Everyone who lives and dies with the Knicks can remember Amar’e Stoudemire smiling with his new $ 100 million smile and proclaiming, “The Knicks are back”.
The Knicks did not exist at that time and, 11 years later, they have not returned now.
But after so much fasting and heartbreak over the years, after Derek Fisher and Phil Jackson and the triangle offense, after David Fizdale, after the failure of Kristaps Porzingis, Tom Thibodeau called for a time-out in the misery and on the eve of All- Star pause, Knicks fans this time are not relieved that the season is over.
They can start to believe again.
His Knicks, 114-104 Pistons winners, are coming back. His Knicks are between 19 and 18 years old, the last with more than 0.500 in eight years. Your Knicks are a team again.
“It looks like something good is going on,” wrote Julius Randle in Players’ Tribune.
Something good happens when a famous coach like Thibodeau arrives and makes his best player sign up and everyone follows him.
The multifaceted and indefatigable Randle (27 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists) is the first Knicks All-Star since Porzingis and Thibodeau’s main locker room lieutenant. “MVP”, the mini-Garden crowd screamed during and after the game.
Randle came to love New York and New York came to love him.
“He is a great worker and sets a great example for the team,” said Thibodeau, “and the impact on the victory was enormous. It is not his individual statistics, it is what he is doing for the team, and it becomes contagious ”.
Something good happens when Barrett (21 points), a rising star in his sophomore year, is a threat to the city center when he’s not going downhill and has regained the arrogance he displayed in Duke.
“His preparation is giving him a lot of confidence,” said Thibodeau.
Something good happened when Elfrid Payton (20 points), back from a hamstring injury that cost him four games, was the best point guard on the floor, even though Frank Ntilikina made three 3s in the second quarter.
Thibodeau is the best thing that ever happened.
Knicks’ best coach since Jeff Van Gundy.
Tom Terrific.
“Culture is how you do everything,” said Thibodeau. “It is not a private thing, it is how you do everything.”
Thibodeau cannot turn Knicks into heavyweight contenders overnight, but the signs of growing professionalism and a commitment to D-FENSE are unmistakable.
“It looks like we have a collective purpose,” wrote Randle.
And a hunger. “We are not at all satisfied,” said Barrett.
Thibodeau convinced players who were crying out for a leader and a teacher that you have to earn the right to win. He loves to coach these players. They love to get better together one day at a time.
“I think we’re all engaged,” said Barrett. “We all have our mindset on the same goal and we are all working towards that.”
Knicks are no longer a laughing matter.
“We are reversing the roadmap based on the reputation of our entire franchise,” wrote Randle.
The legendary Marv Albert, son of Brooklyn and Basket No. 1 in Manhattan Beach, was the voice of the Knicks when they won their NBA championships in 1970 and ’73. Red Holzman’s Willis Reed-Clyde Frazier teams remain the gold standard. This is how it happens when Knicks fans find themselves trying to scratch an itchy 48 year old.
“They appreciate a good defense and they appreciate good passes,” said Albert. “That era was very popular because of the way they rocked the ball, which is what Golden State did during its championship years. Steve Kerr believed that and also [Spurs coach Gregg] Popovich. These Knick teams were very smart. Red had five coaches on the floor, basically. “
The Pat Riley-Van Gundy Knicks were also intelligent, but their identity was endurance and tenacity.
“Which is also appreciated by Knick fans,” said Albert. “It’s funny, if another team enters the Garden and defeats the Knicks, the fans complain. But when the Knicks had [Anthony] Mason and [Charles] Oakley and that group, they would just kill guys – the game was so different – and of course that was applauded. “
Mike Woodson is the last Knicks coach to win a playoff game. Thibodeau will be next. It may not happen this season. The timing of the second half is brutal.
“There are some good things that we have done, obviously some things that we have to improve,” said Thibodeau.
Of course there are. Never forget, the guy is not happy unless he is unhappy.
“The challenge will be great,” said Thibodeau, “so you must bring out the best in us, but just don’t change our approach, focus on improving each day.”
Once Leon Rose, World Wide Wes and Scott Perry give you more horses, there will be every reason to believe that Thibodeau will take you to the water and make you drink. Our Marc Berman asked what he would do during the break and Thibodeau cracked: “Turks and Caicos”. Even there, without a team to train, he would not be happy unless he was unhappy.