Isiah: We may stink tonight
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/story/468207p-394039c.html

BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

ATLANTA - Isiah Thomas was standing in the tunnel at Madison Square Garden two years ago as the fans chanted "Fire Lenny" during the Knicks' home opener. They could easily give Thomas the Lenny Wilkens treatment and start screaming fire again tonight should the Knicks fail to show up against the Indiana Pacers.

Thomas seemed to be thinking along those lines when he admitted yesterday that he is concerned about his team "being flat" for the home opener. In fact, Thomas was essentially making a preemptive strike when he said that playing a third game in four nights, starting with the triple-overtime win against Memphis, could take its toll.

It seemed odd that Thomas was already building excuses for a game the Knicks haven't even played. Especially since it is only the first week of the season and the Pacers also will be playing their third game in four nights.

But the last thing Thomas needs is for the fans to turn on him in the first game. There were calls for Thomas' head last season and now he becomes an easier target on the bench. Incredibly, the game was not a sellout as of late yesterday.

"We're going to need the building to be energetic for us," Thomas said, trying to appeal to the fans. "There is a possibility that (with) everything that is going on, we could not have legs (tonight)."

WHAT THE **** IS GOING ON HERE?!?!?

[Edited by - joec32033 on 11-04-2006 07:46 AM]

OH! Take it easy! Why is it so hard to believe that they could be tired after a 3OT game in the 2nd game of a back to back?

nah man it is bull **** u right joe c.... Hes acting like a ***** right now

Isiah talks the talk but in his post playing days seems to lack substance to his words.

Its almost as if just cuz he's "Isiah" means its gonna be just fine.

He got his brililance by being a dedicated hard PHYSICAL worker with a narrow focus and a discipline.

Being intellectually brilliant requires education which challanges the mine and expands its capacity. Great basketball players are not always great minds. Isiah has a charm about him, and his intentions might be correct, but after 3 failed attempts at being an executuve he is over his head and full of $hit!

What "haters" can sniff is his fear after 2.7 years. He is not solid and is fearful of the backlash in the event of failure. His 20somthing year old minions of gazzilionairs followers are not behind the general on this one either.

Haters have little faith and little to substantiate any belief that this can turn around quick.

Sure it can happen, and we prefer it does, but if there is a scorecard of UK posters whom are lambasted for the negative posts, Isles is the no.1 poster of accuracy in the Isiah era!

Posted by Silverfuel:

Posted by joec32033:

Posted by Silverfuel:

OH! Take it easy! Why is it so hard to believe that they could be tired after a 3OT game in the 2nd game of a back to back?

Silver, come on. He is constantly making excuses BEFORE games. What the hell is that? My overreacting is balanced out by your underreacting. Maybe that is why we actually get along. I have never seen a coach giving his team an easy out like Isiah is constantly doing this season. Never.

[Edited by - joec32033 on 11-04-2006 07:50 AM]

yea, right! First off, its only been 2 games so dont call it, "this season" casue that makes it sound like its been 30 games. I think he will start getting harder on his guys later on in the season. And its not like he is saying Francis played an excellent game. I'm not backing him up on that so dont say I'm underreacting. If he started saying stuff like, "its ok that Richardson does not need to play defense", then i'll call him out. He is making an observation.

You were asking for a coach giving his players an easy out right? You ever listen to Bobby Cox talk after a game? He constantly makes excuses for his guys. I'm sure you are going to come back with, he has been winning for 10 years etc but still, you were asking about a coach that makes excuses for his players. I can find 10 good coaches. I'm not under reacting. I'm just agreeing with his observation.

SIlver, so far Isiah has flat out said that we "may" not be good this year. He has said that we didn't do anything wrong after blowing a 19 point lead(when you blow a 19 point lead to a team giving heavy minutes to 2 rookies and without it's star, you did something wrong). He has now said we may lose a game.

Silver, I am 25 yrs. old. I have been watching basketball and understanding and playing basketball for somewhere around 15 years(this is not a call out or anything just saying in all my years watching basketball)and I have NEVER hear a coach say we may lose a game.

Isiah is just trying to manage expectations. Isiah is worried about the team he has put together and doesnt want to lose his job. I understand him wnating to keep his job but a better way to do that would be hiring a real big mans coach to help him get the job done.

Posted by joec32033:

SIlver, so far Isiah has flat out said that we "may" not be good this year. He has said that we didn't do anything wrong after blowing a 19 point lead(when you blow a 19 point lead to a team giving heavy minutes to 2 rookies and without it's star, you did something wrong). He has now said we may lose a game.

Silver, I am 25 yrs. old. I have been watching basketball and understanding and playing basketball for somewhere around 15 years(this is not a call out or anything just saying in all my years watching basketball)and I have NEVER hear a coach say we may lose a game.

Dude, you are really nitpicking here. I remember Van Gundy saying "we will lose becasue we cannot rebound" etc plenty of times. I'll look for the quotes later just to prove it to you cuase I know for sure you will not remember them. Isiah also said "we are going to be tired so we will need the crowds engery" not "we suck we are going to lose" etc so why dont you say something about that? Its obvious you dont like him but dont tell me he is a bad coach because you dont like what he says to the newspapers. What next, his shirt?

Find something real to call him out on and you will not see me argue with you. The last few times we locked horns was Isiah saying something to Greg Anthony an now Isiah saying something about us being tired. SugarRay said it best, he is managing expectation. Take it easy with this stuff. Isiah isnt saying we are going to lose tonite. He said we need the players energy. Really joe!

[Edited by - Silverfuel on 11-04-2006 09:06 AM]

Posted by K22:

Posted by SugarRayRichardson:

Isiah is just trying to manage expectations. Isiah is worried about the team he has put together and doesnt want to lose his job. I understand him wnating to keep his job but a better way to do that would be hiring a real big mans coach to help him get the job done.

That's a great point. The Lakers have Kareem Abdul Jabbar coaching their bigs. And I follow the Lakers via League Pass and I can't even begin to tell you how much better Andrew Bynum and even Kwame f'n Brown are now.

For all we know, Zeke has been going off on this squad behind closed doors. He did say when he first got here that he would lie to the media's face if he had to. But I'm in agreement, I'm really not feeling these pre-installed excuses.

[Edited by - K22 on 11-04-2006 09:06 AM]

It makes no sense to invest so much of our future in Curry and Frye but not have a real big mans coach to work with them 2 years in a row. Its like hiring a limo with no driver

Jeff Van Gundy was flat out challenging his team to rebound. He did that all the time. He never said though "I'm prepared to lose this game. I can understand if the guys are tired. It's no big deal. We're all human."

Isiah should be saying: "Hey, we're tired, but hey, we're pros, it comes with the territory. We'll be running right with the Pacers tonight."

Posted by djsunyc:

Posted by Allanfan20:

Jeff Van Gundy was flat out challenging his team to rebound. He did that all the time. He never said though "I'm prepared to lose this game. I can understand if the guys are tired. It's no big deal. We're all human."

Isiah should be saying: "Hey, we're tired, but hey, we're pros, it comes with the territory. We'll be running right with the Pacers tonight."

why is he even talking about being "tired"?

BS...total BS...how can people get behind this guy?

because there is a chance he could be yelling at the guys in the locker room! Because he could be challenging them behind closed doors. I think calling him out on what he says to the media is bs.

Posted by djsunyc:

Posted by Silverfuel:

Posted by djsunyc:

Posted by Allanfan20:

Jeff Van Gundy was flat out challenging his team to rebound. He did that all the time. He never said though "I'm prepared to lose this game. I can understand if the guys are tired. It's no big deal. We're all human."

Isiah should be saying: "Hey, we're tired, but hey, we're pros, it comes with the territory. We'll be running right with the Pacers tonight."

why is he even talking about being "tired"?

BS...total BS...how can people get behind this guy?

because there is a chance he could be yelling at the guys in the locker room! Because he could be challenging them behind closed doors. I think calling him out on what he says to the media is bs.

so why even bring it up? why even talk about "lack of energy"? it makes no sense.

Because he wants the fans to root hard so that the players can feed off it.