Last 18/19 NY Knicks season transmission: "F*** all the haters from you to SAS" See y'all in '20

[storyteller]

How David Fizdale has forged relationships in first few...
https://theathletic.com/407165/2018...on-the-job-and-remodeled-the-knicks-identity/
I was able to get a peak at an excerpt from this article and it's really got me excited to see how Fiz and these kids develop.

Fizdale has received buy-in from those within his own organization too. In less than two months on the job he’s already built relationships with players that have left some raving and applauding his approach. Enes Kanter called him “amazing,” praising him for building a “friend relationship” that supersedes the one players and coaches usually share. Tim Hardaway Jr. said Fizdale has been “great.”

“He does a great job of making sure everybody is feeling like they’re welcome,” he told The Athletic last week during an NBPA event for children at the Dalton School Physical Education Center in New York City.

The Knicks coach has found ways to develop trust in a myriad of ways. While his eventual trip to Latvia to meet with Kristaps Porzingis has been well-publicized, he’s reached out to others on the roster. He shared dinners with Hardaway. He jetted out of the NBA draft combine last month in Chicago to meet with Kanter.

Notably, he went to an Eastern Conference finals game in Boston with Frank Ntilikina, Emmanuel Mudiay and Damyean Dotson, but Mudiay was more affected by Fizdale reaching out after a friend passed away — a simple gesture that Mudiay took as an example Fizdale was empathetic as more than just a basketball coach.

“He can connect,” Mudiay told The Athletic. “He’s probably been one of the best coaches I’ve been around connecting with players, man. Because he gets this generation. It’s a new game but at the same time he’s real, real experienced. He’s got the ins and outs. He’s been around championship teams. He’s a smart guy.”

Mudiay has been a constant at the Knicks facility as part of a group of young Knicks working through the early summer, sometimes with Fizdale. He mentioned a core of Ntilikina, Trey Burke, Luke Kornet, Isaiah Hicks, Troy Williams, Dotson and himself.

The group has used the time to get into a gym, playing competitive games and working on skills development. One drill Fizdale instituted has been to teach the players how to finish around the rim — a subtle art the Knicks struggled with last season. They finished 17th in the NBA in field goal percentage at the rim in 2017-18, according to Cleaning The Glass. Ntilikina was in the 34th percentile in field goal percentage at the rim, Dotson in the 42nd, and Mudiay in the 55th percentile — a jump from the woeful, bottom-fifth success he had in Denver.

“We’re doing stuff we were pretty weak at last year as a team and individuals,” Mudiay said Saturday in between sessions of a skills camp for children held at NBPA headquarters as part of Go Hoop Day. “Finishing around the basket. We do some containing drills 1-on-1. Stuff like that.”

The sessions have reminded Fizdale of his work in Miami after the breakup of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh. The Heat reloaded by developing fringe NBA prospects into significant rotation players. While Justise Winslow was a lottery pick, Tyler Johnson, Josh Richardson and Hassan Whiteside came from lesser pedigrees to be contributing players. Fizdale says these workouts have reminded him of the ones that helped groom those Heat.

The front office conducted the draft with Fizdale’s influence in mind, evaluating prospects with the idea that the coach’s development background could help guide them. The Knicks, general manager Scott Perry said, “decided who we wanted to select and just having that confidence in the coaching staff and really willing and really able to get the most out of players because they have a history of that in their past.”

“I’m really big into developing the man,” Fizdale said. “I’m going to try to provide different things around them to educate them, so that — how fast can I create ownership in their own careers, get these guys really understanding what it takes to be a pro for a long period of time.”

I remember seeing a breakdown that mentioned the Grizz improved around the basket thanks to Fiz and it honed in on Conley. If he can get that success with these kids, especially Mudiay who can get inside at will but just doesn't know what to do there; the payoff will be pretty damned big. Teaching these cats to take ownership over their careers and development, as well as developing "the man" rather than just the player is something I look forward to seeing. Summer league should be a lot of fun because these guys will have been playing together for a while and I hope to see some chemistry that the typical throw together summer league roster lacks (usually just guys chasing a contract and trying to do too much).

 

[nyknick]

But we still have to remember that he's new, it won't be all love all season long. When people's minutes get cut or they don't get the role they expect it will turn. Especially when you have a losing season on top of it.

 

[RicanHavok]

His hitch looks more pronounced.

High latency jumper at MyPark, laggyass release

 

[RickyGQ]

 

[DPresidential]

But we still have to remember that he's new, it won't be all love all season long. When people's minutes get cut or they don't get the role they expect it will turn. Especially when you have a losing season on top of it.

This and when, near the end of the season, people somehow expect Fiz to throw games when lottery spots are close.

Fiz and his team seem to be all about development. I believe that even to the last game, if the yout dem are balling, he's going to let them get those minutes regardless of lottery position.

And there are always going to be the gang of brehs who won't understand anything but "by all means necessary" tanking.

 

[DPresidential]

One of realest Knicks related tweets I've laid my eyes on.

 

[storyteller]

That double entendre tho...Starting soon.

 

[Wargames]

This and when, near the end of the season, people somehow expect Fiz to throw games when lottery spots are close.

Fiz and his team seem to be all about development. I believe that even to the last game, if the yout dem are balling, he's going to let them get those minutes regardless of lottery position.

And there are always going to be the gang of brehs who won't understand anything but "by all means necessary" tanking.

My man, I respect your opinion but they should of Gave up months before the end after the KP injury.

Luckily it was a big man draft and both high level PG's went first. Normally we would of been stuck with picking from who was left at wing or a position we didn't have a need in cause a team ahead of us went with the best wing (who it seems is Knox).

Also it wasn't like Hornecek was playing the youth to develop them until the last game of the season. If these kids are getting minutes and that is leading winning fine, but if we go on a win streak cause of Enes Kanter and Timmy, I'm not gonna hype it up like an accomplishment.

 

[Miles Davis]

I don’t think any of us were looking for Mikal to be a first or second option for scoring, we were more interested in the defense and length. Plus offense can be worked on.

 

[DPresidential]

I don’t think any of us were looking for Mikal to be a first or second option for scoring, we were more interested in the defense and length. Plus offense can be worked on.

Yea,

I'm still disappointed I won't be seeing him on the Knicks & I really, REALLY wished we could have scooped him up via trade when he was being passed around like a thot on draft night.

Just the idea of being able to hustle & grab both Knox & Mikal would have been GOD level FO shyt. I won't be surprised if when Mikal comes to the Garden, there are articles written about how Perry was making calls when he & Miles were still available.

 

[nyknick]

Yea,

I'm still disappointed I won't be seeing him on the Knicks & I really, REALLY wished we could have scooped him up via trade when he was being passed around like a thot on draft night.

Did you see what Suns gave up for him

Zhaire Smith and Heat's unprotected 2021 first rounder

 

[Wargames]

Did you see what Suns gave up for him

Zhaire Smith and Heat's unprotected 2021 first rounder

I think they overpaid too..... but they are at the point that team needs to start winning. If Mikal turns into a Shane battier/Bowen/Raja type player they got a piece they need.

Also Miami ain't trying to take no loses

Those picks are gonna be late lottery at best unless a injury happens

 

[DPresidential]

Did you see what Suns gave up for him

Zhaire Smith and Heat's unprotected 2021 first rounder

What's crazy is, they are in playoff mode already. Their rebuild is now come to fruition. Courtney Lee, a couple seconds & shyt, nikkas talking about next year is a lukewarm draft, give them a heavily protected first instead of those seconds!! Lee would be great for them in the starting lineup.

Could you imagine a fukking lineup of Frank, Timmy/Dotson, Mikal, Knox, KP.

fukk, I'm going to stop dwelling on it because I'm getting sick to my stomach. (By no means am I saying our FO did bad. I think we did great, I'm just going into dream mode right now.)

 

[FreshFromATL]

Whatup, fellas?

 

[DPresidential]

Whatup, fellas?

We on cloud 9, my nikka...

How you?