoy your summer. 😅

Tough Out My Ass

The biggest fear of Knicks fans was not potentially losing last night. The fear was Julius Randle was going to be exposed and proven not too big a cornerstone piece to building a championship. With Randle's play in three games, I think that the fear has become reality.

All season the offense ran through Randle, and not only did he put up big numbers but the other players learned their roles on the offense which helped to propel the Knicks team into the playoffs. However, in the playoffs Randle has played with little or no confidence and the most improved player in the league has choked when games matter the most.

If not for the play of Derrick Rose, the Knicks would be down 3 to 0. Rose's good play on offense had Thibs forced to start him om game 3. However it is the most important cause for concern. 

All regular season the supporting players grew comfortable in their roles following the lead of Randle on offense. But now that Rose has become the focal point on offense the past two games the offense is in disarray. The team, including Randle, are now standing around watching Rose because they don't have a clue what to do.

I don't know if Randle is just in a slump or is really a choke artist when it comes to being the leader of a team in big games. But I do know that he is not playing like he is worthy of a franchise player level contract right now and his future as a Knick might be in jeopardy.

Let's give Atlanta a little credit also. They not only came home and hit the shots they missed in game two, but they also played Knicks style defense more than the Knicks did. Giving the Knicks a taste of their own medicine by stepping into passing lanes and being more physical around the basket made mice out of men and the Knicks looked like they can't handle a team that isn't afraid of them.

A lot of media people and YouTubers swore this was going to a tough series because the Knicks are so much trouble on defense and not an easy out. All that "We play hard" doesn't scare anyone and it certainly doesn't scare Atlanta. 

Did they not think that the Hawks were grown men and they had no coaches that could make an adjustment to the Knicks juggernaut defense? Atlanta made an adjustment which worked. Give them credit.

Ironically, the only thing the Knicks could do that might be of help is the Triangle Offense, the pinch post part in particular. I don't know if coach Thibodaux however has the guts or the ability to teach and implement it in the next two days. Great teams and coaches adjust in the playoffs, let's see if the Knicks and coach Thib are ready to begin functioning like a great team.

This playoff run for the Knicks was never about making a run to the championship. This series was all about finding out if Julius Randle was the man. And now, it is clear that he is not going to be the cornerstone of a championship franchise in MSG. Julius can be a solid piece  but let's face it, the Knicks don't even have a big one yet let alone a big two or three like most teams vying for a ring.

Knicks lose again, Hawks 105-94 Knicks.

I didn't think the first round would be so entertaining.

Awww Knicks fans, don't cry. It's just one game. You guys will be okay.

Will you please now stop with all the fake tough talk about how you are the best team in New York City? 

Will you please now stop with all the defense wins championships stuff and your team will be a tough out? No you won't. Your star had an awful game and the rest of the team has no playoff experience.

Don't blame Frank Ntilikina because Trae Young got around him for the winning shot. Trae goes around everyone. 

It is not fair to ask a guy who only played about 90 seconds to come off the bench cold and no feel for the game to save the day with a stop on defense. Blame Julius Randle whose shot was tighter than Lizzo's waist band. Julius couldn't hit an elephant in the ass with a 2 by 4 tonight.

If Julius doesn't find his confidence in his day off the Knicks will get swept.

I told you guys that making the playoffs was the accomplishment to build on and not have false hopes about a playoff run. That was ridiculous. Now all the pressure is on the Knicks who have lost the homecourt advantage.

I didn't think the first round would be so entertaining. 

The Knicks kept the game close until the final seconds I must admit. The home crowd thought they were on the verge of witnessing the first playoff win in damn near a decade.

We saw Spike Lee jumping around, Tracy Morgan dancing, all up in the videos. Or so they thought until Trae Young crossed up Frank and gave the fans the kiss of defeat with the tear drop of death.

I'm loving this.

Knicks lose again, Atlanta 107 - 105 Knicks.