One final point. Knicks fans can be very nurturing and loyal. They can also be very spiteful and insensitive. Julius was showing signficant improvement last year AFTER Marcus was traded. RJ and Frank as well. I have a close friend, an old time Knick fan going back to Carl Braun for God's sake, who was very enbittered: "I don't want Julius Randle on MY TEAM." Well, Julius is not stupid. He experienced the disdain, and responded NOT BY SULKING, but raising his game to meet his own standards, and to exceed Thibs'.
I would suggest that Knicks fans are rather quick to slag off some players, when they are up and down [RJ], or if they have palpable limitations [Charlie Ward....ELFRID PAYTON]. Payton's limitations are well documented, but HE IS A KNICK, motherfuckers. I am really proud how he has responded to the hostility and contempt of Knicks fans [you can feel it even in an empty arena] by raising his game and his intensity. Anyone notice how completely loyal Thibs has been to him? On any given night, he's a triple double. A mediocre shooter to put it mildly, but a solid rudder, fesity defender, good rebounder.
Anyone notice that since Rose arrived, Elfrid has raised his game anew. Has responded to disdain and doubting thomases with pride and intensity; he is finishing more of those snaky drives down the lane to the rack, he is drawing more fouls and converting more FTs. My God, the other night he drained an open three, and an angel got its wings. Truth be told, Rose's arrival has not only motivated Quickley and Topping, but Randle and RJ and ELFRID.
Knicks fan who slag Elfrid are every bit as anal and pathetic as those who respond on line to our best team effort win of the season by seeking out trade scenarios.
Stick it where the sun don't shine, dimwits and see if you can't just focus on the transformation of this franchise into a COMPETITIVE ENTERPRISE.
We have a long long way to go, but, we have a prudent front office (I mean, Rose for Dennis and a mid second rounder....SERIOUSLY), a skilled coaching coterie and a squad full of dawgs who respond to accountability by raising their game . Anyone notice the intensity with which Kevin Know reponded to some garabge time daylight. Like Pat Riley liked to say, "Sure you're ready, BUT ARE YOU PREPARED?"
Or as Larry likerd to say, playing the right way.
Or as Max Roach put it, DEEDS NOT WORDS.
Thibs ain't worried about RJ. Nor Elfrid. Nor Julius. Nor IQ. Nor Derrick.
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