Crowd reactions have an effect on team performance. This is a simple and obvious fact. If it weren't the case, then there would be no such thing as home court advantage. So yeah, being a quick trigger on the boos because the team isn't playing well can have the ironic effect of negatively affecting team performance (which just makes booing more likely down the road again, etc). Expecting a team not to be affected by an overly negative home crowd is like expecting the team to play equally well at home (for a favorable crowd) as on the road (for an opposing crowd)-- in other words, it's unrealistic.

[Edited by - tomverve on 11-09-2006 08:06 AM]

I fell asleep after the first quarter, so I will reserve my comments on the specifics, but isn't it a good time now to give the coach and players some credit?

I do give them credit. I saw the last two minutes. They played with heart and pride we didn't see last year. It's just to me this team just seems like the little punk that keeps challengin people to fights and just keeps getting his ass kicked-then blames it on the weather, he says the other guy cheated, he wasn't feeling good.....etc. Kind of like Tanner Boyle from the Bad News Bears.

Seriously, I like the heart. I don't like them blaming their performance on anything they can. Now all they have to do is learn to play. These past couple of games have proven to me that this team does have the talent to be a 50 win team (like I have said many times before) and they are underachieving-it's not luck when you come back from 14 and 19 points down in back to back games.

And perhaps place a little credence in what Rose is saying? I mean, we are talking about M. Rose the good soldier, doesn't he have credibility?

My problem isn't Rose. He isn't blaming anyone. I am sure Rose is 100% correct. He is telling it the way it is. Rose isn't making excuses blaming the crowd.

My problem is Isiah. You think that when he was with the Pistons, he would have blamed the crowd if they played bad? No, absolutely not, because they were a tough team and that would be a p*$$* thing to do.

And while you are at it, perhaps you should revisit your conclusions on what LB did and did not do last season, and how Mr. Thomas' compares thus far considering Mr. Stern and the result of the lawsuit?

No, because I want to see first if this agreement has a provision that he can return to coach in the NBA sooner than in 4 years.

Posted by tomverve:

Crowd reactions have an effect on team performance. This is a simple and obvious fact. If it weren't the case, then there would be no such thing as home court advantage. So yeah, being a quick trigger on the boos because the team isn't playing well can have the ironic effect of negatively affecting team performance (which just makes booing more likely down the road again, etc). Expecting a team not to be affected by an overly negative home crowd is like expecting the team to play equally well at home (for a favorable crowd) as on the road (for an opposing crowd)-- in other words, it's unrealistic.

[Edited by - tomverve on 11-09-2006 08:06 AM]

So far they have 2 road wins none at home. This team has underachieved for 2 years and has shown the exact same problems that they had under Brown, and every time we turn around Isiah is saying something else to deflect blame from the players. And even if he is just saying it to the press and is killing them behind closed doors-and I said this before-it is doing more harm than good.

This is New F*ck*ng York. We have more respect for the players that take responsibility and man up to their mistakes. Always have. We don't want to hear "the crowd is mean", or the "65 yr old coach is mean"......BS! This is NEW F*CK*NG YORK. Be a damn man and do your job.

btw joe, maybe you're implicitly referring to other Isiah quotes not listed here, but from the quotes I see in the original post it seems like Malik and Isiah are saying the same thing. They both say that the negativity is affecting the players a bit but that they just need to fight through it. I don't get the sense that one guy is making excuses and the other isn't.

Posted by tomverve:

btw joe, maybe you're implicitly referring to other Isiah quotes not listed here, but from the quotes I see in the original post it seems like Malik and Isiah are saying the same thing. They both say that the negativity is affecting the players a bit but that they just need to fight through it. I don't get the sense that one guy is making excuses and the other isn't.

I see Malik saying that the situation is tough but we have to perform no matter what.

I see Isiah saying the crowd is the reason we are playing bad.

There is a big difference between the two.


[Edited by - joec32033 on 11-09-2006 08:23 AM]

I don't know if you do this on purpose but here: "But we have to be strong enough to concentrate and get through that and one day we will have a home-court advantage."

Harp on that!

Posted by joec32033:

AAWWWWW......We're so sorry we hurt your feelings.....geezus, WTF happened to our players...I miss the 1994 teams more than ever...bunch of F*****G P*$$**S...

Another thing, booing affects everyone! Everyone a winner like derek jeter. Thats what he is talking about. Talk about bashing the Knicks for the most bs things. Seriously! Now you are pissed that booing has a negative effect? THATS THE WHOLE POINT OF BOOING!! If he said, the booing doesn't affect us, you will come out and say some stuff like " these guys are worthless and dont even get bothered by booing". Joe, come on! Find something good, something concrete to pick on the Knicks about!

When was the last time anyone saw a positive comment in the media attributed to Isiah Thomas - and people talked about it as a small step in the right direction?

A player transaction worthy of reconition perhaps? Nah, Jason Kidd sez the Knicks blew it on Marcus Williams.

A revised code of conduct? Who cares?

Knicks players relating to fans better?

Any hope for the future of the 28 and under dominated roster?

Nah, they suck.

Just curious.

Posted by tomverve:

But can you show me what specifically about the quotes makes you get those interpretations? Maybe it's because Malik adds in that explicit "I'm not making excuses" provision, or is it something else..?

Isiah's comments are more directed at the fans and ther "responsibility" to give the Knicks home court advantage. I understand that the crowd is a factor, and I'm not arguing that. Unfortunately Isiah is using the crowd as a crutch. "One day we may have homecourt advantage"? So other than passing the buck to the fans he is also questioning their dedicaton?

Isiah does this alot, and he does it because he so solid business and PR wise. He can talk out of both sides of his mouth very well and the way he phrases things is very clever. Isiah has 2 sides to him. The kid from the ghetto he keeps referring to and the executive that we all see. Isiah the businessman is very slick.

Do you realize he just gave them ANOTHER excuse if they lose the next home game? Oh, well the crowd wasn't behind us, we just couldn't play well. This is BS. I was raised on the 90's Knicks. This is embarressing.

If Isiah said what Malik said, I would have NO problem. Malik said, It's tough, we have to play better. He keeps it focused on what the players have to do for themselves. He is not saying the crowd has to support the players. He is saying the players have to give the crowd a reason to support them. This is about shifting responsibility. The player with championship rings is keeping the focus on what the players have to do. Only the things they can control.

The coach-who only has rings as a player, not a coach-is focusing on things the players can't control. The crowd. Whether his team gets cheered or booed. The responsiility of the crowd to help the team. That is BS.

[Edited by - joec32033 on 11-09-2006 08:40 AM]

I MENTIONED AWHILE BACK THAT THIS TEAM CAN'T PLAY WELL AT HOME DUE TO PRESSURE.

NYC and MSG lights are not for every NBA player to perform in.

The media coverage , the fans, the expectations don't bode well for weak minded or sensitive ball players.