Knicks Anxious to Prove Doubters Wrong

[Mr. J]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Everybody doesn't think we're going to be able to do it, but we're going to prove everybody wrong," the backup point guard said after practice. "This season is going to be a great one and one to remember to go down in history."

"It's like we're Atlas," Robinson said. "We're holding the world on our shoulders. Everybody's against us, so that's a good thing for us."

Thomas said Wednesday he has a "tingly feeling" in anticipation of his debut.

"He preaches that we've got to be hard-nosed regardless of anything else," Robinson said. "We've got to protect this team, the guys who are in orange, blue and white, every day. He just says, 'Don't let anybody come in here and step on our faces.'

"Once we start winning, guys are going to be like, 'See, I told you the Knicks were this and that,'" Robinson said. "Nah. Once you're against us, you're always against us. That's how I feel."</div>
http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/k...,0,699347.story

 

[Ming637]

Well, I guess they have the right attitude going into the season, but I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[ChicagoSportsFan]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There was a reference to potential "playoffs," a word not uttered by any Knicks official in at least two years. There was a statement that he is ready for the "fight" -- a term he used in some form seven times in one brief answer -- and, finally, a declaration that at some point this season the Knicks will be a "good" team.

Huh? Good? From 23 victories to "good" in one year is like going from Plainfield to Pluto in a week, but it's a journey Thomas may have to make to keep his job, and he thinks he will.

Working under a mandate from Knicks owner James Dolan to make "evident progress" this year or be fired, Thomas all but guaranteed yesterday that he will make his boss happy and thus keep his job.

"I do expect for us to become a good basketball team," he said. "I don't know if that will be in November. I don't know if that will be in December. But at some point in the season we will become a good basketball team."

Considering the Knicks were the second-worst team in the NBA last year, becoming a "good basketball team" would certainly signify evident progress.

Obviously, we won't find out much about that in tonight's preseason game for, as Thomas said, it is but one small step in the overall process of getting back into the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. Wait. Did someone say playoffs?

"My job is to prepare this team and get them ready to play 82 games," Thomas said, "and possibly some playoff games."

Gasp! He said the "P" word. That's a word Knicks personnel have been forbidden to utter since Larry Brown was hired 15 months ago. Don't raise undue expectations. So, does Thomas envision a return to the postseason? According to the feisty coach, the playoffs -- and more -- is something for which he always strives.

"I want to win all the time," he said. "There's a championship out there to be had, no one's been crowned champion yet, and until I'm out of the race, I'm in the race and I'm preparing to win the race. That's just how I think. I'm not afraid to ask for it all and I'm not afraid to want it all. I'm going for it if it's there."

Thomas was asked about his feelings going into tonight's game at the Garden, considering the last few times he was there -- watching games from the entrance to the locker-room tunnel when his sole responsibility was as president of basketball operations -- he heard boos.

There could be more of that tonight or, as Thomas predicted, the "optimistic" fans will give him and the team a chance to show his fighting spirit. But whatever salutations he does hear over the course of the season, Thomas vowed he would never back down.

"How can I say this?" he began cautiously. "I'm used to being in arenas and I'm used to being in environments where you've got to have thick skin. While I'm not challenging anyone, I'm definitely not running from anyone. I'm not asking for a fight ... but at the same time, if a fight comes, then you've got to fight. I'm used to fighting, I've had to fight all my life, but I'm kind of tired of fighting."

And Knicks fans are tired of losing. Tonight we'll find out if they're tired of booing as well.

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http://www.nj.com/knicks/ledger/index.ssf?...4980.xml&coll=1