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Now That It's Over - Enjoyable and Pain All At Once


Welp, it's over. 

Is it possible for something to be so enjoyable yet hurt so bad now that it's over? 

That's the only way to describe the end of this New York Knicks season. Even after giving it a few days, ironically on the night that the NBA Finals begin - the Finals I thought we really could have gotten to - I still find myself reeling. 

Everytime that damn clip of Haliburton's shot bouncing into the air and dropping in...bruh...

But, I needed the time to gather my thoughts and feelings, reject the crazy hot takes and absurd opinions, and adjust to some of the immediate changes the Knicks made. 

So here we go: 


Immediate Thoughts

  • This was easily! - my favorite Knicks season and team since 1998-1999. I know I said that last year, but this era of Knicks basketball has provided me with such luxury to move the goal posts and update these personal lists. 
  • I genuinely loved this run despite its ending. 
  • Jalen Brunson's shot in the Detroit Pistons series is still my favorite. 
  • Mikal Bridges moment in blocking Jayson Tatum in Game 2 is behind it. 
  • And to finish the trilogy - Mitch Robinson rotating to defend ALL FIVE Celtics players in a position leading to a turnover. 
  • Somehow, the goal posts moved after we beat the Celtics when no one had us winning that series. 
  • Even more, I loved this season for every Knicks fan that endured parts or the entire duration of the last twenty-five years. I'm not going to gate-keep this and lambaste the bandwagoners, but for everyone who sat through those tough times, they felt the pure and authentic joy. 
  • On the other side, is there anything Knicks fans haven't endured? 

Takeaways from the Playoffs

  • This roster is flawed in the way a beautiful vase has a crack. It works, but it's not quite perfect. 
  • Game 1 of the Indiana Pacers series will forever torment me. 
  • Karl-Anthony Towns has another level to get to. Someone needs to unlock that, somehow. 
  • Should have played the bench from the moment the playoffs began. 
  • The Knicks' flaws all season showed themselves throughout the Playoffs. This team, as constructed - roster or overall philosophy - progress overshadowed and hid its daily process. 
  • The Detroit Pistons are going to be VERY good. 
  • The Indiana Pacers ARE a great team. 
  • We were two wins away from the NBA freakin' Finals...that still hurts.

Fan Reaction

  • My immediate lesson learned from this season is that there are a lot of people who did not watch the Knicks during the regular season and hopped aboard in the playoffs. 
  • Those people who hopped aboard in the playoffs have been the loudest in their opinions on the current state of the Knicks and strong in their takes regarding next steps. 
  • They are wrong. Sorry, they are.
  • It annoys me when pundits and others try to tell our fan base NOT to celebrate so heavily. Act like you've been there before! Ummm, we haven't in a really long time. Bing bong! 
  • I can't say it enough, this year was for every fan that sat through so much bad basketball and believed before it became trendy again. 
  • With that said, there are a lot - A LOT - of bad takes out there. Horrible, actually. 
  • Next season should be interesting in carrying the new fans...

Jalen Brunson

  • Captain. And so freakin' clutch. 
  • Again, the Detroit series said so much about Brunson and how he'll be revered by this fanbase. 
  • No one really has discussed the numbers and performances that he has put together - rarified air and company. 

Karl-Anthony Towns

  • Undeservedly criticized. 
  • So many prisoner of the moment takes. We don't get past Detroit or Boston without KAT. 
  • Yes, he's flawed. No one - not Knicks fans or this front office - expected KAT to come to town and contribute defensively. I think we all knew what we were getting. 
  • You know who else was criticized unfairly - the guy we shipped out for KAT, Julius Randle. And in the past, Patrick Ewing. Yeah, seems unfair. 
  • I do miss Julius and still wish he were a part of this...but it was the right move. 
  • I just shake my head at the people who criticize KAT - he's an NBA All-Star and an NBA-ALL-NBA player. 
  • There has to be a way to get this unit to play together. 


Tom Thidabeau

  • Ahhhh, sucks to see Thibs go, man. 
  • But it was the right move. I thought he gave himself a chance for one more season, but if you followed the Knicks this year, this was inevitable. 
  • There has been a lot of Thibs discussion this week (isn't the NBA Finals this week?!) - the team, mission, and philosophy changed around him. 
  • I'm a Thibs guy, and forever grateful - he was part of pulling us out and creating this culture. I hope he finds his way back in the NBA. 
  • For the road...take a look at that 2020-2021 Knicks roster he PUSHED to a 4th seed! Unbelievable. Again, thank you, Thibs. 

Final Grades:

  • Karl-Anthony Towns - A- 
  • OG Anunoby - B+
  • Jalen Brunson - A
  • Mikal Bridges - B+
  • Josh Hart - B+
  • Mitchell Robinson - B-
  • Precious Achiuwa - C+
  • Miles McBride - B+
  • Delon Wright - C+
  • Cameron Payne - C+
  • Tyler Kolek - Inc.
  • Pacome Dadiet - Inc. 
  • Landry Shamet - B-
  • Ariel Hukporti - C+
  • Kevin McCullar Jr. - Inc.  

Off-Season Plans & Future

  • Run. It. Back. 
  • Add depth 7-12
  • Develop Pacome Dadiet, Tyler Kolek, Ariel Hukporti, and Kevin McCullar Jr. 
  • Unlock the next level on the offensive side for KAT
  • I'm not sure what to believe about the Knicks' plans to go "big game hunting". I don't know about the Giannis rumors, but the Kevin Durant rumors feel VERY real, doable, and in many ways, make sense. 
  • The Knicks don't have much cap room to maneuver and to remain under the 2nd apron in the CBA. I think there is a lot of speculation over things that aren't possible. 
  • They need to hit on the next coach. Likely the most pressure position for a coach in the NBA going into next season. 
I'm already dialed into the draft, free agency, and Summer League. 

Heavy D's famous hook now rings in my mind as I close this post...
"Now that we found love, what are we gonna do, with it?"
#LGK
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