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David Fizdale must be a glutton for punishment. If not, how do you explain his eagerness to see his Knicks face defending champion Warriors Friday night at the Garden?
When asked about the prospect of facing the best basketball team, Fizdale used the word "awesome" and explained, "It's great for these kids. This is the league. They must learn.
Fizdale made his comments in the bowels of the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami after the Knicks suffered a blow from 110-87 at the hands of the Heat on Wednesday night. A putrid third quarter in which visitors were outperformed 45-20 led to an apathetic fourth quarter.
"We made mistakes and the trust was broken," Fizdale said.
It was the Knicks' fourth consecutive loss, and with Kristaps Porzingis and first-round rookie Kevin Knox recovering from his injuries, it looks like it's the worst time to face the world champions in the game. .
"We have to go out and lock ourselves up a lot otherwise we will be embarrassed," said guard Tim Hardaway Jr., highlighting the evidence.
It's a cliché to say that this game will allow the Knicks to know where they are. We already know the answer to this question. As for the ranking of basketball power, these two teams are at opposite ends and the Knicks need many years to get closer to where the Warriors are.
The Warriors are already legendary, winning three of the last four NBA championships and forming their own dream team. The Knicks learn by taking baby steps.
Playing a game at Madison Square Garden is simply a leg of the Warriors' national tour where rock stars go from town to town to introduce themselves and beat the local team. Things do not get serious for them before the playoffs.
For the Knicks, every game is a learning experience. every 48 minutes offers a valuable lesson on what is needed to become a constant winner. The defeat in Miami was a test of mental failure. Taking a series of three defeats on the road requires more than the Knicks currently have.
Against the Warriors, it will play with heart and will compete.
"It's not a game you can play," Fizdale said. "You have to earn the respect of the champions by participating in high level competitions."
Even at 1-4, there is something to like about the Knicks. You like the fact that Fizdale was brutally honest in her assessment of her team's poor performance in Miami and the challenge they face against Golden State.
"Welcome to the NBA," he said. "It's ruthless."
It stinks that Porzingis and Knox are outside. These are the players who could really benefit. Although Fizdale likes to talk about creating a culture and qualifying each learning game, the bulk of the current alignment will not be available until the glory days that Garden hopes to see come.
"A lot of things we can fix," said striker Lance Thomas, "to be tougher when it's needed and to have the law read at certain times of the game. has the impression of shooting himself in the foot. "
Warriors probably sleep through video sessions. A critique of each piece is valuable to the Knicks.
"Many guys do not even know it before you see it," Thomas said of the video sessions. "You might think you're playing really hard and you're in the right place, but the movie never lies, and once guys see that, we have enough competitors on that team to take to heart make sure they do not want to look like that on film anymore. "
With the arrival of the Warriors in town, it would be difficult to watch coming Saturday. But Fizdale is not afraid of that either.
"They understand the process in which we are," he said.
Impressive.
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