ESPN: Knicks youngsters rip style of former coach Brown

[Warhawk]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2511761

He can't bench them now.
New York papers reported Thursday that a number of New York Knicks players ripped their former coach, Larry Brown, for the way he handled the team last season.

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Brown and the players had been under a gag order while Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan and Knicks president Isiah Thomas worked out the former coach's departure. Players were free to talk Wednesday from their summer league practice in Las Vegas.
"Coach Brown is so old-school," point guard Nate Robinson told the New York Post. "He wants everything done just like this, not getting the crowd involved. Isiah wants everyone to have fun.
"At first he [Brown] was trying to take my joy [away] -- don't do this, don't do that. At the same time I had people in my corner saying, 'Don't ever change who you are. You got here by being who you are. By being Nate Robinson,'" he said.
Robinson was one of three prominent rookies on the roster last season whose playing time fluctuated wildly.
"Toward the end of the season it was so up and down," another of the rookies, forward David Lee, told the Post. "I told myself when I get on the floor just make the most of the opportunity because I didn't really understand what was going on.
"I didn't ask too many questions," added Lee, who went in and out of the starting lineup. "I couldn't figure out what was going on. It's a lot easier to play when you know what's expected out of you. I think things will change that way and people will have a better idea of what they're supposed to do."
Forward Channing Frye, who showed the most promise among the first-year players by averaging 12.3 points and 5.7 rebounds, told the Daily News that last season was "a giant circus" and that Thomas has provided "positive reinforcement" since he's taken the coaching reins.
Reached for comment by the Post, Brown said, "I'm not getting into any of that. I'm just trying to move on with my life."
All was not rosy with the Knicks on Wednesday, however. Surprise first-round pick Renaldo Balkman, a defensive-minded forward out of South Carolina, sat out the practice session with a sprained left knee. He suffered the injury in Tuesday's practice.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I heard Mike Golic go off about this on the radio yesterday; it was a thing of beauty. Stephen A. Smith also had some great comments about it on Sportscenter last night, but I'm apparently the only one here who likes Stephen A., so nobody else is likely to have heard them.

 

[AleksandarN]

Now we know what hell Darko went through the first two years in Detriot.

 

[Bricklayer]

Well a) Brown's coaching job last year was obscene and I think nearly every complaint about it is valid; but b) asking a bunch of first year know-nothing kids their opinions on it is kind of silly. Like nearly all kids coming into the league and not having things go their way they are going to be unhappy. And also of course ripe for the slimy schmoozing of Zeke to puff up their egos.

It remains ironic that Larry Brown turned out to be just about the only guy in the NBA capable of making Zeke look like an improvement.

 

[HndsmCelt]

I heard Mike Golic go off about this on the radio yesterday; it was a thing of beauty. Stephen A. Smith also had some great comments about it on Sportscenter last night, but I'm apparently the only one here who likes Stephen A., so nobody else is likely to have heard them.

Hey I like Steven Smith enough to quote him!

Have to agree with Brick on this one. It's one thing for a seasoned vet who had DONE something in the NBA to criticize a coach, but I personaly do not respect a wet behind the ears nobody taking smack especialy when I hear phraases like "so old school" (translation plays team ball and hates hot doging) and "take my joy away" (transaltion: expected me to paly team ball and not hot dog)

Brown did not do a terrible job last season... The Knicks blew the season as a team and there is enough blame to go arround. Browns coaching was pathetic sure but it's not like he had guys out there playing their hearts out or even loking respectable. So for a bunch of former College big shots who are now inexperienced NBA NOBODYS to shoot their traps off is just plain chicken skit.

 

[Bricklayer]

Oh no, Brown ABSOLUTELY did a terrible job this season. Mentioned several times it might have been the sorriest coaching job I have seen in the last 25 years (perhaps Westphal's time in Denver excepted). Just an utter embarrassment. 42 starting lineups = complete horse doodie. Not only not trying to win, but I think intentionally trying to lose and humiliate the franchise into making his moves.

BUT, all that said, some 20 yr old prima donna kid who has never been told "no" in his life is hardly in a position to tell the difference. An article about how the rooks were unhappy is about the least persuasive way to make your argument.

 

[kennadog]

The Kincks were awful, but my first thought was it's like teenagers complaining about the teacher who actually expects them to complete assigments and complete them on time, to boot!

 

[HndsmCelt]

What I meant was that the problem was notentierly Brown... sure he sucked, but THE WHOLE TEAM SUCKED.Brwon aw at the helm and part ofthe team but it's not like the team was doing anything to make me think they WANTED to win.

 

[VF21]

The Kincks were awful, but my first thought was it's like teenagers complaining about the teacher who actually expects them to complete assigments and complete them on time, to boot!

Exactly what I was thinking...