boutons
11-05-2005, 08:13 AM
The New York Times
November 5, 2005
Sports of The Times
Knicks' Teacher Needs to Call Recess
By WILLIAM C. RHODEN
THE most recent championship banner hanging from the Madison Square Garden rafters tells the story of a franchise wanting: World Champions, 1972-1973. The New York Knicks have not figured out a way to win a championship in 32 seasons.
This year the franchise has brought in Larry Brown, the N.B.A.'s ultimate teacher, to break what can now officially be upgraded from a drought to a jinx. After a bizarre summer of drama that took us from Detroit to the Hamptons to the Garden, Brown is part of a Knicks triangle offense with Isiah Thomas, the president for basketball operations, and Stephon Marbury, the iron-willed point guard.
Brown's New York homecoming was ruined last night by the Washington Wizards, who spanked the young Knicks, 86-75.
There were boos at the outset as the Knicks went down by double digits, and another smattering of boos as the playoff-tested Wizards pulled away late in the game. Still, there was enough effort and excitement to hold out hope for a brighter future - at least until tomorrow's game against Golden State.
This isn't merely rebuilding; this is serious reconstruction, and it is fair to ask how many more reclamations Brown wants to endure. He has gone from the exhilaration of an N.B.A. championship season in 2004 to losing Game 7 of the finals against San Antonio last spring to watching his Knicks get pummeled.
The Knicks were down early, by a lot, fought back and even took a 61-59 lead in the third quarter. But they wound up losing just as they did, in overtime, in Boston on Wednesday night.
Brown waved off suggestions that he was frustrated by his team's 0-2 start. "You saw my beginning in New Jersey," he said, referring to his coaching job with the Nets from 1981-1983. "I would have been horrified if we didn't fight back."
These Knicks are a perfect team for a teacher like Brown, though they can seem like a public school classroom of 40 students, each with separate issues and needs, and an abundance of energy.
There's the 6-foot-11 rookie Channing Frye, who needs to play and looked impressive in his N.B.A. debut. There's Jackie Butler, a huge 6-10 center who is 20 years old and trying to find a way to play. And there's Nate Robinson, the 5-9 rookie who can jump over backboards but has to learn that fearlessness without strategy is futile.
"Nate right now thinks he's a highlight reel," Brown said. "He's trying too hard, but he's going to be fine."
Brown's greatest task will be changing the Knicks' mind-set, teaching a young team to win. Learning to win is a cliché, but it's the most important lesson any of us will learn or teach: how to change the level of expectations from merely accepting what's given to winning championships. The Knicks lost their opening game in Boston when they fought to send the game into overtime, then fell apart. The fought back again last night, but fell apart in the fourth quarter.
"I know how far we have to come and how our mentality has to change," Brown said before the game. "We can't put our heads down when something doesn't go right. We just got to figure it out; it's just going to take some time to learn to deal with this and play the right people."
Knicks fans will be hearing a lot of that for the next three months: we need time, we're learning, we're growing. How much time they are willing to give will depend on how much heart and effort the team displays.
We'll also be hearing a lot about "playing the right way."
That slogan defined Brown's championship season with the Pistons and has become a rallying cry of sorts for critics who think basketball in the United States has deteriorated.
The notion of playing the right way perpetuates the myth that too many basketball experts have bought into: that basketball skills in the United States are on the decline. The truth is, N.B.A. talent is better than ever. Even the most stubborn N.B.A. old-timer concedes that today's players are bigger, more athletic and stronger. The problem is adults with authority trying to cram talent into boxes, suits and triangles. Let them play free. They have to have discipline to enjoy the freedom. That's the lesson Larry Brown should be teaching the Knicks' young players.
The Knicks' triangular hierarchy has some lessons to learn as well. Thomas has made lots of flashy moves in two seasons, but he has to pack away the smoke and mirrors and build a solid foundation. Marbury, 29 in February, will have to decide once and for all that he will submit to the will of his coach. Finally, Brown, the N.B.A.'s ultimate teaching coach, must realize he has lessons to learn as well.
I wouldn't get too carried away with catchy phrases that hearken back to yesteryear. There is no Rasheed Wallace on this Knicks team, no Ben Wallace, no Tayshaun Prince, no Rip Hamilton.
Brown will be the first to tell you that without talent, "Playing The Right Way" is a classroom slogan that rings hollow.
E-mail: [email protected]
* Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company
November 5, 2005
Sports of The Times
Knicks' Teacher Needs to Call Recess
By WILLIAM C. RHODEN
THE most recent championship banner hanging from the Madison Square Garden rafters tells the story of a franchise wanting: World Champions, 1972-1973. The New York Knicks have not figured out a way to win a championship in 32 seasons.
This year the franchise has brought in Larry Brown, the N.B.A.'s ultimate teacher, to break what can now officially be upgraded from a drought to a jinx. After a bizarre summer of drama that took us from Detroit to the Hamptons to the Garden, Brown is part of a Knicks triangle offense with Isiah Thomas, the president for basketball operations, and Stephon Marbury, the iron-willed point guard.
Brown's New York homecoming was ruined last night by the Washington Wizards, who spanked the young Knicks, 86-75.
There were boos at the outset as the Knicks went down by double digits, and another smattering of boos as the playoff-tested Wizards pulled away late in the game. Still, there was enough effort and excitement to hold out hope for a brighter future - at least until tomorrow's game against Golden State.
This isn't merely rebuilding; this is serious reconstruction, and it is fair to ask how many more reclamations Brown wants to endure. He has gone from the exhilaration of an N.B.A. championship season in 2004 to losing Game 7 of the finals against San Antonio last spring to watching his Knicks get pummeled.
The Knicks were down early, by a lot, fought back and even took a 61-59 lead in the third quarter. But they wound up losing just as they did, in overtime, in Boston on Wednesday night.
Brown waved off suggestions that he was frustrated by his team's 0-2 start. "You saw my beginning in New Jersey," he said, referring to his coaching job with the Nets from 1981-1983. "I would have been horrified if we didn't fight back."
These Knicks are a perfect team for a teacher like Brown, though they can seem like a public school classroom of 40 students, each with separate issues and needs, and an abundance of energy.
There's the 6-foot-11 rookie Channing Frye, who needs to play and looked impressive in his N.B.A. debut. There's Jackie Butler, a huge 6-10 center who is 20 years old and trying to find a way to play. And there's Nate Robinson, the 5-9 rookie who can jump over backboards but has to learn that fearlessness without strategy is futile.
"Nate right now thinks he's a highlight reel," Brown said. "He's trying too hard, but he's going to be fine."
Brown's greatest task will be changing the Knicks' mind-set, teaching a young team to win. Learning to win is a cliché, but it's the most important lesson any of us will learn or teach: how to change the level of expectations from merely accepting what's given to winning championships. The Knicks lost their opening game in Boston when they fought to send the game into overtime, then fell apart. The fought back again last night, but fell apart in the fourth quarter.
"I know how far we have to come and how our mentality has to change," Brown said before the game. "We can't put our heads down when something doesn't go right. We just got to figure it out; it's just going to take some time to learn to deal with this and play the right people."
Knicks fans will be hearing a lot of that for the next three months: we need time, we're learning, we're growing. How much time they are willing to give will depend on how much heart and effort the team displays.
We'll also be hearing a lot about "playing the right way."
That slogan defined Brown's championship season with the Pistons and has become a rallying cry of sorts for critics who think basketball in the United States has deteriorated.
The notion of playing the right way perpetuates the myth that too many basketball experts have bought into: that basketball skills in the United States are on the decline. The truth is, N.B.A. talent is better than ever. Even the most stubborn N.B.A. old-timer concedes that today's players are bigger, more athletic and stronger. The problem is adults with authority trying to cram talent into boxes, suits and triangles. Let them play free. They have to have discipline to enjoy the freedom. That's the lesson Larry Brown should be teaching the Knicks' young players.
The Knicks' triangular hierarchy has some lessons to learn as well. Thomas has made lots of flashy moves in two seasons, but he has to pack away the smoke and mirrors and build a solid foundation. Marbury, 29 in February, will have to decide once and for all that he will submit to the will of his coach. Finally, Brown, the N.B.A.'s ultimate teaching coach, must realize he has lessons to learn as well.
I wouldn't get too carried away with catchy phrases that hearken back to yesteryear. There is no Rasheed Wallace on this Knicks team, no Ben Wallace, no Tayshaun Prince, no Rip Hamilton.
Brown will be the first to tell you that without talent, "Playing The Right Way" is a classroom slogan that rings hollow.
E-mail: [email protected]
* Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company