Mistreated by Atlanta, New York must also suffer the provocations of its opponent. Clint Capela was the latest to verbally titillate the Big Apple players. Their response was immediate, through Derrick Rose and Julius Randle.
The atmosphere is good at the Hawks. Leading 3-1 in their first-round series against the Knicks, Nate McMillan’s men only need one win to secure their ticket to the conference semifinals. Great news for Trae Young & co.
Some ATL players are therefore overflowing with confidence, and Clint Capela publicly provoked New Yorkers ahead of Game 5. On the side of the latter, however, we play indifference. Derrick Rose and Julius Randle were quite stingy in words on the subject, as revealed by the Bleacher Report :
D-Rose and Julius respond to Clint Capela’s comments about the Knicks’ trash talk ???? pic.twitter.com/nsyzsD7HBF
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 1, 2021
D-Rose and Randle respond to Clint Capela’s comments on the Knicks trash talk:
Rose: “I’m 32 years old. I’ve never said shit in my whole life. I’m not going to start now just because Clint Capela said something ”.
Randle: “Why should I care what Clint Capela says?” “
The message is clear, we will not allow ourselves to be provoked by the media outlets of the adversary. Especially since in the case of Randle, it would have been bad timing, he who saw a very difficult series after being elected MIP (16.8 points… 27.4% shooting). Keeping a cool head is therefore absolutely essential.
Good news for NY, the next game will be at home at Madison Square Garden. Tom Thibodeau’s squad will therefore be able to play with a lot of psychological support. Will that be enough to come up with a 3-1 lead? Nothing is less certain, but you have to start somewhere.
Not impressed for a penny by Clint Capela’s downgrades, the Knicks prefer to focus on what really matters, which is staying alive in this postseason. If they overthrow the series, then they will be able to make the Swiss regret his words all the more.
