http://www.nj.com/newslogs/nets/index.ssf?/mtlogs/njo_netsblast/archives/2006_12.html#217824

Hubie said thusly:

"When I do clinics, and we do philosophy, I get to the issue of guys rolling up the score on you,” the sage said. “On any level, doesn’t matter. You cannot win an argument that he’s running up the score. You cannot win an argument with anyone in the building, any fan, any athletic director, any management person. You can’t win. Why? Because your team is down for any number of reasons: He does not have to substitute his people if he so decides to hammer you by 50. Now, we have all been in a few games during the season – I always say there are five you cannot do anything about. You can’t help your team tonight, and they’ll lose by 30; or you might win by 30, and can’t screw it up. Five games a year, okay? All you’re doing is exhausting yourself and giving yourself agida by worrying about it. All you have to know is if you’re in the business for a while, the pendulum always swings, and your opportunity (for payback) will come – if that’s what you want.

"So I try to get guys to understand this. Stop worrying about whether the guy is beating you by 20 or 30. Because he might have a reason for doing what he’s doing other than what you think. You’re assuming a negative reason. And as we’ve seen here, George Karl came out with some very legitimate reasons – he’s blown six games where he’s had double-digit advantages in the last six minutes.

“I also say this: When I’m going to foul you on a hard foul, we are never going to allow our guy to hit a guy in the head. I’m fining you – never mind the league. Because that is a bad play. We’re all in this as professional people, and you have to honor him. When you take a hard foul, you take it from the elbow down as he’s going to the basket. And that is a legitimate, professional, NBA hard foul. Now, if I take that arm down hard, if it’s a flagrant, so what? But I am never going to injure you by makign contact with the head. And if you’re from behind, you have no recourse.

“I have been on both ends, you know that. We took our lumps (with the Knicks) for a few years. We had guys come up from the CBA, and three guys on the injured list… my point is, you’re going to coach yourself, and somewhere during the game, your team just can’t play any better, and you’re coaching every single basket. The frustration is going to come in, but you must control your frustration and understand that the game is played for 48 minutes, or 40, or 32. And you can’t worry about what the other guy is doing. Coach your own team.”

I can see both sides of the argument. On one hand, it is the pros. Stop them if you don't like them running up the score. You are getting paid too. On the other hand, why risk injury to your best players by having them out there in garbage time? Also, give the bench some valuable minutes. They deserve to see the floor. Karl was a jerk, but so was Isiah.

Hubie brown is clearly senile and out of touch.

good call by Hubie

my question is: what is the BIG FREAKIN' DEAL if a team runs up the score on you?
SO FREAKIN' WHAT? You're guys should not have played so badly; tough luck.

Posted by Swishfm3:

I respect Hubie and all but...what the hell is he talking about?

Did Mardy hit Smith on the head?

and everyone is upset about HOW Mardy fouled him...well...with the momentum that Smith had going to the basket, would everyone had prefer for Mardy to push him from the back??

read it again. Hubie is making generalizations and not talking about this specific (Knicks-Nuggs) incident.

Posted by Rich:

At least when he was younger, few coaches verbally abused their players as much as Hubie. He should look in the mirror.

I am sure he regrets some of it... but what's the difference between that and the rest of the college coaching system?

Great article. Thank you, Hubie.

Once again, Mardy's foul was unnecessary. Regardless of the score, bottom line is we were getting slaughtered out there and couldn't compete so we try to be bullies.

A team with real heart would've ran the floor down the other way and dunked in JR Smith's face. Instead, we resort to being barbarians.

Hubie is right on the money.

Like I said you guys are all liars. And only lieing because mardy is a Knick. If someone dragged you down from behind on a breakaway you would be ready to go. You would yell for hours aobut how dirty the player was. Everyone here is a liar. It's okay to say Mardy's play was dirty.

My take is if you are sick of having someone dunk on you, TRY PLAYING DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Bippity10:

Like I said you guys are all liars. And only lieing because mardy is a Knick. If someone dragged you down from behind on a breakaway you would be ready to go. You would yell for hours aobut how dirty the player was. Everyone here is a liar. It's okay to say Mardy's play was dirty.

My take is if you are sick of having someone dunk on you, TRY PLAYING DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!

I rarely say this, but ... Bip is right. Bip and I are the same page on this one.

Posted by TMS:

i never saw Mardy make contact w/JR's head... not sure what Hubie saw.

see my post above.... Hubie was not talking about the specific instance, just a generalization.