Knicks fans haven’t forgiven Kristaps Porzingis for requesting a trade two years ago, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. The limited crowd at Madison Square Garden booed the Mavericks‘ center throughout Friday’s game, which Dallas was able to win even though he had a sub-par performance.
“The reaction was what I expected, of course,” Porzingis said. “I’m happy we got the win.”
It was Porzingis’ second game at the Garden since the deal, and the response seemed to rattle him, as he missed six of his first seven shots from the field. Fans began anti-Porzingis chants during introductions and they continued loudly until the Mavericks took control of the game.
Former teammate Derrick Rose is sympathetic, saying he understands Porzingis’ decision to make a trade request.
“When you think about the situation it wasn’t an easy situation for both sides, with him wanting to leave and with them, the fans felt like they put their all into him by supporting him,” Rose said. “I get it. I was in a similar situation when I left Chicago. People felt like it was me.”
There’s more on the Knicks:
- It’s up to Rose to justify the front office’s decision to pass on making a big deal at the trade deadline, states Marc Berman of The New York Post. Rose, who was acquired from the Pistons in early February, represents the only significant trade the Knicks have made since the season began.
- Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said coaches around the league aren’t surprised that Tom Thibodeau has the Knicks in playoff contention in his first year with the team, Berman adds in a separate story. “He’s a guy that has great respect in the coaching ranks, because of what he stands for as a tactician, what he stands for as a guy that believes in tough, hard-nosed play, unselfish play, and particularly on the defensive side,” Carlisle said. “He’s got this team playing to its strengths.’’
- Mike Woodson, who resigned as an assistant with the Knicks to become the head coach at Indiana University, discusses Thibodeau, team executive William Wesley (“World Wide Wes”), president of basketball operations Leon Rose and other topics in an interview with Steve Serby of The New York Post.
- Newly-signed center Norvel Pelle will be available for tonight’s game, but Thibodeau described him as “situational,” which means he won’t be part of the rotation unless something unexpected happens, Bondy tweets. Thibodeau added that the scouting staff likes what it has seen from Pelle.
Rose has a poor memory. First time he played for an opponent at the United Center, he got a tribute and was cheered broadly.
link to theathletic.com
Berman should have to justify having a column as a team reporter when he has no sources within the Knicks’ FO to feed him accurate information. He’s always been a lazy stupid slob, but prior FO’s, the stooges in particular, likely did tell him some things. Nothing important, but some things. It’s clear that Rose & Co. give him nothing or worse (tell him things that are wrong).
It really is amazing in NYC, the number 1 media market in the US in terms of size, Berman in basketball and Sherman in baseball can keep journalist jobs.
Sherman is bad too. His articles on Bauer’s contract offers from the Mets and Dodgers were comical.
lmao, totally agree. And they’ve both been around for decades. Berman’s been there 23 years and Sherman 32.
I’m not saying he has compromising photos of important people
but if he did I wouldn’t be shocked
Berman actually said … “ it’s up to Rose”.
To justify the front office. This guy gets Payed to write this BS. Only Murdoch a 90 yr old who doesn’t even understand what TRUTH is. Could pay this guy to write a sports column. So freakin out of touch, it’s nauseating lol. This guy has been killing the Knicks since last time we were in Finals. Yet we’re supposed to get back in after 46 games of Thibs. Knicks are rebuilding . Can someone inform The Post. What a rag of a paper. I can’t believe they survived the internet.
An extremely asinine quote
Knicks once again won by not doing anything stupid
Of the guys available the only All Star was Vooch who is 30 and doesn’t fit the Knicks (or Thibs) team at all
Kudos to Rose for not making moves just to make moves
Berman geeezz . How did he last this long. He should be embracing the rebuild. Knicks have never really done this thru draft. Not since they drafted Clyde
No one cares about KP. We made him. And he acts like we should be lucky to have him. Now that NYC don’t have your back. You’ll be exposed for who you really are. A nice big who can’t play inside. And is now more scared of contact than Marty is of the Raptors .
NYC has canceled KP.
Haven’t watched much Mavs ball have you? He’s playing in the post now and we don’t need him clogging up the middle. That’s not our offense. Pick and roll and spread the flow.
Mavs are 15-3 when Luka and KP play this year. Glad he’s a Mav!
*floor, not flow
KP has definitely been good for Dallas. But he’s also next to Luka. I don’t think Porzingis is going to be the main guy for a team, which is what NY expected, so maybe in this case moving him was a win win (altho the return for NY has ended up being pretty blah overall).
Really well you go then. He’s never been a post player and never will be while he’s a stick. You only need to watch him once to see that. Hit me back when he plays a whole season for Mavs.
The way they booed him when he got drafted no wonder why he wanted out of that sh**show
Yeah you got it …… he got a max contract out of it.
Get a clue . We can slo it down for you.
You make it sound like the Knicks did him a favor or that they created his basketball skill. Laughable.
Booing a kid during the draft isn’t cool. Not his fault he was picked.
Knicks fans are still so hung up on Porzingis instead of embracing the fact that their team might actually have a winning record for the first time in eight years.
No one is hung up on anyone lol. You will never understand NY. We we don’t forget. And he’s nothing without us. I know for a Houstonguy that’s hard to comprehend . So go and hate on CP3 n Westbrook
Your last post saying “we made KP” and “NYC cancelled KP” (whatever the hell that means) shows that you are ABSOLUTELY still hung up on him. Like a teenager and his first crush. It’s really weird if you think about it.
Yeah you a psychologist. I’m just Hung. Why would I care about a stick who does nothing for my team. Just cause I tell you we made him. NY has made plenty of athletes over the yrs. Read his story before acting like you know. He means less than you do to me. Oh wait about the same ZeRo
“And he’s nothing without us”.
As a fellow New Yorker, I’m embarrassed to be associated with stereotypical fools like yourself.
You’re just a fan of the Knicks. Nothing special. No better than anyone else. And you don’t “make” anyone.
Thibodeau getting credit for doing the exact same things that got Fizdale fired is such a New York thing. Its literally the same team minus a couple of worse defenders, and plus a couple of better defenders. They were still middle of the pack defensively last year. The biggest difference is Randle plus an extra draft pick that fits him and Barrett, and those couple of pieces
Nope. 180 degree difference in philosophy, approach and results. The only real HC the Knicks had last year was Miller, after the plug was pulled on Fiz World. It was getting worse and worse, and we might have lost 65 games again if he were retained.
Thibs is a great coach. He gets players who have been disappointments to overachieve, particularly on defense but also he is the guard whisperer. There are half a dozen guards whose careers were near the end until they played for Thibs and then extended their NBA time considerably afterwards.
Add to that his ability to take what he has and utilize its strengths – a la the “point center” Joakim Noah experiment in Chicago, and this year’s running the offense through Randle – and you have elements of genius.
If you really cannot see that taking the same team and squeezing more wins out of it is the sign of better coaching, then not sure what you think is the point of coaching – or teams.
Nothing against him at all. I’m saying they’re similar coaches. My argument was that Fizdale got fired for trying to build certain winning habits that they’ve been building on this year. I also literally said this would happen when he got fired, so I’m just pointing out some of the hypocritical narratives about adding toughness, defensive mindset, etc
Fizdale got fired for trying – and failing – to build those winning habits while Thibs, to date at least, seems to successfully built those winning habits
I will grant you this tho: Randle making a mini-leap and becoming a playmaker at 26 was definitely out of the blue, which is a pretty big deal, IMO. The offense this year is really dependent on Randle making something happen for himself or someone else.
And I don’t think Randle’s development is entirely attributable to Thibs. Which does give him a definite advantage over Fiz in one area. A lot easier to instill winning habits when you have a legit All Star playmaker to lean on.
“Thibodeau getting credit for doing the exact same things that got Fizdale fired is such a New York thing.”
Thibs record: 25-25.
Fitzdale’s record: 21-83.
In other words, what are you talking about?
Really I guess the record is meaningless. I love how people judge and criticize teams they don’t care about. Or ever watch. Or follow or analyze. Makes me wonder where you pull out your thoughts from.
Real fans of ball. Only talk about things they see and follow. At least some. Otherwise who’s view are you expressing. I never talk about anything I don’t watch. I may be wrong but it’s what I saw. Not heard or read or someone told me. Fizdale not only can’t coach. He couldn’t handle NY. It’s why Thibs has success. Not only does every coach in NBA respect and know who he is. He grew his coaching in NY. He knows the city. He knows our basketball culture cause grew up a Knicks fan. Fizdale UGBFK me
Well at least Pelle got some mins. Toppin got 16 mins. The one criticism I have with Thibs. Is why isn’t he playing Toppin more. With Mitch out I would think it’s a good time to get him 20 mins. I know playoffs now play a big part. He’s playing vets more. But I still see where he can play more. Beginning of yr I thought they were showcasing Randle to move him maybe. Now with Randle solidifying his place here. Gotta think they may make Toppin available next yr. It’s worth watching for Knicks fans. If Toppin is not part of rotation. Then he needs to go where he can play.
Yup – Toppin had 9 points in maybe 3 mins against Dallas and a ridiculous put back dunk. Kid has some potential – and looks like he has the length to play the 5 periodically.
I get Gibson’s value but I wouldn’t object to throwing 2-3 of his minutes to Obi on any given night