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To do what the New York Knicks achieved in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals — pull off a historic 22-point fourth-quarter comeback seldom seen at this stage of the playoffs — you need to be free of ego. Your players need to be willing to sacrifice and put the team above themselves at all costs. (Oh, and the other team's coach needs to spontaneously combust in the clutch.) No further questions asked.
Knicks forward Josh Hart does not have this problem.
As the Knicks staged their comeback in the fourth quarter and subsequent overtime stanza, Hart wasn't on the floor. Since Hart is usually the guy opposing teams leave more open on offense so they can index their defense onto bigger threats, coach Mike Brown elected not to close with him. In a twist of fate, of course the Knicks proceeded to enjoy one of their best wins in franchise history.
For less team-oriented guys concerned with getting "theirs," this would've been a problem. For Hart?
As he explained in a Wednesday press conference, the success of the team always comes above the individual to him. We've heard a lot of athletes say that over the years, but I think Hart is one of the few we should really believe:
It's one thing to say you're not upset about your team thriving without you. To say you don't mind that your teammates pulled off a historic comeback without you. A lot of athletes could say that and even have said such things, and we'd know they were lying through their teeth.
That's just not how a lot of people are wired, unfortunately. Sometimes, the word "I" is, in fact, more essential than "team."
But not for Hart. He bleeds Knicks blue and orange. He is a quintessential Role Player, willing to do whatever it takes, so bigger star names like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns can bring home the win. Even if that means sitting during the most important sequences of a playoff game. Even if that means the only headlines he gets after the fact are about how he didn't play all that much.
When Hart says he prioritizes the success of the Knicks over his own success, I believe him. All of his play and sacrifices over the years speak for themselves.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Josh Hart's cliché stance on Knicks' Game 1 benching is actually believable
Continue reading...
Knicks forward Josh Hart does not have this problem.
As the Knicks staged their comeback in the fourth quarter and subsequent overtime stanza, Hart wasn't on the floor. Since Hart is usually the guy opposing teams leave more open on offense so they can index their defense onto bigger threats, coach Mike Brown elected not to close with him. In a twist of fate, of course the Knicks proceeded to enjoy one of their best wins in franchise history.
For less team-oriented guys concerned with getting "theirs," this would've been a problem. For Hart?
As he explained in a Wednesday press conference, the success of the team always comes above the individual to him. We've heard a lot of athletes say that over the years, but I think Hart is one of the few we should really believe:
It's one thing to say you're not upset about your team thriving without you. To say you don't mind that your teammates pulled off a historic comeback without you. A lot of athletes could say that and even have said such things, and we'd know they were lying through their teeth.
That's just not how a lot of people are wired, unfortunately. Sometimes, the word "I" is, in fact, more essential than "team."
But not for Hart. He bleeds Knicks blue and orange. He is a quintessential Role Player, willing to do whatever it takes, so bigger star names like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns can bring home the win. Even if that means sitting during the most important sequences of a playoff game. Even if that means the only headlines he gets after the fact are about how he didn't play all that much.
When Hart says he prioritizes the success of the Knicks over his own success, I believe him. All of his play and sacrifices over the years speak for themselves.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Josh Hart's cliché stance on Knicks' Game 1 benching is actually believable
Continue reading...
