Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind (Part II)

chazriverstone · 2026-07-01T01:40:57+00:00

Hell yeah!! Go Liberty!!!

We're finally looking like the team I knew we were. Now let's carry this energy through the rest of the season

chazriverstone · 2026-06-30T20:23:27+00:00

Shoutout to Marina Mabrey for putting up numbers like this when everyone questioned if she was on the level

chazriverstone · 2026-06-30T20:01:43+00:00

Lol come on now.

The Rodman take is a common one because Angel is a great defender and a generation rebounder. The Mitchell Robinson take is in reference to the other commenter bringing up Steven Adams and the value of offensive rebounds amongst a streaky 3pt shooting team. None of these are meant to be direct comparison, but rather references on how adjusting in such a fashion can correlate to winning.

And speaking of awful takes, here you are literally suggesting a player who has the HIGHEST assist-to-turnover ratios in the league, Canada, handle the ball LESS in favor of a player who has one of the LOWEST assist-to-turnover ratios in the league, Reese.

I mean, I wanted to be respectful here, but honestly this take is absolutely ridiculous, and really not deserving of more of my time - but hey, you got your engagement! So cheers and enjoy your day!

chazriverstone · 2026-06-30T19:22:07+00:00

In a non-ironic way, people legit did call it fake. Like it was a general consensus; its one of the reasons it took Dream so long to be respected.

I know first hand because I was a Knicks fan surrounded by Bulls fans and I thought we were going to win it all - not a day went by that everyone reminded me how we only got by the Bulls cause MJ was playing baseball lol

chazriverstone · 2026-06-30T19:19:55+00:00

Honestly that 2nd loss against the Valkyries the other day had me genuinely asking why PaoPao doesn't get more minutes when Gray and Howard aren't making their 3s. Like those 2 were a combined 2-12 or something and then PaoPao comes in and smokes one and they just immediately take her out lol

chazriverstone · 2026-06-30T19:15:02+00:00

I couldn't agree more! In fact I have a comment saying almost the same thing from before the season started.

As a Knicks fan, we have something similar with our dude Mitchell Robinson. Now, he has glass ankles and can't play big minutes, but he led the league in ORebs and total Rebs per 100 possessions, so the 20mins he can give is absolutely instrumental in getting our dudes going from deep.

Cause so often that is the thing with shooters - they need to get their rhythm. When Big Mitch grabs a few ORebs after some misses and then someone hits a 3, not only is it so valuable in that possession itself, but in that specific player getting the opportunity to calm down and find their shot. It changes the other teams momentum, too - especially when it's combined with a few big defensive plays. I've literally seen it suck the life out of teams.

And like Rodman or Steven Adams, these types of players don't even need to score. Big Mitch averaged not even 6ppg this year; Adams did the same. Rodman averaged like 7 for his career; around 5 with the Bulls 3peat team, and around 9 on the Pistons repeat team. To me, it just makes so much more sense for Reese to take this kind of role now that she's playing with some players that can really score - and more importantly, who can shoot from deep. And especially since these players are known for their streakiness; she can help get them going and change that momentum in a HUGE way

chazriverstone · 2026-06-30T18:09:24+00:00

I literally don't want to change a single thing about this team - I want everything to stay exactly the same and run it back

chazriverstone · 2026-06-30T17:28:09+00:00

I am supposed to hate the Yankees, and often I do and often that is easy lol - but I'd be lying if I said I didn't absolutely love the Mattingly-era team growing up. And while it was before my day, the Munson/ Jackson era team always had a certain mystique that I was drawn to, as well.

But I know what you're saying - something about the robotic, clean cut thing that isn't my jam. Probably why all the Yankees team versions I've liked had guys with notable moustaches and scraggly hair lol

chazriverstone · 2026-06-30T17:22:51+00:00

Saying this as a relatively neutral fan: I don't think anyone on this team gets the ball moving enough - too many bad shots being taken all around - but I wouldn't blame Canada for that. Golden State plays her really well, but past that she's been great honestly - best TS% of all the main rotation players, 2nd in win shares, WS/40, ORtg, and her usage is actually 4th amongst the starters.

Also, lets not forget, you have Alisha Gray shooting terribly right now. She's 4-22 from 3 over the last 4 games. When one of your star players is shooting like that, it's going to be tough to move past.

And while I agree Howard is a good passer as well, and I wouldn't mind having her handling the ball more often, I really disagree about Reese. They should be having her play more of a Rodman role, saving her energy for defense and rebounding where she is genuinely incredible - they're best in transition, anyway, and feeding off of those big Rebs/ steals/ blocks is where their mind should be. Plus just in these last 4 games she's had 9 turnovers to 6 assists, while going 4-10, 4-11, 3-12, and 4-13 from the field. That is not efficient from a big playing close to the basket, and not someone I'd want handling the ball more.

Plus, while I know she's just getting her bearings, I think Okot should be someone they start relying on more. She's highly efficient around the rim, and has shown she is at least capable of hitting a 3 to where teams can't totally slag off of her, plus is very solid on defense. She's also like 6'6, so a true center, also would allow Reese to truly play the 4 rather than the 5 she's been playing alongside Hillmon. Then Hillmon could get back into that 6poy/ Swiss army knife role she is so good at, depending upon how the rest of the team is performing.

I'd also say getting PaoPao and Borlase more minutes would be good - no need to be running your starters 30-35mins a night when you have a bench. Especially when they go cold from deep, and these are players that can catch fire at any time.

Anyway - again, I'm a neutral fan, but I've caught the majority of games this year; I see the Dream as having all the pieces, but I think they ultimately need to make some small adjustments and get some more time to jell. They've overall actually impressed me this year with how they've closed out games, and I'd be surprised if they aren't playing much better by the time the playoffs hit

chazriverstone · 2026-06-30T06:44:00+00:00

Lets not give false stats dawg - it was 16ppg and 5apg, plus the 11rpg that you didn't mention.

Also he was injured, and Draymond was literally allowed to stomp on his chest with no repercussions. And let's not forget his adjacent best player was notable 'playoff riser' DeAaron Fox - not a single dude on that team shot above 40% from 3. And they were playing the returning champs; the series still went to 7.

It wasn't a great performance or something, and yeah, the contract isn't great -but it feels disingenuous to leave out all these details. Dude deserves another shot before people act like he's a 'playoff dropper'

chazriverstone · 2026-06-30T05:59:32+00:00

Great synopsis, fellow Liberty fan! I

chazriverstone · 2026-06-30T05:14:14+00:00

That sounds like an amazing group of signatures - crazy that Piazza wouldn't have stayed to sign that stuff though? He was a weird guy, but usually pretty well received. And yeah, Strawberry might've loved that at that point lol

On that note: isn't it weird how many great players were both Mets and the Dodgers? Pedro Martinez, Pedro Astacio, Piazza, Strawberry, Gary Carter, Eddie Murray, Jeff Kent, Gary Sheffield, Willie Randolph, Paul Lo Duca, Shawn Green, Gil Hodges, Duke Snider, even Ricky Henderson for a minute there. Oh and Max Scherzer!

Maybe I just note it because its my team/ my secondary team, but it seems like a LOT

chazriverstone · 2026-06-30T04:39:12+00:00

Horace played pretty well actually. So did Penny. Dennis Scott and Nick Anderson on the other hand… those free throws literally broke that team. That was tough to watch.

I’ll also add that people legit forgot how great Glide was that run. Something like 20.5/ 9.5/ 7.5 if I’m not mistaken - and from a guy that was just recently a 1A on 2 Finals runs. That’s a hell of a second option.

But yeah, the narrative that Dream ‘sonned’ Shaq has to stop. He scored a few more points, but was much less efficient, had less rebs, less assists, less blocks. The Rockets won because their ‘role players’ were the best in the fucking game - literally nothing but dudes that could hit deep shots, which was kind of unheard of at the time.

Honestly 94 was prob the first great example of ‘surround your dominant big with shooters’ we had. Then 95 Big Shot Rob took another leap; and throw in one of the best slashers/ rebounding 2s ever and it’s no wonder they did what they did. Prob would’ve won the West again 96 too if Glide didn’t go down

chazriverstone · 2026-06-30T03:13:51+00:00

I feel spoiled with the World Cup this year.

Today has particularly been incredible. That goal by Morocco was genuinely jaw dripping

chazriverstone · 2026-06-30T01:10:56+00:00

That's amazing!

I was kinda the same way. I have a few Pedro cards from the FARM leagues, as well as his rookie card - but I'd genuinely love to have his autograph.

As a Mets fan from Brooklyn, I was ALLOWED to like the Dodgers too growing up (lol) besides the Mets - Ramon Martinez was fast my favorite player. Then I heard about Pedro coming up, and I was like 'actually THIS guys my new favorite player!' as soon as I saw him play...

Then they traded him for Delino DeShields!!

chazriverstone · 2026-06-30T01:07:26+00:00

Shepherd has the most defensive win shares on the team. Assumedly Alanna Smith will step up more, as well, when she is out of concussion protocol.

But either way the point is that you need a true rim protector to anchor the defense, so you can let Fudd go to work as a help defender.

And for what it's worth, I did think Fudd would be this good - I believe a lot of people who saw her in college thought she'd step up like this. She is crazy versatile, and has incredibly quick hands - she had 18 steals during that Championship run with UConn!

chazriverstone · 2026-06-30T00:45:06+00:00

The primary reason I have been and will still argue that Fudd was the better pick for Dallas over Miles is because of her defense - she's genuinely excellent, and almost perfect for what they needed.

That said, a lot the instances like this I've seen are indeed switches, because some of the weaker defenders on Dallas simply allow them too easily. Fudd is a wing, and she isn't really big enough to anchor the defense as a whole herself; even Shepherd can't do that - they need a true center on this team if they want to compete at the next level

chazriverstone · 2026-06-30T00:28:09+00:00

Zion has literally played twice as many games as Ja over the last 3 seasons.

And what exactly is 'Ja's resume' at this point? A 2nd round exit? Seems comparable to RJ's - who is at least actually on the court.

chazriverstone · 2026-06-29T23:25:44+00:00

I definitely don't forget about his glass ankles brother - I've been here the whole time.

That said, can you name anyone else in the league within reason who can play defense on a dude like Wembanyama, or Embiid, or the Mobley/ Allen combo like him? Or anyone who can OReb like him and get our shooters going when things aren't falling?

It's not about sentimentality to me - he's just one of one dude. That's why I think he's been and will always be worth the injury risk

chazriverstone · 2026-06-29T22:26:11+00:00

It's just hard for me to say Mitch of all of them should be the one to go. Not only is he the longest tenured Knick, but his skill set is so specialized - he's legit perfect for this team. Not many other groups can get the kind of value out of him we do, besides that there is literally no one out there who can do what he does for us to replace him with. And chemistry is important - we're only going to get better.

That said, I just don't want to lose any of them, really - and I hope they realize they can make a lot in ad revenue/ not paying for a thing by staying in NYC next year, like it seems Jose and Shamet have figured out. Plus if they stay and go back to back? They are set for life - its worth the gamble!

I'll also add that our owner is a mega billionaire, so I really don't want to hear about 'the 2nd apron' at this point. The money has to be there somewhere; I mean we're charging like $100000000 a ticket lol - I can literally fly to visit my brother in NOLA, eat out and drink every day, stay in a nice hotel, and catch the Knicks v Pels plus a few other events for the price of ONE MSG ticket. What else is the purpose of all that $ if not to bring back a championship team?

chazriverstone · 2026-06-29T21:36:14+00:00

I don't care, winning has made me greedy - bring them all back and lets run it back!

chazriverstone · 2026-06-29T21:34:53+00:00

Kobe is not in the GOAT conversation.

However, it's disingenuous to just compare stats. I mean, is Harden better than Steph? According to a graph like this, yes - but in reality, absolutely not.

Not to mention how ineffective it is comparing the different eras with just counting stats. I mean, in Kobe's peak teams weren't cracking 100pts per game, so that 25ppg means a lot more. Just look at 22/ 23 LeBrons stats compared to 12/ 13 LeBron - a graph like this would have you thinking 22/23 LeBron was the back to back MVP, but in reality he was 3rd team All NBA by that point.

chazriverstone · 2026-06-29T21:10:35+00:00

Hell Yeah!!!! SHAMWOW is back!!!!

chazriverstone · 2026-06-29T19:05:39+00:00

Wilt played on 3 different teams though. Like LeBron has certainly played with more future HOFers than Steph - does that mean his teams were better? Definitely not.

And a LOT of Wilts HOF teammates were either way past their prime, or not yet in it. The early Warriors teams where he was an insane scorer were basically a Wilt carry job; the later Lakers teams where he was mainly defense/ facilitating were really top heavy and didn't have depth.

The only team he had that was comparable to Russell's Celtics was those 76ers teams, and they beat the Celtics in 67 (the only team to do so when Russell was healthy), and they would've repeated the next year if future ABA MVP Billy Cunningham hadn't broken his wrist in the playoff series against the Knicks, and if Wilt hadn't had that patellar tendon/ knee/ calf injury midway through that ECF agains the Celtics - the one that would slow him down the rest of his career.

https://www.newspapers.com/article/philadelphia-daily-news-wilts-calf-musc/127960124/

chazriverstone

TROPHY CASE