Figured I'd get this out before today's game. Here is my analysis of the Knicks first preseason game:
Coming into this game Tom Thibodeau was mum about what he was looking at in terms of his projected starting lineup, and what lineups he was hoping to trot out there Friday. Leaving us to our imaginations and sleuth work looking at pictures in training camp, I took a few minutes to conjure up what I thought Thibs would trot out for us. I knew that (to my dismay) Randle and Payton wearing blue in camp meant that they were most likely to start, and that Obi, Dennis and Frank would be coming off the bench. What I somehow missed in my (lazy) sleuthwork was Nerlens Noel getting the start. Tom definitely surprised me there even with all of my podcasts warning me that its not a foregone conclusion Mitch starts, I definitely figured he would be starting in the preseason. So coming into the game, I knew 3 of the 5 starters and guessed incorrectly the starting center. My analysis moving forward is going to be based on this preceding knowledge.
With Payton, Randle and a non-shooting big on the court, I knew it would be imperative that with RJ starting, the Knicks start a guard who would be a threat arc. I guessed (and hoped) Thibs would start Alec Burks, and he smartly chose to do just that. Still, the lack of shooting and spacing in that lineup proved to be an issue early in the game. I understand that Randle and Payton are both the best players at their positions right now, but having both of them in to start the game is going to hurt the flow of the offense. That is going to offset whatever advantages they bring to the table. Still, for the beginning of this preseason game, Elf and Randle were the shining lights on offense with RJ being unable to hit a thing and Burks being mostly invisible. So Thibs gets plus marks for this choice despite my apprehension to seeing it in action. They came out ready to play and took advantage of Detroit's weaknesses early.
The decision to sub in Dennis and Mitch is another plus decision. Thibs adjusted the identity of the team from skill focused to athleticism as you bring two faster athletes who can live above the rim. Dennis looked sharp and focused albeit still rusty, and Mitch still looked like Mitch. Thibs then blessed us with an amazing "all-youth" lineup featuring Dennis, Frank (LOVE THIS BACKCOURT), Knox, Obi and Mitch. And boy did these guys all come to play. Dennis was playing hard on D (what?), Frank hit his first shot which was a 3 pointer (What???), and Kev wasn't exposed on defense (YES!). Obi looked like he was super excited to show what he can do but still imposed his will despite turning over the ball. And the lead ballooned from there.
All in all, Thibs played a tight lineup of 11 players once Reggie Bullock came on the court. I can't say I was upset with any lineup choices. I wrote out three lineups I did not want to see on the floor at the same time:
An All-Vets lineup: Payton, Rivers/Burks, Bullock, Randle, Noel
A Fizdale Lineup: Payton, Barrett, Toppin, Randle, Noel/Robinson
Another Fizdale Lineup: Smith Jr, Payton, Barrett, Randle, Noel/Robinson
As far as I'm aware, none of those lineups saw the floor...and if it did it saw limited minutes. Praise be to Thibs.
Even though it was preseason, everyone I saw played hard, and played well for extended minutes. The only time I was close to angry was at the end of the game when Elf & Randle did Elf & Randle things. Here's to hoping that if they show more of that moving forward instead of the strong play they showed for the majority of the game, Thibs makes a quick starting lineup change.
The thing I love most about Thibs...it doesn't matter whether we're up or down, if the guys on the court are doing something wrong he's holding them accountable (so far). I've already seen two things in comparison to a year ago that sums it up:
“Thibs is angrier up 3 in a preseason game than Fiz was down 38 in a regular-season game.” — The Strickland
Ain't that the truth
All I see are crazy blocks and alley oop dunks. Its nice but Nerlens came in and ate his food in a week of training camp. If Thibs starts Mitch next game he better show out, no excuses.
