Knicks Start to Believe Riley--and Themselves

On a blackboard positioned for all to see in the Knicks’ locker room in Utah Monday, the key to the Knicks’ success was scribbled in large letters by Coach Pat Riley. It did not concern rebounding or ball movement or defense.

It was a statement that had nothing to do with the physical aspects of the game.

“Get It In Your Mind!” read the message. Meaning, believe that you can become winners. As the possessor of four NBA championships in the 1980s with the Los Angeles Lakers, Riley knows something about the mental makeup necessary to contend for the title.

The way Riley sees it, talent is crucial, but winning requires more than that. On Nov. 18 in Houston, Riley said of his players: “The stigma of being losers has to be erased from their minds. I think all those players are fearful in the fourth quarter about losing, afraid almost to win. When teams heat it up and pressure you and back you up against the wall, you’ve got to respond with strength and force. Then you find out if you have the talent. And then the emotional stability to handle that.

“But I think the stigma has been there for a while. And somewhere with solid wins and solid play, they’ll think of themselves other than that.”

Since then to now -- the season’s midpoint -- Riley’s Knicks have grown cohesive and seemingly believe they can be a true contender. The 26-15 record and first-place position in the Atlantic Division is a result of Riley’s constant stress on concentration, focus and belief.

It is also a result of aggressive defense (allowing fewer than 100 points 23 times), strong contributions off the bench and the resolution of a nasty situation at point guard. Riley has resurrected the career of Mark Jackson, platooning him with rookie Greg Anthony for an effective point-guard combination. He has convinced Charles Oakley to concentrate on rebounding and pass up the bad shots of past seasons. And Riley has put an end to the chronic whining that has plagued this team for years.

Riley’s methods and influence -- both tangible and intangible -- have made an impact. The respect he commands cannot be underestimated.

“There has been growth,” Riley said. “We’re more talented than last year, that’s the first thing. With Xavier McDaniel and the emergence of Greg Anthony, John Starks and Anthony Mason, we’re a little more physical and have more athletic ability. There has been timely play on the part of a lot of guys.

“But one thing they have to do is get it in their minds that they can win. ... If we defend, and don’t let our offense shock us -- yes, our offense shocks us sometimes -- we will break (the mental barrier) somewhere.”

Right now, the Knicks are feeling good about themselves. With every Eastern Conference team but the champion Chicago Bulls having shown themselves beatable, the Knicks -- if they stay healthy and play smart -- have a realistic chance to advance as far as the conference finals.

“The difference this year is we have a great coach and great leadership,” Jackson said. “Everybody knows his role and accepts his role. We’re just much more of a team now. And when you have that, it’s so much easier on the court.”

Added Patrick Ewing: “Coach Riley just brought a winning tradition with him that he’s trying to instill in us. We’re growing, but we have a long way to go.”

In particular, on offense, where their 102.5-point average is ranked 17th among 27 teams. At times, too many times, the Knicks get bogged down when opponents collapse around Ewing. McDaniel, acquired from the Phoenix Suns to provide relief for the high-scoring center, continues to defer that responsibility to someone else. His 15.7-point average is more than four points under his career average.

In most cases, it has been Starks (15.3 ppg) who has bailed out the Knicks when Ewing is sandwiched. At midseason a year ago, Starks had played in 25 of 41 games, averaging 7.5 points. McDaniel has to come forward and produce more in the late stages of games, especially on the road. And guard Gerald Wilkins must do better than 46-percent shooting from the floor.

The Knicks approached the halfway point in a 6-8 slump, raising some concerns about what they really had accomplished. Riley called a meeting Thursday after the Knicks were beaten 119-109 in a dismal display in Philadelphia the night before.

After the meeting, during which players openly spoke about what they needed to do to reverse themselves, Ewing awoke from a slump with three awesome games, averaging 32 points and 21 rebounds. What started as a disaster turned into an impressive 3-0 western swing.

When Ewing plays “with force,” to use Riley’s vernacular, he is unstoppable -- no matter what the defense. And with Mason, Starks and Anthony providing exciting and effective play off the bench, the Knicks have the appearance of a winner.

“We’re closer together,” Starks said. “That’s the difference from last year. Coach Riley has assigned roles that we believe in. We believe in him, that his way is the way to go.”

The way the Knicks have played defense has been the key. In the first half of the season, most of the time they have been able to shut down teams for extended periods or late in the game. That defense has allowed them to be in games even as the offense struggled. Anthony, while not quite the offensive player the Knicks hoped for in a Nevada Las Vegas, has earned his keep with sticky pressure defense and hustle. When he and Starks pressure the ball in the backcourt, with Mason, Ewing and Oakley in the frontcourt, the Knicks’ defense -- third in the league in points allowed (99.8) -- can be suffocating.

It is the Knicks’ mental approach, however, that ultimately will determine how far this team goes.

So far, Riley seems to have pushed the right buttons, although he sometimes leaves Jackson out of the game too long and has not gotten enough out of Kiki Vandeweghe. But the coach with the best all-time percentage is one of the game’s best at preparation, motivation and strategy.

“We have to expect to be challenged,” Riley said of the second half of the season. “It’s about enduring and coming ready to play every night. That’s what the challenge is.”