Sad to say, the recreational dope probably still doesn't comprehend what a monstrosity of a mistake was made by firing Ernie Grunfeld versus Jeff Van Gundy in the middle of the '98-99 season, Finals finish notwithstanding.

Revisionists claim the Knicks haven't been the same since Dolan flexed his good fortune to be his father's son and weeded Dave Checketts from the Garden. Oh, really? Who do these numbskulls think coordinated Patrick Ewing's trade that activated the franchise's free fall?

Who do they think was responsible for capsizing the salary cap with contaminated commitments to fringe (Travis Knight) or washed-up talent (Glen Rice, Luc Longley, Vernon Maxwell), a feeding frenzy picked up unproven successors (Rice turned into ludicrous long-term pledges to Shandon Anderson and Howard Eisley, compliments of Scott Layden) that continues to this day?

Who do they think promised Allan Houston a $99M go-away present before going away himself?

Who do they think reached out to Layden in Salt Lake City and elevated him to a personnel position of authority and then left him over his head, in mid-lurch and solely accountable under an owner who doesn't mind squandering money daddy dearest made - and if it doesn't bother James Dolan, imagine how little those below care about judicious spending?

It's a testament to the up-to-date abject failure of Isiah that the misguided media distorts Checketts' departure as a tragedy when, in fact, he was the Architect of Armageddon. He bought the burial plot on his way out of the building and his two successors, to their eternal credit (I defy you to brand one "better" than the other), developed his design by digging their own graves while Grunfeld rebuilt the Bucks and Wizards into playoff teams.

- NYPost

What do you think about the influence of Riley in those decisions? Especially with all the focus these days on Larry's influence on Zeke's decisions, could Riley have played a big role? I can't imagine they would have brought any of the players in during his era wihtout his approval and I wonder abouth how much actual direction he might have supplied. I remember him being HUGELY positive about the Charles Smith trade (remember his "Karl Malone of the East" comments?).

nothing like Jackie and Woods... yet. Thats horribly premature. Lets see if these guys can stay on an NBA roster before comparing them to a guy that made the all star game one of the league's best defenders for a decade