New York Knicks: Scott Perry setting high standard for players, coaches
New York Knicks general manager Scott Perry is setting a high standard for his players and coaches. The focus: Restoring the pride that’s missing from MSG.
Those who are familiar with Scott Perry and those who consistently criticize the New York Knicks can be found at the middle of a Venn diagram. During the same 17-year period that Perry earned the respect of those around the NBA, New York became the laughing stock of the Association.
With Perry now receiving his dream job as general manager of the Knicks, the general consensus is that the laughter could soon come to an end.
Perry has been credited with the Sacramento Kings —perhaps the only organization viewed as more erratic than the Knicks—having a masterful offseason in 2017. He was also an executive for the Detroit Pistons teams that won an NBA championship and made six consecutive Conference Finals appearances.
According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, Perry is setting a standard for his players and coaches that measures up to the magnitude of playing at Madison Square Garden.
"“As general manager, I will work tirelessly to develop a culture that demands results, commitment and pride from everyone fortunate enough to be associated with our team – from our staff to our players. Nothing comes close to Madison Square Garden for basketball and it is our right and responsibility to showcase that tradition of excellence, day and night. I can’t wait to get started.”"
Every word in that statement is encouraging, but there’s a specific passage that should be focused on.
Madison Square Garden used to be The Mecca of Basketball, but it’s devolved into an overpriced spectacle for fans to see celebrities on the big screen between a steady stream of losses. That’s a product of the executives, coaches, and players being inconsistent in every sense of the word.
Perry’s goal as general manager is to restore the sense of pride that’s been missing from Madison Square Garden since 2012-13.
For as rejuvenating an experience as the 2012-13 season was, even that 54-win campaign was an anomaly in a string of 16 years with a mere four postseason appearances.
Having pride in the Orange and Blue means out-hustling the opposition for loose balls and outworking teams on defense. It means playing for the name on the front of the jersey, no matter how cliche a phrase that may be.
With Perry taking over as general manager, the Knicks took a massive step towards embracing the same selfless mentality that Perry helped instill in the 2004 NBA champion Detroit Pistons.
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Unselfishness, defense, and pride—a winning formula that the New York Knicks have ignored for far too long.
Scott Perry will attempt to bring it back to Madison Square Garden, and thus reclaim MSG’s rightful perch atop the basketball world as The Mecca.