The Not-So-Secret Garden: MSG, and the Knicks, Are Back Read more at http://hypervoca

[nystandup]

http://hypervocal.com/culture/2012/k...pecial-kanew/#

Even if you don’t live within earshot of the building on 33rd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, you’ve still probably heard the roars and felt the vibrations.
Madison Square Garden has come back to life over the past three weeks after 13 years of quiet. Thirteen years of quiet.

Not since the out-of-nowhere NBA Finals run in 1999 have the Knicks figured into the NBA Conversation. For 13 years, a city that loves its basketball has wallowed in mediocrity, or worse, watching the likes of James Dolan and Isiah Thomas make a mess of things.
But I’m not here to point fingers. That’s all behind us now.
I’m here to explain why what’s happened since the start of this season — a span in which the Knicks have jumped out to a 7-1 start in, as Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier would say, ‘resounding and astounding’ fashion — is so special.

IT’S SPECIAL because it was so unexpected. We hoped we might be good. We knew on paper we had talent and experience. But with experience comes age, and how much could we really expect from the oldest team in NBA history? The oldest. In history.
The truth is, we’re not sure yet. But the future is brighter than every single one of us — coaches and players included — allowed ourselves to believe.

IT’S SPECIAL because of the way it’s happening. Unselfish offense. Hard-nosed, punch-you-in-the-mouth New York Knicks defense like we haven’t seen since the Ewing/Oakley/Mase/Starks days. There are many ways to win in this league — but this? This is the right way. For us. This is our way.

IT’S SPECIAL because we’ve suffered. We’ve suffered long. We’ve suffered historically hard, winning one playoff game (ONE!) in over a decade … since back when my 33-year-old *** was still skipping college classes.
But most of all …

IT’S SPECIAL because New York is the greatest city in the world, and it’s a Knicks town. Don’t let anyone tell you different.

In New York City there are many teams, and many allegiances. But whether you’re a Mets fan or a Yankees fan, a Jets fan or a Giants fan, a Rangers fan or an Islanders fan … you’re a Knicks fan. If you take all those teams’ colors and mix them together you get orange and blue.
From Rucker Park to The Cage, New York loves its hoops, and there’s no other hoops game in town but the Knicks, no matter what anyone tells you about that Brooklyn squad the Jigga Man just brought to the party.

Sure they may yet earn their stripes, but make no mistake — the Knicks do, and unless something crazy happens always will, run this town.
When the Knicks are good, they run this like no other.
While all the stadiums of all those other New York teams are scattered around the periphery … Flushing … Jersey … the Bronx …React to this

The Garden lies right smack in the heart of the city. It IS the city’s heart.
At long last, the city’s heart is beating again, and no matter where you are, if you listen close, you’ll be able to hear it.
Justin Kanew is a two-time “Amazing Race” not-winner and film producer in Los Angeles. He produced Jean Claude Van Damme’s first comedy “Welcome to the Jungle,” coming in 2013

Read more at http://hypervocal.com/culture/2012/k...EGw6ActEKVR.99

I found this to be a great read and it epitomized everything that I have been feeling about this team since our young season has started off like we all hoped a Knicks team could.

Please discuss your feeling for this team and how happy you are that the Knicks are finally a team we can take pride in for all of the right reasons.

[nystandup]

I just want to say that sticking with my beloved Knicks through all the hard times like real fans do, make you appreciate what you have and makes it so much sweeter.

It's still very early and i am a pessimist when it comes to the Knicks because they always seem to break my heart but this team feels different and I hope that my gut is right.

[lvlheaded]

The defense is what does it for me. I grew up a Giants fan watching guys like Michael Strahan make you afraid to cross the line of scrimmage, a Rangers fan watching Richter and Lundquist make you earn every single goal. I love nothing more than watching completely dominating defense. Points are great, but id rather see my team smack you in the mouth. As long as the Knicks are playing this kind of defense I will be more than happy

[NYKGuY]

The defense is what does it for me. I grew up a Giants fan watching guys like Michael Strahan make you afraid to cross the line of scrimmage, a Rangers fan watching Richter and Lundquist make you earn every single goal. I love nothing more than watching completely dominating defense. Points are great, but id rather see my team smack you in the mouth. As long as the Knicks are playing this kind of defense I will be more than happy

I agree I am greatly appreciative at how seeing how our Defense has really picked up to a level never once thought we could reach again. However, I kind of do wish it was a little tougher. Whatever happened to the no layup rule? Can we get that back?

[nystandup]

I agree I am greatly appreciative at how seeing how our Defense has really picked up to a level never once thought we could reach again. However, I kind of do wish it was a little tougher. Whatever happened to the no layup rule? Can we get that back?

Unfortunately with the way the refs call games these days, we will never see the physicality that Knicks teams of old had but what we have is 2nd best.

[Enzo]

Great article. It gets me even more pumped up for this season. I honestly feel that if our team can stay healthy and keep playing solid defense we have a real legitimate shot at winning the championship.

[WoodyHoopz]

I agree I am greatly appreciative at how seeing how our Defense has really picked up to a level never once thought we could reach again. However, I kind of do wish it was a little tougher. Whatever happened to the no layup rule? Can we get that back?

That has more to do with the way games are called. Though I will say that it looks like the refs are laying off a bit this year.

But I also agree that the defense does it for me. I grew up watching Riles and JVG, so...

[Quietmoney]

Same goes for me. The defense is superb! We can shoot poorly and still win games by double digits. We are very dangerous! After this week, we'll be ranked #1 in the power rankings. I can't tell you the last time we were ranked that high at any point of the season.

[JEDean89]

Yep, everyone says showtime offense is fun to watch but imo good defensive teams are more fun to watch cause you get to enjoy watching them the whole game, not just the offensive possessions. this team is possibly the best knick team i have ever seen, i just think we need to win this year or we are screwed. i honestly thought coming into this year that as the knicks didn't have a shot. lebron is a fare amount better than carmelo and i didn't think carmelo could beat lebron in a series. even if the knicks did advance to the finals, they would face the thunder or lakers. however this year a similar gap has opened up that happened 2 years ago. The Heat seem vulnerable with D-Wade being injured, I think if a 7 game series were played today, the knicks would beat the heat. The Lakers made a horrible move in hiring Dantoni as us Knick fans know too well. The Thunder are a different team than last year w.out harden. I don't think the Thunder can win this year. The Knicks have all the pieces we need to win. We have the Primary scorer, the defensive anchor, the elite perimeter defender. We have 3 solid pg's, a 6th man of the year candidate and multiple backup bigs. We have scoring threats on at all times as well as elite perimeter and interior defenders. The heat don't have a quality center or pg let alone quality backups. I think the Knicks have what it takes but until Amare comes back, we still don't know what the finished product will look like. Everyone talks about how good Melo is at the 4 but all his best years came in denver at the 3. In denver he had K-Mart and Nene, neither are as good as Stat or Chandler nor could spread the floor yet Melo still averaged 28. I think we will be better with Stat but there is a chance he will **** **** up. Lets see. Until then lets keep winning at this rate. We need top 2 seeding if we want to win a championship.

[YashBoone]

Psyched!!!!
Great read