Perhaps what is happening with the New York Knicks might interest some social scientists. The New York Knicks are losing - and losing consistently. What is noticeable is how the Knicks are losing.

These are athletes that have been praised and pampered since their teen years for their physical skills. In school, these players were the star athletes and became well paid professionals because of their abilities. Now, as New York Knicks, making a shot is a challenge. In Friday’s game against the Toronto Raptors, the Knicks starters missed nine (9) of their first twelve shots. In the previous game against the Houston Rockets, the Knicks starters missed all of their first twelve shots.

Why?

These are highly skilled, professional athletes. They have been shooting a basketball for a greater portion of their adolescent and adult life. Now, they have difficulty putting the ball through the hoop in the early stages of the game. And the opposing team has an immediate advantage. This seems like the ideal field laboratory for social scientists to explore how expectations and group-think impact on physical performance. It is also an opportunity to examine mass depression. The Knicks fans are not a happy crowd.

Catherine Forsythe

[tag]nba, new york knicks, athletic skills, psychology, depression[/tag]