<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> December 4, 2006 -- Isiah Thomas recognizes the problem, that the Knicks are psyched out at home because of the harsh Garden crowd. But he doesn't know how to fix it. The Knicks, with a humiliating, league-worst 1-7 home record, have anxiety issues playing before the sometimes-hostile Garden throng. Thomas is concerned the team is about to blow this glorious stretch in which it has 10 of 11 games at home. Its six-game homestand began in shame Saturday night when it fell behind Toronto, 11-0, in a 103-100 loss. Thomas said the players lack "aggression" at the Garden and thinks it's related to a love-hate relationship the fans have with the players. Tonight, the Knicks try to calm the jeers when they host the Grizzlies, whom they beat on opening night in Memphis. Thomas wishes the team could rely on the crowd as its "best friend." "There's a special relationship between the home crowd and home team," Thomas said. "The athletes really count on it being a friendly relationship and use it in his down moments to get himself going. When that relationship is fractured or questioned, it really affects the psyche of the athlete at home. "On the road, it's OK if you meet a guy on the street and he berates you and tells you you're no good," Thomas added. "When your best friend tells you that, it's different. Maybe you look at yourself and start questioning and doubting. The home crowd is like his best friend. That's his go-to guy. I'm not having a good night, you're my go-to." If things don't improve at the Garden, the Knicks could crack the record books for home ineptitude. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Knicks are on pace to smash the league's worst home record for a 41-game schedule - 6-35 - set by the 1993-94 Mavericks. And Thomas realizes if these two homestands are busts, the Knicks might be done in December. They already are a season-worst seven games below .500. "If we get eight out of 11, it's pretty good," Thomas said. "To go below that, you're in a danger zone. That means you have to make it up on the road, which is not good. We've had success on the road, but I don't know if we'll continue to play .500 on the road." The Knicks are 5-6 away from the Garden groans. "I don't think I've ever seen anything like this since I've been in the NBA," Thomas said. "I don't even know who to call to ask for advice. Most teams win at home and lose on the road. We've done just the opposite. </div> Source
Hey NY is a tuff town. You cant change the crowd because they are your financial king magazine foundation. Its up to Isaih to get his team fired up. He said that Brown gave up on the team. And now he sees how it is to be in browns shoes. Im sure he wishes they kept Larry Brown As head coach.
HUSTLE plays will get the Garden back cheering. The Garden crowd can flip on a dime - give them a couple of hustle plays and they'll act like you just won the Larry O'Brien. Knicks fans value heart over style more than other fans. They appreciate David Lee and Nate Robinson cause they play their ass off. They don't appreciate Starbury jacking ill-advised jumpers or Franchise trying to zone out the rest of his teammates
<div class="quote_poster">phunDamentalz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">HUSTLE plays will get the Garden back cheering. The Garden crowd can flip on a dime - give them a couple of hustle plays and they'll act like you just won the Larry O'Brien. Knicks fans value heart over style more than other fans. They appreciate David Lee and Nate Robinson cause they play their ass off. They don't appreciate Starbury jacking ill-advised jumpers or Franchise trying to zone out the rest of his teammates</div> Do they like when robinson bounces some sort of alley oop to himself and misses....or when he avgs 1 turnover to one assist...and he's a point guard. Can't argue Lee though, he is a good rebounder and is always hustling.
Robinson is a project - he needs refinement if he is to become a solid NBA player. Isaiah Thomas is horrible - he assembled this roster, now he's surprised they don't hustle and play defense?
