The State of Nate

by Tommy Dee on December 24th, 2009 at 6:12 am

The following piece was submitted by DaVonn Jefferson (gym rat DVJ)…as always we encourage you to submit your thoughts on the Knicks. Feel free to send them to theknicksblog@gmail.com so we can post.

I actually like Nate as I’ve played ball with him on numerous occasions at the New York Sports Club in White Plains. He’s always in there working on his game and entertaining everybody like only he can do. He walks in the crowded gym by himself with his IPOD and no matter who has their music playing, Nate turns off the music and plugs in his music (without asking) and turns it up to get him pumped up and ready to play. It’s usually a mix of T-Pain songs and Lil Wayne songs.

The things he does in the gym are so incredible, it makes me realize why I never made the NBA and if I did happen to make it, how ineffective I would be.  You don’t even have to meet the guy to come to the conclusion that he has heart, all you have to  know is he’s in the NBA and he’s only 5 foot 9. That alone should let you know his heart and desire is incredible. It should also let you know that he has a “me against the world attitude,” which is something that he needed in order to make it where he’s made it to.

Now let’s talk about his current state and how it’s effecting the team as well as the fans. It’s obvious the Knicks are a better team, not because of Nate’s benching but because Mike D’Antoni has shortened the rotation.  Why fans continue to make a big deal out of Nate’s benching is beyond me especially if the team is winning. Is Nate more important than the team? Why isn’t anybody making a big deal about the other players that are out of the rotation? The bottom line is this, we’re winning!!!  Knick fans are so used to losing these past 9-10 years it’s like they’ve become accustomed to criticizing the organization. They always look for something to criticize the organization about even when we’re playing the best ball we’ve played in years.

D’Antoni has come out and said Nate could get back into the lineup at a later date but that doesn’t seem to be good enough for the fans. They call Robinson’s benching “disgusting” or “terrible” and some have even gone as far to say that he should be fired because he doesn’t know how to handle his players or teach defense.

It’s obvious the fans that call for D’Antoni to be fired don’t have a clear understanding of what the Knicks are trying to do.  We were the laughing stock of the league under Isiah Thomas, even more than Scott Layden was in charge. Why? Because Isiah took a terrible product and made it worse. He actually added payroll and went out and traded / signed overrated players like Jamal Crawford, Eddy Curry, Jerome James, Jared Jeffries and the now borderline psycho Stephon Marbury. In fairness, all Isiah did was try to put an entertaining team on the floor. However, it didn’t work because he didn’t exercise fiscal responsibility. He knew his owner had the most money in the league to spend so he spent it. Now in Isiah’s defense, he was one of, if not the best when it came to drafting players. Unfortunately he had a habit of trading away his draft picks but he was able to draft David Lee, Wilson Chandler, Channing Frye, Renaldo Balkman and Nate Robinson. With the exception of Balkman all of these players have gone on to have decent careers so far but let’s not stray to far from the subject at hand.  The Knicks are trying to bring their franchise back and they started off on the right foot by hiring Donnie Walsh to run the ship. He brings immediate respectability to the team and the fans SHOULD KNOW that we’re now in good hands. Donnie’s first big move was to bring in D’Antoni, who at the time was one of the winningest coaches in the NBA.  The hiring was received well by most Knick fans but with the hiring came expectations that were far from realistic. Some people thought he would step right in and win 40 games, and to his credit he probably could’ve won 40 games if we didn’t trade away Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph but we had to shed salary for the summer of 2010. It was imperative for us to be in play for the best free agent class of all time.  Now that we’re in a position to add one maybe two big time players for next year, that’s still not good enough. Donnie’s only 2 goals when he took over was to get under the cap for the 2010 summer and to also keep the team competitive. Well guess what? We’re under the cap starting at the end of this year (goal accomplished) and we’re playing the most competitive basketball we’ve played in almost 10 years. So why the hate for Donnie and D’Antoni? I love it when fans  give their thoughts as we’re all entitled to but don’t just throw stuff out there without being able to back it up. When you say Donnie shouldn’t have signed Duhon and I ask you who would you sign instead….don’t reply to me “anybody but Duhon.”  It exposes the lack of basketball knowledge that you have and it proves your just running your mouth for the sake of running your mouth. Give alternatives when your debating instead of speaking on situations you have no clue about. If you want to debate, let’s have a realistic debate with facts. Has Duhon looked like an all star? No….there are times where Duhon looks like he can’t run a high school team but there are also times when Duhon looks like he can’t miss a shot. Sometimes when he’s working the pick and roll with Lee it looks just like when Nash and Amare use to run it to perfection.

I appreciate D’Antoni doing what he did in regards to shortening the rotation and I respect him for it. As a result we are a better team with better chemistry and a better locker room. If the Knicks make the playoffs this year it should solidify our return or should I say our exit from the bottom of the league. The players are buying into the system and it’s showing.

The bottom line is this, we all have the same destination we’re trying to get to but we all have different paths we’re taking to get there. Hopefully we can meet at the finish line and celebrate together.
  • itzyung1

    My cousin plays ball with him in White Plains to and my brother was going to play ball with him in Jadakiss tournament and I go to a school with Quincy Miller the 3rd ranked High School B-Ball player in the nation and I played on Chris Paul’s team at the West Y one day.
    My point is I know how it feels when you play ball with someone with NBA talent its like everything just goes right for them its a realt testament to how talented you have to be to play in the NBA.
    Also I hope Nate’s agent can be patient a little more because Nate still has a spot on this team.

  • itzyung1

    He just doesn’t have one in the current rotation.

  • JohnMontoya

    The only unfair thing about the whole “were winning without Nate” debate is

    that we arent even considering the possibility that we can be winning games

    with the help of Nate. In fact, Nate is easily the primary catalyst in many of

    our past Ws, saying that we are winning because he is not on the court is

    shitting on our past exclamations that the only reason we won games was

    because of Nate. I am almost certain that Nate is a more efficient player then

    Chandler. Sure Chandler will drop 26 pts on a given night, at the expense of

    33 or so attempts, nate drops buckets in fewer attempts and under more

    important/clutch circumstances. The Robinson name is already important

    enough to attract interest from other teams, which explains why Chandler is

    getting so much burn: to help get his name up. Get Nate on the court man, he

    is the only John Stark-esque player we have, what other player can we relate

    to as fans other than Lee, a workhorse. We would be a better team with Nate

    on the floor, Dantoni knows it, hes just to proud to accept it. and Tommy stop

    making Nates situation look like Marbury’s, they are two different players, one

    wants to play, the other wants to eat vaseline, cmon now.

  • joetheknick

    In my view, Nate has gotten himself into this “state” because he is content at playing at the same level as he did last year. In the last 10 games, the team has moved from losing to winning. This season Lee has developed his midrange jumper. This season Harrington has been playing a more complete game (no more Al the chucker characterizations). This year Gallo is passing, blocking shots and driving to the basket. Unfortunately Nate does not appear to be growing as a player. Until he does, he just cannot be a relevant part of this team. Your thoughts

  • UpstateNY28

    i think nate’s been very mature and handled teh situation well and that can only help the possibility of him being traded….for any fan whose upset and wants to talk crap the team is winning and like it was said to me thats all that matters…i dont care if landry, darko, td, jordan hill and sene are gettin the minutes the team is winning …if we keep playing like this we wont just make the playoffs we’ll be battling for home court….i just would love to watch a playoff game at MSG …it would be so intense ! ….lets keep it up guys

  • StayTheCourse

    This piece is spot on. Although I respect Nate’s individual talent, he’s simply not a winning player. I can’t stand when I see a player laughing it up and having a good time during or especially right after a bad loss. Did you ever see Oakley do that? Ewing? Even Starks? At some point, I bet it clicks for him that his team’s success is more important than his own, but that has not yet happened and I’m not so sure that it ever will during his time with the Knicks. I’ve enjoyed watching him at times, but he’s got no place on this team or next year’s.

  • danisrob

    Agree with this article 100%. The Knicks are on the right track, just have some patience. And even if we dont get Lebron next year, we are still in a better position then we have been for a decade.

  • Knicks fan in Taiwan

    This is an interesting, insightful piece that I happen to agree with with completely. It’s just about impossible not to like and respect a 5′ 9″ NBA player who truly wants to win and has some amazing skills. Yet, the big picture is the overall team and right now they are on about the best run of the decade and the coach and general manager have made some key moves to facilitate this run (i.e. not signing AI, picking up Bender, shortening the rotation, buying the 1st round pick from the Lakers).

    Nate might yet contribute to the team’s success again but the focus should be on the team and maintaining this current successful chemistry and if that means Curry, Nate, Darko, and Hill aren’t playing, that’s that. Injuries will almost certainly give some of these players another shot of redemption and proving their worth to all. But now, let’s enjoy what’s happening at MSG. I know I’ve been watching and reading about the Knicks through these lean years of this decade, game after game, and this is gravy time. And it truly looks like it’s only going to get better in the future as the number of young, talented guys (i.e. Gallo, Chandler, Douglas, Lee, and, yes, Hill) forms one of the best foundations in the league.

    P.S. I am seriously envious that the writer has played hoops with Nate on multiple occasions. Now that is cool! And Nate is into Lil Wayne. Gotta love it!

  • Sangfroid

    We ask every player to com in and have a role. Nate’s ideal role would be instant offense of the bench and disrupting the other team with steals and harassment on the defensive end. Improvement would see Nate penetrating and dishing a la Nash, who by the way, should be Nate’s role model. When he shows that he can embrace such a role, then his spot will be assured!

  • swtnes34

    One problem with your statement I noticed is that Chandler really doesn’t seem to shoot that much…and in looking up his game logs, the most FGA’s this year is 20 against the Lakers in November. And he’s shooting at a 46% clip. Whatever MD is doing by shortening the rotation is working, so why the complaining. We are basically a batch of mutts finding out who meshes better with who to get the job done. Nate, unfortunately, being out of the lineup, is getting the job done, for whatever reason(s).
    Go Knicks!

  • jho

    Great article.

    I for one really hope that if Nate gets the chance he’ll step it up and help us to win.

  • Cheech

    Good piece. i just hope we dont lose nate for nothing…

  • trenttucker

    I generally agree with this post. It’s well written and the arguments make sense. My one exception is this comment: ” It’s obvious the Knicks are a better team, not because of Nate’s benching but because Mike D’Antoni has shortened the rotation.” How is it obvious that Nate not being on the team isn’t the reason the team is doing better? The post shows me no evidence of this. The fact is, Nate had a negative +/-, and now he is out the lineup and the team’s overall +/- has gone up. To say that we know for sure that it is because the rotation is shorter (not because Nate was bad for the team) is as silly and unsubstantiated as any of the arguments that the poster dismisses from other people.

    In my opinion, Nate’s poor decision-making and attitude on the court influenced whatever other players were out there. The Knicks are just a much less serious team when he is on the floor. Toney Douglas is a limited player, but when he is on the court, he is serious and his defensive intensity rubs off on others. It also helps that when he scores (as rare as that is) he doesn’t act like a clown — he is just doing his business (I believe he refers to it as “doing what Tony Douglas do.”).

    It may be that the poster is influenced by his personal experience with Nate. I’m sure he is a nice guy, I have no doubt that he works hard and has a lot of heart. I just don’t care. He doesn’t help this team succeed, and that’s all that matters. I’m not sure he would help any team succeed — except for the Harlem Globetrotters.

  • NoVaCaInE

    I’m sorry Tommy but you are a little off base with your Isiah comment. This team was far worse with Layden as the GM. He traded for a roster full over over paid back ups. Shandon Anderson, Howard Eisley, Clarence Weatherspoon, Othella Harrington. Trades Camby and Nene (Amare should have been selected) for Mcdyess. His drafting was even worse. Michael Sweetney, Slavko Vranes, Maciej Lampe? Frank Williams? Isiah did not have the luxury of rebuilding the Knicks. He was forced by Dolan to put and entertaining group on the floor and fill the seats. Every true Knick fan knows that. I am not defending Isiah because he did a terrible job bringing in long contract after long contract. The Jerome James signing and trade for Eddy Curry are the only moves I had a beef with. He should have had the balls to put his foot down and rebuild from Day 1.

  • HaS

    A very well written, completely biased article authored by a semi-”troll”. Yes, that is a compliment.

    You make some valid points Mr. “DVJ” However, I really wish I had the time to pick apart the issues I have with this article right now, but I have pointed them out several times in a few threads already.

    If Nate is still benched in a week and not traded, waived or bought out I will write my own article.

    If Tommy Dee will post an article written by Mr. “In Donnie We Trust” who insults anyone who doesn’t agree with him, he’ll certainly give a piece written by me the same treatment, right? I think so, we’ll see.

  • HaS

    Read the entire article man, I know it’s hard with that paragraph from hell near the end, but you’ll see this guy is definitely not a Nate apologist or supporter. He hates him just as much as you do.

  • http://theKnicksBlog.com Tommy Dee

    not sure how anyone can say this is “completely biased” after reading the lead…

    of course haS. We here at TKB welcome spoken word and if you want to take it to the next level you can pick up the phone and discuss any issues with us on the radio show.

    send away…

  • mhc423

    WC is a ten times better defender than Nate and that is why he plays over Nate.

  • manners

    I think that Nate Robinson can be a special player in the NBA. I really do. Good Jumper, Good handle, great quickness. All that isn’t good and great is his head. Maybe this benching will force him to refocus and play like we know he can. Imagine Nate, playing with the right attitude, as a point guard? he would be one of the beter ones in the league

  • Qaspec

    Nate is not a John Starks type player…blaspehemous.

    John Starks was a lock down defender who always guarded bigger shooting guards and still got the job done defensively. Starks brought his heart from humility (grocery bagger), Robinson brings his heart for himself from his “me against the world mentality (even his own team). Starks was a main component on a team that probably would have won 3 or 4 titles if it weren’t for the league’s and ref’s love of Michael Jordan. The real NBA finals in those days was Knicks v Bulls.

    Starks gave up his body every night, hit the floor so many times for his team…Nate only plays with heart on offense…not the same.

  • bob go knicks

    tommy,its biased just because everyone who reads this guys posts,knows that if you DARE,disagree with his point of view,you will be berated and ridiculed to no end.

  • Qaspec

    Nate doesn’t get steals and he doesn’t harrass on defense. I said this a year ago when some posters here were calling him one of the faces of the league (lmao)….he has all the tools to be a better Mugsy Bogues…steals, pressure, assists, scoring…he chooses to focus on the scoring at the expense of all the other skills because that is what is easy for him. Well if Douglas plays D and can score some too then If I was Dantoni then it’s not much of a choice..if I have any minutes in my rotation for another guard I go with Douglas over Nate.

  • Qaspec

    I understand its an Editorial, opinion piece from DVJ..and he makes some good points, the only area where I feel he get’s himself into trouble is using the “writers” format to instruct other posters on how he feels they should post their entries and communicate on the blog. He should have left his suggestions on how other bloggers should post of of this “article”.

    There is a point however that Nate isn’t playing but the team is winning. Playing much better ball. So basically I’m noticing blogger who are stating they are Knicks fans first not Nate fans but every post is how Nate is being done wrong? They are players…they get benched..played…benched..it’s the nature of being an athlete. Many posters here do seem as if they would rather the team lose and their opinion be correct than be wrong and see the team win. Their own egos vs Dantoni and Walsh. To me a real Knick fan has the ability to say “I’m so happy I was wrong and the team is winning/playing better”…instead it’s Dantoni and Walsh suck..look what they did to Nate…their paying Nate 4million this year, where does Nate’s own personal responsibility for this situation come in?

  • Qaspec

    Where did he say he hates Nate? So basically if your giving any negative observation of Nate’s play that means you “hate” him? Please.

  • Qaspec

    Even if this is “biased” there is nothing wrong with that. It’s an editorial piece from another blogger. It’s acceptable to post an opinion piece. Tommy has made it be known that he encourages the blog supporters to submit their own editorials. If you want another side told then submit something to Tommy don’t just sit there and complain.

  • Qaspec

    Tommy didn’t write that article, it was DVJ

  • NoVaCaInE

    Sry Tommy

  • emac2

    Why not comment on the content of ths post instead of how the writer gets an attitude on his blog?

    I don’t come here to hear people cry about how they were confronted at another blog and someone made them cry.

  • DatNewYorker

    I am not impressed by the Wins. The win against Chicago was far from impressive. We still can’t guard the paint. Point Guards are dominating the Knicks by driving to the basket. We lost the first game against the Bobcats because of Felton(PG) driving to the basket at will. The chemistry is better though. I would not change the line up if we continue to win. I do want to see Nate play again but not at the expense of winning. The coaching I still believe is poor. The first Chicago game is my proof because we launched up 49 three pointers. That is horrible.

  • ds2488

    Yeah Good piece DVJ. Sorry its too “biased” for HaS. He will just write a completely objective unbiased article now in response. Haha. I agree with a comment before that Nate may or may not be the reason we are playing better. It is really too tough to tell. All I can say is that we are finally playing our best ball in a while, and whether the wins are weak or against weak competition, thats just not true. That doesn’t take anything away from an 8-3 record, with 2 games we easily could have won that we blew in the end. But still, all some people can do is complain.

  • HaS

    It was an exaggeration. Calm down.

  • HaS

    Allow me to reiterate myself…

    “If Nate is still benched in a week and not traded, waived or bought out I will write my own article.”

    Thank you, I’m sure you’ll love it Qaspec. :-*

  • HaS

    Show me who has said this “Dantoni and Walsh suck..look what they did to Nate”, certainly not I.

    I can’t speak for anyone else, the way DVJ attempts to, but I for one don’t have a problem with Nate being benched.

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    boston might sign him or trade for him

    1 or the other..

  • HaS

    I will attempt to be as objective as humanly possible, I don’t think a lot of people here try to do that.

    I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

    As soon as I get a couple hours to spare, I will share my thoughts. I said I would wait a week and if the Nate situation wasn’t resolved then I would interject, but a few people are forcing my hand, so it may come sooner than later.

    Happy “Holy” Days. ;-)

  • ds2488

    Im looking forward to it Has. I always enjoy reading your opinions. I was just poking fun at the idea of complete objectivity. Of course these articles and anything anybody writes on here will be inherently biased. Its giving opinions and trying to find stats to back up those opinions.

  • DVJ

    Can’t wait HAS!!

    Happy Holidays to you and yours also.

  • Kid Tarheel

    I have a hard time understanding why anyone would question the benching of Nate. Dude is a baller, but like we found out when we had Marbury and Randolph- balling skills do not translate into wins. Patience, character and teamwork are playing a part in this win streak. Those are characteristics that Marbury, Randolph and Robinson lack. Robinson has often showed that he lacks the ability to play well with others, and it is very hard to ignore the fact that they have been winning since he has been benched.

    The strange thing is, the same people who seem to be the hardest on Walsh and D’Antoni about the lack of wins, are the same people who are clamoring for Nate to play. Perhaps you guys should ask for an AND1 mixtape for Christmas. That should satisfy your desire for flash and no substance.

    And another thing- Nate is a pain in the ass! Have you ever heard him interviewed? He is a child. He cares only of himself, yet he doesn’t realize his selfishness. That is the worst kind. Nate will be a great player on a bad team again, and these naysayers will chastise the knicks for getting rid of him. But that all he will every be (unless he realizes his faults) – a baller on a bad team.

  • Qaspec

    I always keep an open mind and enjoy any educated opinion.

  • TG

    Yes, sure ’cause we won so many games after Marbury left –right to the finals IIRC, and ’cause the T-Wolves were so bad with him.

  • Kid Tarheel

    TG- Get over it!! Marbury was a loser! It was his attitude and not his skills. But he was not a winner. Sorry dude.

  • rocky

    Right on Manners
    I think the Knicks are hoping for the the lightbulb to go off over his head
    one last time,

    I think Nate is am amazing athlete and personality,
    I would LOVE to see him grow up a little on the court
    and focus towards being a winner.

    That focus starts with playing D.
    Any NBA player who is fast and tenatious can play D,
    Nate has not dedicated himself to addressing 50% of the game.

    On his benching, hey if we were 2-17 with Lebron and his benching
    lead to winning the next 8 out of 11 games I’d say “well done”.

    Give the coach credit here, the Knicks are winning.
    Forget about the bruised ego of an immature wasted talent.

  • monstert

    Wow…

    1. Chandler doesn’t shoot alot.

    2. Nate is an awful, I mean AWFUL on defense. Bigger Point Guards post him up, and taller guys just shoot the J over him or even blow past him. (Ex. The Sacremento game…Donte Greene went haywire on Nate…and this was off the dribble.)

    3. Nate is a clueless, happy-go-lucky guy. Not a winner.

    Look…if the Knicks were getting wiped out without him, I’d have a big issue with D’Antoni’s benching of Nate. But they’re what, 8-3 over their last 11? Nate isn’t their second best passer, or third (I think that would go to Douglas…). He’s a shooting guard in Spud Webb’s body. Get over it, Nate fans…and wait until he gets traded or shapes up.

  • monstert

    Well, I wish we’d have had a top 5 pick in the 2000s, with all the crap we had to put up with…but Isiah screwed that up.

    Isiah had ZERO pressure to bring in Eddy Curry, and that alone lost us Lamarcus Aldridge and Joakim Noah. Considering that he was a half decent drafter, I feel like Isiah betrayed us more than Layden ever did.

    This proves that Isiah never ever wanted to rebuild…

  • monstert

    Right on. Now get him some Growth Hormone and have him grow a foot….then we could talk.

  • Tissues

    This article is well written with good points. Nate is a great player who just lacks playing defense.

    The Knicks were not losing because of Nate neither are they winning because Nate is not in the game. The team have just played defense horribly and because there was action taken against Nate, the team as a whole have stepped up their game defensively. If it wasn’t for Nate’s “acts” and his mentality he would still have the same roll off the bench but this benching will end up as a positive for him and his game. After this, not only will he become a maturer basketball player but he will learn that basketball is not one sided and needs to be played on both sides of the court. Being benched for so long should of taught him his lesson but then again I’m not a coach and I’m certainly not D’Antoni. I would love to see Nate play again in a Knicks jersey with a new mentality that this is a team game and that he will make a difference.

    By his article you can tell DVJ is not against Nate at all, some people just need to learn to read.

  • bob go knicks

    DO IT HaS DO IT! BY THE WAY………..MERRY*****CHRISTMAS