Hometown kid Jose Alvarado feeling the emotions of the insane comeback win at MSG
When he was crying at the ECF I knew this guy would show up big time.
went from playing on the fucking pelicans to being on the floor down the stretch of the fucking nba finals in the span of a couple months
id be crying too š
He said it himself in an interview, beginning of the season he didnāt expect himself to be this far in the post season. Crazy what curveballs life can throw at you.Ā
watching him on the pels getting meme steals i never thought i’d see this dude hitting huge 3s in the finals. i didn’t even know he has a reliable three
i didn’t even know he has a reliable three
He kinda doesn’t, but this Knicks run is apparently divinely preordained so he’s knocking them down when he has to lmao
Iāll never forget the Sixers game where he went 8⁄13 shooting only threes. Other than that he ranges from decent to meh, but when the shots arenāt falling he doesnāt try to force it
Thats key right there and I never thought about that. He does what he needs to contribute to winning if it isnt falling hes not gunna keep spamming them. So glad we picked him up, he deserved to be a part of this moment.
He also doesn’t look like he fears them, knew he’s shooting the moment the ball comes to him.
Him and Landry Shamet have been uncharacteristically lights out from deep
Shamet has been that guy for a while though
can he shoot?
“Yes, I can shoot” swish
average pickup ball thoughts
Sometimes, yes.
DLo thinks otherwise
“Can he shoot?”
“Yes I can shoot”
Yea heāll torch your ass. Fucking speedy ass Alvarado he was my favorite pels player along with Trey Murphy.
1 win away from immortality for his hometown team
For his hometown team that he grew up rooting for, unbelievable
And he was a UDFA if Iām not mistaken. Gotta love his story
Especially as a New Yorker on the Knicks. No shame in crying
WE CHANGED THIS BROKE BOYS LIFE
THIS BROKE BOY CHANGED MY LIFE
We picked him up in the middle of the season
Still can’t believe it. I liked Yabu as a person and was sad for him that it never worked out, but Christ what a great trade it was for us in the end
Yabu made Jose happen by waiving his 2nd year option.
This, Yabu took one for the team.
If the Knicks wins, he gets a ring as well, doesn’t he?
Itās up to the organization if he gets a ring but the history books would say heās a champion
He’s really close with a lot of our guys - especially our young guys like Dadiet, Diawara, Hukporti
If he wants a ring he will get it for sure
Did you forget who your owner is lmao
Dolan is an asshole but he isn’t cheap - especially not when it comes to current and former knicks
Former players fly on the team plane iirc, he doesn’t spare expenses like that. He’s just a piece of shit
He’ll get the ring and then get to move on back to playing overseas.
reading that Sochan would no matter who wins I don’t see why he wouldn’t as well. He may not get the fully decked out one that the active roster gets but he may get a scaled down one like many of the working team staff does.
I think he was fine with it since he got his cut of the NBA cup winnings
Gift rings to Yabu and Dalen Terry if we pull this off
Send one Brogdon’s way for helping us decide on Shamet
And half for Garrison Matthews
And Fox, where would we be without him.
Just wish Delon Wright was still on the team and could get one
So Delon Wright got traded mid-season from the raptors in 2019 and 1 year removed from a potential Knicks championship?
That’s rough
He got hurt too which is even worse. He was pretty solid for his price. I liked him when I started liking Shamet lmao
yea I like Delon. He was a solid backup, and a good dude.
This has got to be one of the best mid season pick ups in NBA history right?
Rasheed Wallace, Pau Gasol, Jose Alvarado
Pau’s brother
Adria Gasol?
Kidding. “The Toronto Raptors acquired Marc Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies on February 7, 2019. In exchange, Toronto traded away Jonas ValanÄiÅ«nas, Delon Wright, C.J. Miles, and a 2024 second-round draft pick.” Forgot about that one, good call!
Those two werenāt waived tho, right? lol. Think thatās what happenedāreleased or something?
Wallace played one game for the Hawks (obligatory Hawks legend) and then was part of a 3-team trade. Pistons sent Mike James to Boston.
Pau Gasol was traded for peanuts, a DVD copy of Hustle/Flow, and the rights to Marc Gasol.
Both trades happened in February of their respective years.
This was some Jerry west back door magic. He was the GM the year before and that trade shouldnāt have happened.Happy it did though.
Sheed imo
BALL DONT LIE
Our management is ass for letting him go but damn I am so happy for this dude.
So fears could get even less minutes?
Man got such an upgrade going from the gong show of New Orleans run by the NBAās worst GM to not only playing for a contender, but also his hometown team.
Mainly because McBride was going to be out for a while too.
Yes you did, hurts as a pels fan to see him go but happy to see him succeed
Born and raised in NYC. Was on the fucking Pelicans 6 months ago.
I can’t imagine how he feels.
I finally had enough of the Pels after the Jose trade and stopped putting myself through the misery of watching them. Pulling for the Knicks solely for Jose and Hart. I wish nothing but the best for those two.
Between the twolves, pels, and raptors itās crazy how the Knicks got a bunch of fan favorites that are also huge contributors and there fans are still rooting for them
bridges as well and he was loved in two cities
Also the Kings fans rooting for Mike Brown / hate watching D Fox
Hell yeah we are ā¤ļøš±š
I know a good amount of Blazers fans rooting for Hart, despite his short tenure.
SAME.
Except I am still all in on the Pels because I am not a smart man.
I’m off that narcotic. Until they get a better product, the twelve is down one.
Watching him in the NCAA tournament, I knew he was a special player. Insane that he went undrafted.
It’s a shame when you see legitimately fun (and skilled) players just not get their shots because of size but it makes sense when you have fucking monsters like Kat and Wemby walking around. Grand Theft Alvarado has to be one of the most entertaining things to watch happen in decades of watching the NBA.
I actually like Jose on Wemby, he plays it smart. One of the games he clearly intentionally drew a goaltend from Wemby by just putting the ball on the glass ASAP
This is the type of stuff you dream of as a kid.
Literally from rags to riches
Having a Puerto Rican and Dominican on this Knicks team has probably brought back so many Knicks fans that were meh about the sport for years.Ā
Yooo tell me more about this as a casual
I assume heās just referencing that NY has a huge Dominican and PR population mix that with how ass the knicks were 2001-2019 that made a lot of fans not care as much, seeing one of your own guys plus the team being one game off from winning a wing, you get a lot of returning fans.
It’s obviously a typo but the mental image / thought of these guys being so hyped and it’s all to win a single chicken wing gave me a good laugh
New York has a massive Puerto Rican and Dominican population (probably the biggest in the world besides those locations). The Bronx itself is made up of 16% Puerto Rican, the highest percentage in any county in the mainland US.
A lot of Dominicans/Puerto Ricans are more into baseball than anything else (especially Dominicans). But once we got a Dominican (KAT) and a hometown PR (Alvarado), a lot of people who wouldn’t otherwise pay attention started watching again. Especially for the younger fans, because we haven’t been good in 20 years.
I would say Puerto Ricans this generation are more into basketball than baseball. Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) in Puerto Rico is a massive success with various celebrity owned teams, former and off-season NBA talent, and sell-out crowds.
That Carlos Arroyo Olympic team mustāve inspired an entire generation.
We had PiculĆn Ortiz even before but yes, Arroyo was a massive star alongside Barea winning the championship with the Mavs.
yea true basketball has gotten way bigger there lately
KATās from NJ, so like close enough to be considered a hometown kid, I think.
NYC proper has 600k Puerto Ricans (+500k in the rest of NYS and 500k in NJ) and 700k Dominicans (+150k in the rest of NYC and 400k in NJ). There are also 300k Puerto Ricans and 54,000 Dominicans in CT, but I can’t tell whether they’re on the NY side or the Boston side.
NY side or the Boston side.
this sent me down a rabbit hole lol.
evidently CT only exists as suburbs of NYC and Boston. i wasn’t aware of that.
what a useless fucking state…
Hey some of us would resent that if it wasnāt true
Roger Sherman, vast and cold and unsympathetic, is judging you
Filipinos too with Clarkson
How could I forget, they got all the representation on that roster lmao.Ā
Rainbow coalition
As a filipino from NYC, none of us had to be “brought back”. We never left. We were in the trenches in the dark days.
When he hit the spin cycle into a finger roll, I knew shit was over
Against Champagnie too (I think), the Brooklyn native playing for the Spurs who Jose has been playing against for a long time.
NBA scriptwriters cooking a crazy meal.
they played each other in high school they were going back and forth at each other in game 1 lol. must be surreal to play against your high school rival in the fucking NBA finals
And fucking cook him. In a weird way he does well with Wemby’s height because his whole career he’s had to get crafty around the paint to score. He tries to sneak and slither and draw coverage. If he finds a gap he will try to go up but if not he finds the right pass. What a decision to leave him in for the 4th and use his extra ball handling to relieve JB.
that layup in game 1 that he spun off the backboard to get a goaltend was fucking magic
Jose bringing out that energy against Champagnie like Wemby did against Chet
His game 3 pull up jumper over Wemby was one of the most beautiful shots Iāve ever seen.
That was so slick it was like some globetrotters shit haha
that was hakeem-esque
He’s said if we win the series he gonna be drunk for 8 days and I don’t doubt him at alllll
Alvarado: āJR smith hold myā¦ nvm. JR smith GIVE ME YOUR BEERā
shit iāll join him!
i took off from work the entirety of next week in anticipation. i might never recover
If we win on Saturday he better bust his ass back to NYC to march in the PR Day parades on Sunday
If they do win, someone will charter a private jet at any time to get him there in time if he wants it. Guaranteed.
He gonna do a Bodega Tour for sure.
It was awesome to see how much Brown trusted him at the end of the game. Thatās just good coaching.
Heās managed the bench really well all playoffs. Cavs game 1 only happened because he kept Landry in while he was hot. Last game he played the bench unit to start the 4th after they played great in the 3rd, and we almost came back in that one too. Alvarado coming in to counter the Spursā ball pressure is just the latest great adjustment.
This is all Brown was brought in to do. This was a really well coached team under Thibs but the Pacers really exposed him.
I feel like Thibodeau going to the Magic as an assistant for Sweeney is the right move.
Thibodeau is still a strong defensive coach but he needs to learn the modern offensive game and be open to making adjustments.
but he needs to learn the modern offensive game
I think that ship has sailed for Thibs. He’s 68.
Having him and Brunson on the floor together was another genius move by Brown. Can’t stick Castle on both of them, so they were guaranteed to always have at least one ball handler be able to work free.
Exactly. Their combination works. Not even too much of a defensive liability as the Spurs couldnāt execute well on the other end.
I was really shocked he was left in for so long after he got his fifth foul. Even more shocked that the spurs just completely stopped going after him after he picked up his 5th
He unlocked their offense, straight up. He’s everywhere and can hit tough shots. Spurs looked so lost with that much activity.
And meanwhile, Mitch couldn’t even keep Harper in
Jesus that is a warriors cry right there. That must be an insane moment for him
The decision to have Jose and Brunson on the court together really helped. Jeremy Lin and some here had that idea after Game 3.
Split their (Spurs) attention and tire the Spurs out even more. Yes, the risk is that you are temporarily playing small, but you also gain the ability to pass, slash, or throw the Spurs off their feet more too.
Maybe they do this again in Game 5 to inject some energy and offense throughout the game.
Wemby was so gassed. Didn’t help his coach kept him playing 44 minutes. The spin cycle move happened because Wemby was too tired to contest the shot and trust the rotation
He was tired but at the same time as the guy of on your team in the finals playing big minutes is practically required to win it all. Maybe not every game if you can help it but if spurs keep the lead, those minutes are shortened. Could you imagin the narrative this morning? “Why isn’t your best player on the floor in a close game”. Wemby was gassed sure but that’s part of what makes the playoffs and finals great and the whole 82 game season is that it tests your endurance.
I don’t know why it took so long to make this adjustment.
The answer was already there in the NBA Cup Final and throughout this season.
The Knicks play better when Brunson has a secondary ball handler on the floor next to him.
It also works because that secondary ball handler doesn’t simply defer to Brunson and will seek the right play, whether that’s to drive and spray or get the ball to Towns.
Game 5 should be more Alvarado and I’d even throw Kolek in there.
I like Shamet but he needs to be better with his off the dribble hesitation game and trying to hit the floater and get deeper in the paint to pull in the defense and open up the perimeter for his teammates instead of constantly settling for the three or that deep mid-range jumper.
If Brunson is out of the game, a really interesting lineup would be Kolek, Alvarado, Clarkson/Shamet, Bridges/Anunoby, and Towns.
Knicks must have two capable ball handlers on the floor at all times to constantly dribble drive and keep the defense honest.
Teams can’t just dribble drive and kick to the three every time as there has to be a balance of getting into the short range and hitting a floater or going with a hesi-dribble or escape dribble and getting right to the rim then either trying for the scoop layup or hitting the jump stop and pivotting into a fadeaway or fake up-and-under.
That Jose Alvarado fake escape dribble into spin move near the lower defensive box on Champagnie that also faked Wembanyama and opened up the slightest space for the layup was sublime.
Deuce and Shamet have been nice but Alvarado, Clarkson, and even Kolek are more consistent penetrators that understand how to make plays happen in the paint.
Would love to see a Netflix style documentary on his NBA journey. Dude came from from the projects, now heās on the verge on winning a ship with his hometown team. Such an awesome story.
Fucking SQUAD!! Letās fucking gooooooo!!!!!
These 2 deuce mcbride and mitch turned the whole post season around as a bench unit
oh iām def gonna cry if they win it allĀ
when
nah, can’t jinx it lol. I’ve been a fan long enough to know that this can still go south. It’s not over till its over.
Esp. w/John Starks up next to your name
my favorite player lol….been wearing his jersey every game these playoffs as a reminder š
I’ll never forget Game 7 against the Rockets after being up 3-2 in game 6. Then Starks going 2⁄18. Brutal.
But if the Knicks win this, it’ll all be good.
An absolute brilliant call by Mike Brown was playing Alvarado in the 4th. Wemby had to guard Kat or Alvarado and it completely disrupted the Spurs defensive scheme. +11 for the game and best from the bench.
Ant?
Thank you - Kat
gotchu fam
Was fighting for a roster spot and earns a guaranteed contract.
Gets traded to his hometown team he rooted for his entire life.
Plays a vital role in a historic comeback and is now on the cusp of winning the team’s first title in 53 years.
Absolutely fucking insane.
literally the life i daydreamed about as a kid
You donāt even need the audio, you can see exactly what that win meant to him.
Vibes are immaculate
He’s been my favorite non-Knick for years, as I’m a secondary Pels fan since my brother moved to NOLA.
Just loved everything about the dude - undrafted, undersized guard, got where he was by simply outworking and out hustling EVERYONE - the fact that he’s representing Nuyoricans was already the icing on the cake. When he came to the *Knicks, it was like a dream come true. Not just because I already loved him, but because I KNEW he was exactly what we needed.
He will fight to the very end, no matter what the circumstances are - as was made abundantly clear tonight. Deserves all the praise in the world. I mean that 3 he hit that rolled in? That was the turning point
*edit spelling lol
the prodigal sewer rat returns
Love this kids game, He showed up big for the pelicans in the playoffs* when the rest of the team was dog water.
When were the Pelicans in the finals??
Don’t fact check that, we were there. Trust
Lol ty I meant playoffs š big difference
It means something for the players that are from NY. KAT and Jose have been insane
This must feel incredible. He’s going to chase this high for the rest of his life. What a moment.
The vibe!!!!!! Ahhhhh!!!!!
Georgia Tech legend
His off ball movement is insane. Hes incredibly active and does the dirty work. Big fan of Jose.
What I love about the Knicks is that the players and the team people love and there is not a lot to hate…. but as a Knicks fan… holy shit… based on the bullshit going on the worst thing about the Knicks are its fans. The ones acting like they contributed to the team by throwing garbage at Wemby or destroying public property..
As a knicks fan, I agree. Its embarrassing that were attacking other teams fans for simply wearing a jersey. That’s just bad energy to bring to a sports game. Its one thing to be obnoxious (I love that shit) but to get physical with other fans who are trying to enjoy the game is just unnecessary and ruins it for the team.
The last New York City product to play a major role for the Knicks in the Finals was Anthony Mason RIP. I am so damn proud of Jose.
They bought him for the cost of a cheeseburger. I wanted him so bad on the Pistons he plays with so much heart
can he shoot? yes I can shoot
This shit made me tear up
On a per minute basis Iām not sure that thereās been a more impactful player in this series than Jose
Good for him man, played his ass off last nightĀ
I knew this was gonna happen when the Knicks got him lol
Been waiting for him to do one of his patented backdoor steals as a pivotal play to win the Finals
My boy coached him at Christ the King and they still are in touch and have a great relationship. Couldnāt happen to a better guy, nothing is more important to him than bringing NYC a championship
He’s so amped.
I chuckle at his GTA nickname everytime. What a fortuitous pick up he has been
best nickname in the league
Jo Jose if you are seeing this, we love you man. Keep doing you!
I donāt know why NBA executives undervalue guys like him. This was Caruso for my team (LAL) at one point. Bruce brown trended in the wrong direction but he worked for DEN. Rondo is probably the Michael Jordan of these guys when he was on those early Celtics teams.
This is Mike brownās coaching style. I am genuinely surprised by him logging more minutes than ever especially in this crunch time last night and it pulled off.
Guess thibsā the reason why Knicks was stuck
Immaculate vibes, what a potentially beautiful way to win a ring. š fingers crossed š¤ jobās not finished.
BING BONG!
What a dream season its turning out to be for him going back home.
One of the most clutch timeout takers of all time. š
God dammit this makes me so happy!
Dream come true
Happy for the guy!
You need warriors for these kind of games and he is one tough mofo!
I heard Donovan Mitchell could never
what an adjustment by Mike Brown to get another ball handler in there and what a game by Alvarado to step up in a huge momentĀ
I fucking love Jose. Gotta feel amazing for him as a hometown kid.
Man so happy for him. What a dream
This dude must have been absolutely cooking dudes at the park growing up.
And to do that in NY City … if they bring home the title, they will forever be NY legends.
That three pointer he splashed at the end was huge.
I’m crying man š„¹š„¹
Jose gets me emotional
That yell is amazing
I watched him play in person a lot while he was at GT and I canāt tell you how happy I am to see him succeed at the NBA level. Dude was the soul of the team and just keeps it rolling
“Jose Alvarado changed the game.” - Landry Shamet
Boricua!!!!
All the homies in australia love Jose Alvarado.. lesssgoo knicksss.. sydney is in new yorkkkk
so many legendary moments from his minutes
Love this for their players. KAT JB OG
Definitely did not expect Alvarado being out there hitting clutch shots in the 4th quarter of a finals game when we got him
This man was playing for the Pelicans in January
Fuck the Pels. Very happy for him
Fuck joe dumars
This is what its all about really
Wtf hes t i n y. Landry towers over him
always liked alvarado from jump
No one is talking about it, but his 3 at the end was massively important
Good to see someone on the Knicks show signs of happiness