On September 14th 1940, a future hall of famer was born in Brooklyn, New York. Nearly 65 years later that man returns to his home city not to visit or live but rather to coach the New York Knickerbockers. That man, Larry Brown.
We all can talk about the negative side of a situation. His health, the nomad like movement, his supposed "diva" like attitude, his non exsistent "hatred" for Stephon Marbury but today (atleast for today) I'd like to acknowledge the numerous amount of positives, as a coach, that truly overshadow his small "bad"side.
Larry has coached 11 basketball organizations in his successful career (now 12). The ABA's Carolina Cougars (1973-74), ABA's Denver Rockets (1975-76), NBA's Denver Nuggets (1977-79), UCLA (1980-81), NBA's New Jersey Nets (1982-83), University of Kansas (1984-88), NBA's San Antonio Spurs (1989-92), NBA's Los Angeles Clippers (1992-93), NBA's Indiana Pacers (1994-97), NBA's Philadelphia 76ers (1998-2003), NBA's Detroit Pistons (2003 - 2005)...
Throughout these tenors his will and success for winning has been remarkable...a 229-107 ABA coaching record, a 177-61 college coaching record, and a 1,393-909 (.605) NBA coaching record. He's a three time ABA Coach of the Year and an one time NBA Coach of the year title. He has one championship ring and has been to the NBA Finals three times. The most convincing stat in my eyes is his ability to be the ONLY coach in NBA history that has guided six different teams to the playoffs...a feat we can only wish to top this season to make the New York Knicks his seventh!
Larry Brown is not a physcic, he's not a magician, he's not part of a superhuman mutant crime force haha YET everyone looks at him and wonders "how?". How can a man take players with no shoe deals, no commercials, no fast food adds, nothing but the name on the back of their jersey to point out who they are...and make them into household names? How can a man create something so incredible, so unique out of truly a group of "misfits"? How can a man make a 6'9 undrafted center into a superstar? How can a man take a shoot first, pass second point guard into an mvp?...Simple answer, presence. He has a track record and persona that people respect, he demands that respect and the Knicks roster WILL give it to him.
So don't talk about Marbury and his style of play. Don't talk about Crawford and Richardson's lack of defense. Don't talk about Tim Thomas' lack of enthusiasm. If they are all on the roster it will be solved. His presence will signal a give-take situation. You give me defense, you give me passing, you give me enthusiasm, you give me love...AND I'll give you a coaching style that will result in wins.
Are we going to win 60 games? maybe. Are we going to the playoffs? maybe. Are we going to win the championship? maybe. You look at our roster and you mite give all three questions 100% definite NO's. But with Larry Brown in the equation, anything is possible. We could win 60 games, we could go to the playoffs, we could win a championship. He's that X Factor that every team looks for, everyteam wants and HE is OURS. The word "maybe" and "could" has never felt so good to say.
I for one am excited, like I think and believe all Knicks fans are at this moment. At this moment I am proud to say we are not talking about the holes in our roster, we are not talking about the cap issue, we are not talking about putting IsIah's head on a stick...FOR ONCE and FINALLY we can all be proud to be fans of the New York Knickerbockers.
