On the 76th episode of Hot Hand Theory, XJ is joined by Fred Katz (The Athletic) for a wide-ranging NBA conversation that ends with a deep Knicks segment, including the biggest swing factor behind the Knicks’ ceiling: Mitchell Robinson.XJ and Fred hit the Knicks hard at the end, but the conversation starts with the bigger picture: why certain “obvious” basketball ideas (like winning the possession battle) are actually hard to implement in real NBA environments — because buy-in, ego, risk aversion, and locker-room dynamics shape what teams are willing to do long before the math ever matters.From there, we pivot into one of the most fascinating teams in the league right now: the Charlotte Hornets. If you’ve only looked at their record, you’re missing what’s actually happening. Fred and XJ break down why their statistical profile doesn’t match their win-loss results, what’s driving their recent surge, and how their rebounding and turnover trends are quietly changing what they can be.Then we close with what Knicks fans came for: a real conversation about the Knicks’ identity, why some of their struggles get misdiagnosed, and how Mitch’s presence changes everything — from point-of-attack defense to rebounding to what lineups actually make sense when the playoffs arrive.We cover:🔹 Why “good strategy” isn’t enough without organizational + player buy-in🔹 The NBA’s possession-game shift: rebounding, turnovers, and risk tolerance🔹 Why the Hornets’ net rating tells a different story than their record🔹 What’s real about Charlotte’s recent run and what it means going forward🔹 Knicks timestamp segment: what Mitchell Robinson unlocks + the team’s real ceiling🔹 The Josh Hart / Deuce McBride / Mitchell Robinson lineup conversation and what fans might miss when reading lineup data🔹 What matters most for the Knicks when projecting postseason viability⏱️ Knicks fans: The main Knicks conversation starts later in the episode: we’ll pin a comment with the exact timestamp so you can jump right to it.If you value strategic analysis over hot takes and want NBA breakdowns that identify the real levers behind winning, subscribe and catch every episode.#NewYorkKnicks #Knicks #MitchellRobinson #FredKatz #JalenBrunson #CharlotteHornets #LaMeloBall #NBAAnalysis #HotHandTheory #NBAPodcast #BasketballAnalysis #NBA