2. Toughness
Throughout the glorious history of the New York Knicks, the trademark of the most successful teams has been toughness. It’s not a coachable trait, but instead a strength that one either has or doesn’t.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Plumlee is ready to get his hands dirty for the Knicks.
"“I don’t mind getting my hands dirty more than they do and getting my nose in there and getting physical,’’ Plumlee said. “I feel the Knicks have given me a look for a certain reason. I need to be comfortable in my role to bring energy and physicality inside. That’s something I’m comfortable bringing to the table. If I keep working at it, I can help the Knicks in some way.’’"
That’s the type of presence fans should want on the Knicks.
In games, Plumlee will embrace contact and throw his body around on both ends of the floor. That will make it significantly more difficult for teams to operate down low knowing that a 7’0″ body will fly their way.
In practices, Plumlee will hold his teammates accountable by competing like it’s a game and performing with the energy that could easily earn him minutes.
When a player performs with the type of tenacity that Plumlee displays, he sets a tone in the locker room. Veterans don’t want to be outperformed by rookies in any sense of the word, especially in their effort.
Joakim Noah doesn’t need to be held accountable, but due to Plumlee’s presence, Willy Hernangomez will be pushed to maximize his potential.
Next: The Human Aspect