Karl-Anthony Towns Traded To The Knicks

[Vermont Green]

I don?t think any of the Knicks are as good defensively than the Celtics.  Holiday and White are better than Brunson and Hart.  Brown and Tatum are better than Bridges and Anunoby. Porzingis is maybe a hat better than Towns. That is the real edge the Celtics have.

Regarding the bolded, we obviously haven't seen the Knicks pair together yet, but I think they have the potential to be as good as, or even better than the Jays defensively.  They're just nowhere as good on the other end.

We will see what Tom Thibodeau can get out of these guys defensively, but based on what I have seen from them to date, I like Brown and Tatum both as better defenders than Bridges and Anunoby.  But I do agree that Brown and Tatum will score more.  With Brunson, Bridges and Anunoby don't need to score as much but I think they will need to be top defenders if NYK is going to be a top echelon team.

I feel that Bridges and Anunoby will be playing out of position.  Maybe not Bridges as much but Anunoby as a PF is not ideal.  It is not ideal in my mind for Tatum either but he has shown he can defend and rebound as a PF at a high level (while still being the team's top scorer).  Anunoby continues to me a kind of "tweener" in my view.  I don't feel that he can defend at the PF as well as Tatum, even considering that the PF in today's NBA isn't the same as it used to be.

[Who]

Karl-Anthony Towns believes his prior history playing for Tom Thibodeau will give the New York Knicks an edge as he is worked into the team just as training camp begins. Towns played for Thibodeau early in his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"I think it gives us a little bit of a head start," Towns said of his relationship with Thibodeau. "I know the offense he likes to run. I know the way he likes to play defense and what he expects from his players."

Thibodeau said he was excited to have the opportunity to coach a more seasoned version of Towns.

"He's gotten a lot more experience. He's now been deep in the playoffs and knows what that's like," Thibodeau said. "As much as you try to prepare for something like that, until you go through it, you don't fully understand what that is. His understanding is so much further along now than in his second year in the league. And his skill set is so unique that it fits well with everybody."

[Big333223]

I don?t think any of the Knicks are as good defensively than the Celtics.  Holiday and White are better than Brunson and Hart.  Brown and Tatum are better than Bridges and Anunoby. Porzingis is maybe a hat better than Towns. That is the real edge the Celtics have.

Regarding the bolded, we obviously haven't seen the Knicks pair together yet, but I think they have the potential to be as good as, or even better than the Jays defensively.  They're just nowhere as good on the other end.

We will see what Tom Thibodeau can get out of these guys defensively, but based on what I have seen from them to date, I like Brown and Tatum both as better defenders than Bridges and Anunoby. But I do agree that Brown and Tatum will score more.  With Brunson, Bridges and Anunoby don't need to score as much but I think they will need to be top defenders if NYK is going to be a top echelon team.

I feel that Bridges and Anunoby will be playing out of position.  Maybe not Bridges as much but Anunoby as a PF is not ideal.  It is not ideal in my mind for Tatum either but he has shown he can defend and rebound as a PF at a high level (while still being the team's top scorer).  Anunoby continues to me a kind of "tweener" in my view.  I don't feel that he can defend at the PF as well as Tatum, even considering that the PF in today's NBA isn't the same as it used to be.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone outside of a Celtic fan board to agree with that.

[Vermont Green]

I don?t think any of the Knicks are as good defensively than the Celtics.  Holiday and White are better than Brunson and Hart.  Brown and Tatum are better than Bridges and Anunoby. Porzingis is maybe a hat better than Towns. That is the real edge the Celtics have.

Regarding the bolded, we obviously haven't seen the Knicks pair together yet, but I think they have the potential to be as good as, or even better than the Jays defensively.  They're just nowhere as good on the other end.

We will see what Tom Thibodeau can get out of these guys defensively, but based on what I have seen from them to date, I like Brown and Tatum both as better defenders than Bridges and Anunoby. But I do agree that Brown and Tatum will score more.  With Brunson, Bridges and Anunoby don't need to score as much but I think they will need to be top defenders if NYK is going to be a top echelon team.

I feel that Bridges and Anunoby will be playing out of position.  Maybe not Bridges as much but Anunoby as a PF is not ideal.  It is not ideal in my mind for Tatum either but he has shown he can defend and rebound as a PF at a high level (while still being the team's top scorer).  Anunoby continues to me a kind of "tweener" in my view.  I don't feel that he can defend at the PF as well as Tatum, even considering that the PF in today's NBA isn't the same as it used to be.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone outside of a Celtic fan board to agree with that.

People seem to question this, I could be wrong.  Is there any question that Brown is a better defender than Bridges?  If Bridges is that good of a defender, I may be missing something.  I have not seen it from Bridges in the past.  I consider Brown a very high end defender.  Right there with anyone defending wings but with versatility to defend bigger players or smaller players.

I am guessing it is more of the Tatum vs. Anunoby that people are questioning.  Anunoby is a high end defender but so isn't Tatum.  And Tatum has the versatility to defend PFs, which he is asked to do often as will Anunoby.  Rebounding is part of defense too.  Tatum gets you 8-9 rebs, Anunoby 4-5.  I'll take Tatum, maybe I have a Celtics bias, I don't know, but this is more even that Brown vs. Bridges.

[Roy H.]

I don?t think any of the Knicks are as good defensively than the Celtics.  Holiday and White are better than Brunson and Hart.  Brown and Tatum are better than Bridges and Anunoby. Porzingis is maybe a hat better than Towns. That is the real edge the Celtics have.

Regarding the bolded, we obviously haven't seen the Knicks pair together yet, but I think they have the potential to be as good as, or even better than the Jays defensively.  They're just nowhere as good on the other end.

We will see what Tom Thibodeau can get out of these guys defensively, but based on what I have seen from them to date, I like Brown and Tatum both as better defenders than Bridges and Anunoby. But I do agree that Brown and Tatum will score more.  With Brunson, Bridges and Anunoby don't need to score as much but I think they will need to be top defenders if NYK is going to be a top echelon team.

I feel that Bridges and Anunoby will be playing out of position.  Maybe not Bridges as much but Anunoby as a PF is not ideal.  It is not ideal in my mind for Tatum either but he has shown he can defend and rebound as a PF at a high level (while still being the team's top scorer).  Anunoby continues to me a kind of "tweener" in my view.  I don't feel that he can defend at the PF as well as Tatum, even considering that the PF in today's NBA isn't the same as it used to be.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone outside of a Celtic fan board to agree with that.

People seem to question this, I could be wrong.  Is there any question that Brown is a better defender than Bridges?  If Bridges is that good of a defender, I may be missing something.  I have not seen it from Bridges in the past.  I consider Brown a very high end defender.  Right there with anyone defending wings but with versatility to defend bigger players or smaller players.

I am guessing it is more of the Tatum vs. Anunoby that people are questioning.  Anunoby is a high end defender but so isn't Tatum.  And Tatum has the versatility to defend PFs, which he is asked to do often as will Anunoby.  Rebounding is part of defense too.  Tatum gets you 8-9 rebs, Anunoby 4-5.  I'll take Tatum, maybe I have a Celtics bias, I don't know, but this is more even that Brown vs. Bridges.

Bridges, by reputation and in reality, is a very good defender.  He finished second in DPOY the year Marcus won.

[dannyboy35]

I don?t think any of the Knicks are as good defensively than the Celtics.  Holiday and White are better than Brunson and Hart.  Brown and Tatum are better than Bridges and Anunoby. Porzingis is maybe a hat better than Towns. That is the real edge the Celtics have.

Regarding the bolded, we obviously haven't seen the Knicks pair together yet, but I think they have the potential to be as good as, or even better than the Jays defensively.  They're just nowhere as good on the other end.

We will see what Tom Thibodeau can get out of these guys defensively, but based on what I have seen from them to date, I like Brown and Tatum both as better defenders than Bridges and Anunoby. But I do agree that Brown and Tatum will score more.  With Brunson, Bridges and Anunoby don't need to score as much but I think they will need to be top defenders if NYK is going to be a top echelon team.

I feel that Bridges and Anunoby will be playing out of position.  Maybe not Bridges as much but Anunoby as a PF is not ideal.  It is not ideal in my mind for Tatum either but he has shown he can defend and rebound as a PF at a high level (while still being the team's top scorer).  Anunoby continues to me a kind of "tweener" in my view.  I don't feel that he can defend at the PF as well as Tatum, even considering that the PF in today's NBA isn't the same as it used to be.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone outside of a Celtic fan board to agree with that.

People seem to question this, I could be wrong.  Is there any question that Brown is a better defender than Bridges?  If Bridges is that good of a defender, I may be missing something.  I have not seen it from Bridges in the past.  I consider Brown a very high end defender.  Right there with anyone defending wings but with versatility to defend bigger players or smaller players.

I am guessing it is more of the Tatum vs. Anunoby that people are questioning.  Anunoby is a high end defender but so isn't Tatum.  And Tatum has the versatility to defend PFs, which he is asked to do often as will Anunoby.  Rebounding is part of defense too.  Tatum gets you 8-9 rebs, Anunoby 4-5.  I'll take Tatum, maybe I have a Celtics bias, I don't know, but this is more even that Brown vs. Bridges.

   Before playing the Mavericks I would have given the edge to Bridges but I was shocked Jaylen could step it up to the level he did. He did t shut Luka down but nobody really can . But I believe that no other player in the nba could guard Luka as well as Jaylen did. Tatum tried and could not. Anthony Edwards also couldn?t do it.
  There?s of course all the other d around Jaylen as well . I also wonder if that level of d is sustainable over a season. But to me , that?s as good as it gets for wing d in the nba.

[theswitch]

I don?t think any of the Knicks are as good defensively than the Celtics.  Holiday and White are better than Brunson and Hart.  Brown and Tatum are better than Bridges and Anunoby. Porzingis is maybe a hat better than Towns. That is the real edge the Celtics have.

Regarding the bolded, we obviously haven't seen the Knicks pair together yet, but I think they have the potential to be as good as, or even better than the Jays defensively.  They're just nowhere as good on the other end.

We will see what Tom Thibodeau can get out of these guys defensively, but based on what I have seen from them to date, I like Brown and Tatum both as better defenders than Bridges and Anunoby.  But I do agree that Brown and Tatum will score more.  With Brunson, Bridges and Anunoby don't need to score as much but I think they will need to be top defenders if NYK is going to be a top echelon team.

I feel that Bridges and Anunoby will be playing out of position.  Maybe not Bridges as much but Anunoby as a PF is not ideal.  It is not ideal in my mind for Tatum either but he has shown he can defend and rebound as a PF at a high level (while still being the team's top scorer).  Anunoby continues to me a kind of "tweener" in my view.  I don't feel that he can defend at the PF as well as Tatum, even considering that the PF in today's NBA isn't the same as it used to be.

If I'm the Knicks, aren't I putting Hart on the PFs and keeping OG on the perimeter? I think Hart proved he can bang around despite his size.

[Roy H.]

I don?t think any of the Knicks are as good defensively than the Celtics.  Holiday and White are better than Brunson and Hart.  Brown and Tatum are better than Bridges and Anunoby. Porzingis is maybe a hat better than Towns. That is the real edge the Celtics have.

Regarding the bolded, we obviously haven't seen the Knicks pair together yet, but I think they have the potential to be as good as, or even better than the Jays defensively.  They're just nowhere as good on the other end.

We will see what Tom Thibodeau can get out of these guys defensively, but based on what I have seen from them to date, I like Brown and Tatum both as better defenders than Bridges and Anunoby.  But I do agree that Brown and Tatum will score more.  With Brunson, Bridges and Anunoby don't need to score as much but I think they will need to be top defenders if NYK is going to be a top echelon team.

I feel that Bridges and Anunoby will be playing out of position.  Maybe not Bridges as much but Anunoby as a PF is not ideal.  It is not ideal in my mind for Tatum either but he has shown he can defend and rebound as a PF at a high level (while still being the team's top scorer).  Anunoby continues to me a kind of "tweener" in my view.  I don't feel that he can defend at the PF as well as Tatum, even considering that the PF in today's NBA isn't the same as it used to be.

If I'm the Knicks, aren't I putting Hart on the PFs and keeping OG on the perimeter? I think Hart proved he can bang around despite his size.

It depends on who the power forward is. How many of them play close to the basket and overpower people these days?

OG can cover a guy like Tatum at PF well as anybody.

[Big333223]

I don?t think any of the Knicks are as good defensively than the Celtics.  Holiday and White are better than Brunson and Hart.  Brown and Tatum are better than Bridges and Anunoby. Porzingis is maybe a hat better than Towns. That is the real edge the Celtics have.

Regarding the bolded, we obviously haven't seen the Knicks pair together yet, but I think they have the potential to be as good as, or even better than the Jays defensively.  They're just nowhere as good on the other end.

We will see what Tom Thibodeau can get out of these guys defensively, but based on what I have seen from them to date, I like Brown and Tatum both as better defenders than Bridges and Anunoby. But I do agree that Brown and Tatum will score more.  With Brunson, Bridges and Anunoby don't need to score as much but I think they will need to be top defenders if NYK is going to be a top echelon team.

I feel that Bridges and Anunoby will be playing out of position.  Maybe not Bridges as much but Anunoby as a PF is not ideal.  It is not ideal in my mind for Tatum either but he has shown he can defend and rebound as a PF at a high level (while still being the team's top scorer).  Anunoby continues to me a kind of "tweener" in my view.  I don't feel that he can defend at the PF as well as Tatum, even considering that the PF in today's NBA isn't the same as it used to be.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone outside of a Celtic fan board to agree with that.

People seem to question this, I could be wrong.  Is there any question that Brown is a better defender than Bridges?  If Bridges is that good of a defender, I may be missing something.  I have not seen it from Bridges in the past.  I consider Brown a very high end defender.  Right there with anyone defending wings but with versatility to defend bigger players or smaller players.

I am guessing it is more of the Tatum vs. Anunoby that people are questioning.  Anunoby is a high end defender but so isn't Tatum.  And Tatum has the versatility to defend PFs, which he is asked to do often as will Anunoby.  Rebounding is part of defense too.  Tatum gets you 8-9 rebs, Anunoby 4-5.  I'll take Tatum, maybe I have a Celtics bias, I don't know, but this is more even that Brown vs. Bridges.

Bridges, by reputation and in reality, is a very good defender.  He finished second in DPOY the year Marcus won.

Yeah, Bridges and Anunoby have both made all defensive teams, neither of Tatum and Brown have.

You can take that however you like but I think it's fair to say that their reputations are as better defenders.

[Phantom255x]

I think a New York vs. Philadelphia playoff series would be absolutely electric. Hope we see it again. It would also likely guarantee we avoid facing both in the playoffs (only one)

[theswitch]

I don?t think any of the Knicks are as good defensively than the Celtics.  Holiday and White are better than Brunson and Hart.  Brown and Tatum are better than Bridges and Anunoby. Porzingis is maybe a hat better than Towns. That is the real edge the Celtics have.

Regarding the bolded, we obviously haven't seen the Knicks pair together yet, but I think they have the potential to be as good as, or even better than the Jays defensively.  They're just nowhere as good on the other end.

We will see what Tom Thibodeau can get out of these guys defensively, but based on what I have seen from them to date, I like Brown and Tatum both as better defenders than Bridges and Anunoby.  But I do agree that Brown and Tatum will score more.  With Brunson, Bridges and Anunoby don't need to score as much but I think they will need to be top defenders if NYK is going to be a top echelon team.

I feel that Bridges and Anunoby will be playing out of position.  Maybe not Bridges as much but Anunoby as a PF is not ideal.  It is not ideal in my mind for Tatum either but he has shown he can defend and rebound as a PF at a high level (while still being the team's top scorer).  Anunoby continues to me a kind of "tweener" in my view.  I don't feel that he can defend at the PF as well as Tatum, even considering that the PF in today's NBA isn't the same as it used to be.

If I'm the Knicks, aren't I putting Hart on the PFs and keeping OG on the perimeter? I think Hart proved he can bang around despite his size.

It depends on who the power forward is. How many of them play close to the basket and overpower people these days?

OG can cover a guy like Tatum at PF well as anybody.

I agree, but then the argument about playing out of position is less of a problem in the first place. I'm just saying if you have a problem with OG at power forward, then you have Josh Hart as a counterbalance to that. So they're covered against the "modern 4" and covered against the traditional 4.

[ozgod]

Knicks hype train continues.


https://www.espn.com/nba/

I'm ok with this actually...let them have all the pressure of being anointed the favorites for the season. The Cs can play with a chip on their shoulder like they did last season and fly under the radar 

[Vermont Green]

I don?t think any of the Knicks are as good defensively than the Celtics.  Holiday and White are better than Brunson and Hart.  Brown and Tatum are better than Bridges and Anunoby. Porzingis is maybe a hat better than Towns. That is the real edge the Celtics have.

Regarding the bolded, we obviously haven't seen the Knicks pair together yet, but I think they have the potential to be as good as, or even better than the Jays defensively.  They're just nowhere as good on the other end.

We will see what Tom Thibodeau can get out of these guys defensively, but based on what I have seen from them to date, I like Brown and Tatum both as better defenders than Bridges and Anunoby.  But I do agree that Brown and Tatum will score more.  With Brunson, Bridges and Anunoby don't need to score as much but I think they will need to be top defenders if NYK is going to be a top echelon team.

I feel that Bridges and Anunoby will be playing out of position.  Maybe not Bridges as much but Anunoby as a PF is not ideal.  It is not ideal in my mind for Tatum either but he has shown he can defend and rebound as a PF at a high level (while still being the team's top scorer).  Anunoby continues to me a kind of "tweener" in my view.  I don't feel that he can defend at the PF as well as Tatum, even considering that the PF in today's NBA isn't the same as it used to be.

If I'm the Knicks, aren't I putting Hart on the PFs and keeping OG on the perimeter? I think Hart proved he can bang around despite his size.

It depends on who the power forward is. How many of them play close to the basket and overpower people these days?

OG can cover a guy like Tatum at PF well as anybody.

I agree, but then the argument about playing out of position is less of a problem in the first place. I'm just saying if you have a problem with OG at power forward, then you have Josh Hart as a counterbalance to that. So they're covered against the "modern 4" and covered against the traditional 4.

I am not sure I follow this logic.  Josh Hart is listed as 6'-4".  I have always viewed him as a guard.  Anunoby is listed as 6'-7".  I see him as more of a tweener, but leaning more to the big wing than the small PF.  In many cases, he will be fine defending as the second big with Towns as the only real big.  But I don't think he defends or rebounds as a PF as well as Tatum.  Even for the modern version of a PF, you still need to rebound and to keep the other PF from rebounding.

Josh Hart does rebound well as a guard, and that may help make up for what they don't get out of Anunoby as the PF.  But if they want to put Hart on Tatum as the primary defender, I see that as advantage Celtics.  And it would be worse against more of a true PF like Randle or Williamson (there are not that many true PFs these days).

[bdm860]

Knicks hype train continues.


https://www.espn.com/nba/

I'm ok with this actually...let them have all the pressure of being anointed the favorites for the season. The Cs can play with a chip on their shoulder like they did last season and fly under the radar 

Ha don't get your hopes up on the C's being slept on.  GM survey came out today.

https://www.nba.com/news/2024-25-nba-gm-survey

83% pick C's to win Finals, up from 33% last year.
97% pick C's to win the East (that's 29/30, and Brad can't vote for his own team), up from 53% last year
57% pick C's as best defensive team (up from 47% last year)
53% pick C's as league's most efficient offense (Nuggets were 1st last year at 34%)

Plus Mazzulla finished 2nd (best offensive schemes) and 4th (best defensive schemes), but both coming in at 17% (so 5 of 30 GMs pick Mazzulla as best for each category). And Cassell finished T-1 for best assistant (also 17% so 5 of 30 GMs).

Despite what it might look like from the media, I don't think anybody's sleeping on Boston. Would be nice though.

[Roy H.]

Wow.  So unanimous about us making the Finals, other than Brad?

And it looks like Brad voted for the Cavs over the Knicks, Sixers, and Bucks.  lol.