thanks. this should be....ugly.

- We're Fortunate to have Larry

- The team that is constructed doesn't fit Larry, whoever doesn't fit will find somewhere else to play

- We're trying to find the right mix, the same thing every other team in the NBA other then Spurs is trying to do

- None of us expected us to be THIS bad.. we were up front at the beginning of the year of not knowing what each player has

- You don't know a player until you coach them, Larry is figuring out what each guy has and he said it would take 20 games for that to happen

- Larry is just now starting to settle on a style

- Isiah would never second-guess Larry Brown. He is going to try to bring in players that will perform the best under Larry.

- With young players, there are alot of mistakes. Coaches usually lean towards vets becuase the vets value the ball. We have a great coach to teach the young kids right now.

- No one expected us to come home and lose to Orlando and Milwaukee. They were horrible losses after competing well out on the road

- Isiah is surprised by Curry's ability to score. Thinks he has to work on rebounding and defending, they knew that coming in and they would never have been able to get him if he was already good at these things. There are questions about his health, but Isiah thinks they'll be worked out.

- Isiah understands how Jerome is now almost obsolete since they got Curry. They signed James becuase they had no big men but then Curry became available and Isiah recognized the need for a young big man. Thinks having these 2 healthy would be huge for the team.

- Marbury is now brought up. Isiah "hopes" that Steph and Larry can coexist on a championship level. Isiah recognizes that it could not work and if that happens Marbury will be traded. Isiah doesn't want to have that discussion right now, its not fair this early, both LB and Steph are trying to make it work. Isiah as GM wants to give it a chance to workout.

- Isiah thinks that the players will start playing the right way becuase they are going to realize that Larry isnt going to bend and they are going to HAVE to do things the right way if they want to play. Isiah says he's been real successful trading players and he thinks he can trade anyone on this roster if he has too.

- Francessa thinks Isiah needs to find a Real PG for Larry and some players that play Defense for Larry. Isiah thinks that the knicks currently have 3 key pieces to becoming a very good team. Curry/Frye/Larry Brown. Francessa says thats interesting becuase this is no longer Stephons team. Isiah says its Larry Browns team.

- Isiah thinks that you find guards to compliment the big men. Believes Steph is mentally strong enough to survive the pounding that Larry gives.

- Isiah and Larry are on the same page and both understand that it's going to be a process. In Isiahs opinion up until the last 2 losses at home things were looking pretty consistent and has no idea what team was on the floor the last 2 games.

- Isiah is always looking to better the team but at the same time is not going to compromise the future by trading for the present. We have a coach who is committed to winning and teaching the young kids.

- Isiah had a good relationship with Artest but there will be no deal for Artest becuase the Pacers want our young players.

- Malik Rose made a comment about the vets not playing with everything they had and thats why the young guys are playing so much. Isiah doesnt know anything about that quote but thinks if he did say that its a good thing that the kids are playing and pushing the older players.

- It's been 2 years since you've been here Isiah. What grade what you give yourself since you've been here. Isiah: "I would say right now in all honesty and being totally fair with myself, I would have to give myself a incomplete grade. I'm still in the middle of taking the test, I like waht we have with the young players and Marbury and the coach." I didn't promise anyone a championship this year, we deserved to be booed like we were the last 2 nights. I don't think thats our team out there the last 2 games.

- Do you agree with your headcoach that this is not a well balanced team? Isiah: As I said before, if you don't win the championship it doesnt matter. I think we have a long way to go, we are a work in progress. I'm not going to sugarcoat anything, we have a long way to go.

- There isn't one trade Isiah wishes he hadn't made in the last 2 years. Isiah thinks we have a nice solid foundation to build something and the team is stacking the pieces right now.

- Isiah addresses the picks. Isiah says he looked at the draft and if he had the #1 pick he said he would take Eddy Curry over anyone coming out, that is why he traded the pick. The draft is a gamble. The key for young players is being with the right coach, coaches that will give them tenacity. If Curry wasn't with Larry Brown there would be questions but he believes Curry is in real good hands with LArry Brown.

- Isiah wont take credit for Frye.

- March 1st will Marbury be a Knick? Marbury will be a Knick and be a happy Knick. Isiah hopes he doesn't cave mentally because its going to work out real well for him if he keeps at it. Isiah uses his own experience with Bobby Knight and likens that to Stephs situation with Larry Brown. Bobby Knight made Isiah a much better player and Larry is going to do the same thing for Marbury. Eric Snow hated Larry Brown when it started but he's in the league now because of Larry and he absolutely loves Larry Brown now. Isiah has faith that Marbury won't mentally wilt.

- Francessa thinks this will be a good team when only Curry/Frye/Nate are left and a bunch of other young players are brought in. Isiah doesnt disagree and says a year ago there was no future but today there is a future in Frye/Curry.

- Marbury was the start of the team breathing again and building for a new future. Francessa thinks that Brown is the start but worries if he will be able to stand it for 5 years. Isiah thinks he will.


Overall a good interview. This was a different Isiah then I'm used to hearing on Mike and the Maddog, maybe because Russo is away for Christmas. Isiah came across as very confident in Curry/Frye and Larry Brown and he really thinks that Stephon is going to excel under Larry. Thats enough for now, my fingers hurt from the typing

[Edited by - nyk4ever on 12-16-2005 4:39 PM]