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Hey let’s get this thing rolling. Early game today against the Trail Blazers. Portland is coming off a bigly loss to the Sixers. I mean, maybe the biggest loss, ever.
Joel Embiid had 37 points and Damian Lillard was out. You trying to tell me CJ McCollum Elleby got the job done? I don’t thank so!
WE WON THIS GAME @TRAILBLAZERS, BY A LOT! pic.twitter.com/EOwNw24bco
— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) February 5, 2021
Yea, dispute these buckets, fools! Whatever happened in the city of brotherly love is up for debate I suppose.
Last time these slimes got together, the Knicks made a wacky run at coming back and, ya know, didn’t. Damian Lillard went berserk and the Knicks started trapping him in the second half. That’s when Immanuel Quickley grabbed the reins. The kid nearly brought them back singlehandedly.
QUICKLEY GETS THE KNICKS WITHIN 5 WTFFFFFF pic.twitter.com/KrADCI2u1x
— The Strickland (@TheStrickland) January 25, 2021
It was fun.
Quickley is UNCONSCIOUS pic.twitter.com/ojS2fpUp91
— The Strickland (@TheStrickland) January 25, 2021
But it was a loss that helped drop the Knicks in a rut that they’re trying to build their way out of now. Ain’t been none much fun neither!
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Projected Starters
Despite missing their previous game, Damian Lillard should be good to go today.
Elfrid Payton v Damian Lillard
Reggie Bullock v Gary Trent Jr.
RJ Barrett v Derrick Jones Jr.
Julius Randle v Robert Covington
Mitchell Robinson v Enes Kanter
Yep. I’m tired of Elfrid and the conversation around him too. He is not good, we get it. He’s no Frank. He’s better than Austin Rivers though and so is Frank Ntilikina if we’re keeping it cinched up like a buckle.
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Keys & Predictions
Maybe the Knicks will get into trapping Lillard a lil’ earlier and daring others to make plays. That’s looking for trouble in a certain way. How often can you survive 4-on-3’s over the course of a game? And how long before Lillard isn’t your pressing concern, and then bing, Damian rings your bell.
What might need to happen is Julius Randle should take Enes Kanter’s late game shenanigans (from the game in Portland) to task for getting him bounced. And drop another 40-piece on his slow ass.
Yo @EnesKanter last time you guarded me I had 45 relax bro lol
— Julius Randle (@J30_RANDLE) June 26, 2019
It seems about time for Jules to drop another 40-ball, in my epically humble opinion. Fuck his ass up, bro.
Knicks by -40
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Parting Shot
He wasn’t my Vydas, or your Vydas, he was... well... their Vydas. Arvydas Sabonis’ legacy lives on with his son Domantas ripping through the NBA highways and byways. Arvydas was an absolutely charming and dominating force despite getting to the NBA after his prime. A bonafide trickster, mesmerizing crowds and opponents. If you don’t remember, the closest player we have stylistically to Arvydas these days is Nikola Jokic. Have a gander.
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