You guys have it wrong, I think.
This is New York. Great players come here to just be good. Good players come here and become mediocre. Mediocre players quickly become 'bad' players under New York pressure.

Isaiah used to be a tough sumnabich. In his old age, he's morphed into a "cool" sumnambich. The issue isn't a lack of pride or accountability, i think. Isaiah's "cool guy" attitude is not what wins in New York; this attitude has infected his roster.

This city has eaten up and spit countless other would-be entrepreneurs, executives, business people and professionals. There's no shame in failing in New York. Suceeding in NY is HARD. But the "I'll just put my head down and block out the boos/media scrutiny and just play basketball" attitude doesn't breed winners out here. It breeds losers.

Only two attitudes will work to help someone suceed in this hostile environment.

1) THE JEFF VANGUNDY APPROACH: Listen, the boos (stress, cost of living, traffic, crime... add in the NY obstacle of your choice) really hurt me. I hate them. I've got to do whatever I can to get them to stop. And I have to do it now.

2) THE PATRICK EWING APPROACH: Phuch the boos (stress, etc...). I couldn't care less what this God-forsaken cesspool of a town throws at me. I'm going to continue to bust my ass no matter what's going on around me. This city can Kiss My Arse.

Isaiah's "block it out... it'll be okay in the end if I think happy thoughts... after all I'm doing the best I can" mentality is the main reason why this team is destined to fail as long as he remains.

Is blaming New York your "Escapegoat" ?

Tell that to The 90s Yankees and Knicks.

Posted by TRU:

Posted by JrZyHuStLa:

Is blaming New York your "Escapegoat" ?

Tell that to The 90s Yankees and Knicks.

No, It's Isaish. See above.

But this is the golden era of the primadonna athlete. Where stars used to sound like Karl Malone, most now resemble Koby Bryant.

This ain't the 90's, old-school.

New York is tougher then ever.

The league has definitely gottan more athletic, but you still have to pay tribute to old school guys liek Duncan, Nash, KG, etc.

They're still carrying on the tradition of how basketball should be played.

Nah, I don't mean in athleticim. I mean in disposition.

You can't have either of the two above winning attitudes if all you're thinking of is YOURSELF.

My point is, when so many of the best players have the wrong agendas, winning at a team sport in a city that spends every minute of the day trying to divide, discourage, disparage and destroy you becomes almost impossible.