NEW YORK - Jamal Crawford realizes the fans might not be ready to embrace the Knicks after seeing optimism wasted year after year.
There is no credibility here.
"You've got to prove things are different," Crawford said. "You've got to prove you're on the right track. We have to win the fans back, no question. And the ones who came out and supported us last season, you have to thank them and hope they'll be back."
It could be a while before the rafters at Madison Square Garden shake again.
There was a sparse crowd on hand last night even by preseason standards to watch Mike D'Antoni work the Knicks' sideline at Madison Square Garden for the first time. They lost to the Philadelphia 76ers 116-109.
D'Antoni's the latest to be entrusted with a job Larry Brown and Isiah Thomas left undone.
Faith needs to be restored.
After watching a movie trailer promoting the virtues of hustle and hard work, the fans were introduced to the starting lineup. The response was lukewarm. D'Antoni was introduced last, an honor that is usually reserved for the marquee player. The response was enthusiastic.
Maybe there is some hope.
Of course, the biggest ovation came when the Knicks City Dancers appeared before tip-off bearing free shirts.
Either way, D'Antoni isn't losing sleep over fan reaction.
"If we play bad, then I'll be concerned," he said. "And they'll have the right to treat us any way they want to. I think it's like that in every arena. You just do the best you can do. You put out a great product, and you play hard. If you win, they're going to like it. I will only be concerned if we're losing, not because of how they treat me, but because we're losing."
Right now, effort seems to be enough to keep everyone happy.
D'Antoni is piecing things together, and several issues have to be worked out before the Knicks become a contender. The process is likely to extend well beyond this season. Still, there was a positive response every time somebody in home whites hustled to make a play.
"I know from my point of view I'm very excited to get back in the Garden," David Lee said. "I think the work we've put in during the offseason, and the work we've put in during training camp is going to show. It's a much more exciting brand of basketball, and I think the fans are going to demand consistency in our effort more than anything this year. I know last year they were frustrated we weren't getting the job done, weren't giving the effort needed to win games. That's going to change. We're going to have good games and bad games, but I think everybody is going to see a change in the effort."
D'Antoni has already lectured the Knicks for easing up in practice.
"He brings a breath of fresh air to everybody from players to people around the organization to fans on the street," Crawford said.
And is the response noticeable?
"My son still likes me, and my wife," said a laughing D'Antoni, who moved to Westchester over the summer and is a self-professed homebody. "I don't see a lot of people. We stay indoors a lot. I don't know. It's been good. I think everybody's excited. I haven't lost too many yet. We make a lot of New York, but it's tough everywhere. You've got to win and put a product on the floor that people are proud of. If you do that, things usually work out. If not, then rightly so, they should be on me." by Mike Dougherty -the journal news-

Of course, the biggest ovation came when the Knicks City Dancers appeared before tip-off bearing free shirts.

Posted by TMS:

win the crowd, & you shall win your freedom