Tommy Lugauer told us all last week that ‘the Knicks have a surplus of dudes and dawgs, and when the music stops, there’s not enough chairs, and we’re going to have to leave some dudes and dawgs behind.’
And that’s exactly what he reiterated Monday when given the floor by Shaun and Tiki to discuss the departure of Isaiah Hartenstein, who is signing a massive deal with Oklahoma City.
“The Knicks Pope is in the building, he who waves to all the Knick fans at Citi Field and arenas alike all throughout the tri-state. And I don't think it would be right to take a phone call after Isaiah Hartenstein is gone to Oklahoma City without Tommy Lugauer addressing the masses,” Shaun said in setting up this eloquent speech from Pope Loogy I:
“My fellow Knick fans, I told you last week the Knicks had a surplus of dudes and dogs and when the music stopped, there would only be enough chairs for a few people, and there would be a dude or dog that would be left behind – I-Hart took the bag and the extra boxes of ziti and we wish him well in OKC,” Tommy said. “But the Knicks have dudes, the Knicks have dogs, the Knicks will do damage. I trust the process, trust Leon Rose, and trust Thibs, and I will walk into the mists of Avalon and follow them because I trust what they're building with this organization.”
That was his message to Knicks fans…but he had one for Shaun, too, and it is a RANT.
“Shaun Morash, who is in the coalition of Knick haters led by Evan Roberts: I don’t even know where to begin with what you’ve said that was completely wrong here,” Tommy said. “You said Oklahoma City has a better chance of winning the championship, but a banged-up Knicks team went further than Oklahoma City last year in the playoffs. That's number one, so don't give me ‘OKC got better’ because so did the Knicks, because they got Bridges and they brought back Anunoby, who was hurt in the Pacers series. Now, you're gonna give me Paul George to the Sixers – Paul George is a loser. He's always hurt, so he's in the right city. Evan was pushing Paul George on the Knicks, and that's what you all you need to know, because Evan loves to push the poison on the Knicks because he wants to see them lose. OG Anunoby was the top priority because check the record, they were as good as any team in the league when he was on the floor. Then you bring in Mikal Bridges, the final infinity stone, a guy like Anunoby who is a great two-way player. I was told by Evan Roberts that Bridges was the best player in New York, and you’re mad now because Bridges was checked out last year because he was playing in front of nobody.”
That’s when Tiki jumped in, saying ‘it's almost impossible to evaluate him because he was playing with nobody, even if it was surprisingly always full over there, and the team had no chance to win,’ to which Tommy said ‘it was an arena full of tourists.’
“There was no atmosphere, there's no Nets fans, we know that; it’s ridiculous, it’s a Broadway show or go see a Nets game, but Bridges is the missing piece,” Tommy started the end of his rant. “He's a great two-way player and defense was their biggest struggle, and they got that with Bridges and Anunoby – so whether they bring back Precious Achiuwa or whatever they add, I trust Thibs to coach them up, and I trust Leon Rose to identify a player that fits the system: a dude, a dawg, somebody to bring the Knicks to the championship.”
And then, the invite:
“We have a date with the Boston Celtics – Shaun, you're invited, Tiki, you're invited…and I cannot wait.”