The Knicks are finally a team to be proud of

Anyone who lives and dies with the Knicks can remember Amar’e Stoudemire smiling his new $ 100 million smile and proclaiming, “The Knicks are back.”

The Knicks weren’t then, and 11 years later, they’re not back now.

But after so many quick pauses in grief over the years, after Derek Fisher and Phil Jackson and the attack on the triangle, after David Fizdale, after the extinction of Kristaps Porzingis, Tom Thibodeau called downtime on misery, and On the eve of the All-Star hiatus, Knicks fans are not relieved this time the season is half over.

They can start believing again.

Their Knicks, 114-104 winners over the Pistons, are on their way home. Their Knicks are between 19 and 18 years old, the latest topping 0.500 in eight years. Their Knicks are a team again.

“It feels like something good is going on,” Julius Randle wrote in the Players’ Tribune.

Something good happens when a star coach like Thibodeau comes in and gets their star player on board and everyone follows.

The tireless multi-faceted Randle (27 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists) is the Knicks’ first all-star since first mate in the locker room at Porzingis and Thibodeau. “MVP,” chanted the mini-garden crowd during and after the match.

Randle learned to love New York and New York loved him.

“He’s a great worker and he sets a great example for the team,” said Thibodeau, “and the impact on the win was huge. It’s not his individual stats, it’s what he does for the team, and it’s getting contagious.

Something good happens when Barrett (21 points), a rising star in his sophomore year, is a threat from downtown when he doesn’t descend to the hoop and regains the swagger he displayed to Duke.

“His preparation gives him a lot of confidence,” said Thibodeau.

Something good is going when Elfrid Payton (20 points), back from a mischievous hock that cost him four games, was the best point guard even though Frank Ntilikina drilled three 3s in the second quarter.

Thibodeau is the best thing that ever happened.

Best Knicks coach since Jeff Van Gundy.

Tom Terrific.

“Culture is how you do everything,” Thibodeau said. “It’s not one thing in particular, it’s the way you do everything.”

Thibodeau can’t turn the Knicks into heavyweight contenders overnight, but the signs of a soaring professionalism and commitment to D-FENSE are undeniable.

“You feel like you have a collective goal,” Randle wrote.

And a hunger. “We’re not at all happy,” Barrett said.

Thibodeau convinced the players who wanted a leader and a teacher that they had to deserve the right to win. He loves to coach these players. They love to get better together one day at a time.

“I think we’re all engaged,” Barrett said. “We all have our mindset on the same goal, and we are all working towards it.”

The Knicks are no longer laughs.

“We’re flipping the storyline on the reputation of our entire franchise,” Randle wrote.

Legendary Marv Albert, son of Brooklyn and No.1 Basketball in Manhattan Beach, was the voice of the Knicks when they won their NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. Red Holzman’s Willis Reed-Clyde Frazier remain the stallion -gold. This is how Knicks fans try to scratch a 48-year-old itch.

“They appreciate good defense and they appreciate good passes,” said Albert. “That era was so popular because of the way they were swinging the ball, which Golden State has done throughout their championship years. Steve Kerr believed in it, as did [Spurs coach Gregg] Popovich. These Knick teams were very smart. Rouge had five coaches on the floor, basically.

The Pat Riley-Van Gundy Knicks were also smart, but their identity was toughness and tenacity.

“Which is also appreciated by Knick fans,” Albert said. “It’s funny, if another team comes in and beats the Knicks, the fans are complaining. But when the Knicks had [Anthony] Mason and [Charles] Oakley and that bunch, they were just killing guys – the game was so different – and sure enough that was applauded.

Mike Woodson is the last Knicks coach to win a playoff game. Thibodeau will be next. It may not happen this season. The schedule for the second half is brutal.

“We did some good things, obviously some things we need to improve,” said Thibodeau.

Of course there are. Never forget, the guy is only happy if he is miserable.

“The challenge will be great,” said Thibodeau, “so he should bring out the best in us, but don’t change our approach, focus on improving every day.”

Once Leon Rose and World Wide Wes and Scott Perry get him more horses, there’s every reason to believe Thibodeau will lead them into the water and make them drink. Our Marc Berman asked what he would do during the break and Thibodeau broke down: “Turks and Caicos”. Even there, with no team to train, he would only be happy if he was miserable.