Coach Isiah might save Isiah the GM
He's not the best executive, but coaching is his passion

COMMENTARY
By Dave D'Alessandro

Updated: 11:11 p.m. ET Sept 25, 2006
Now that the hysterical mass displays of angst over the Larry Brown Era have turned into a muted slobber, a harsh reality remains: The Knicks are contractually obligated to play another season.

That will be the focus in New York, which is to basketball what Islamic fundamentalism is to Iran. And though I still maintain that the fans are daft to care about a team owned and operated by creepy people, I submit the following: This team is not really as bad as the 23-59 mudslide would suggest, and at least now it has a coach who must care about achievement as much as he does spit-polishing his legacy.

As an executive, Isiah Thomas is a human pratfall. But coaching always has been his passion, and when you take an objective look at his track record in Indiana, he is good at it. Of course, talking about something good on the Knicks is like talking about a good song on a Michael Bolton album. Everything is relative. Compared with a day at the endodontist, it's not terrible.

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Granted, considering the task Zeke faces, perhaps his track record is irrelevant. "It's his ship to steer," owner Jim Dolan, the co-author of this farce, says.

And as Dolan dropped the punch line — the one about how Thomas has exactly one season to show "significant . . . evident progress" — Zeke somehow avoided wearing the haunted look of a fugitive who just heard bloodhounds in the distance.

That's because he can do this. He always has prided himself on his leadership skills, not realizing that you can't lead from a corner office on the 14th floor at 2 Penn Plaza or a vomitory at the Garden. You lead from the practice floor, the bus and the locker room.

Before he changes into sweats, of course, he has to move out at least two extraneous pieces -- Jalen Rose and Steve Francis, for starters -- and that won't be easy. But it's not all about personnel. It's about imparting a vision (think Phoenix East), infusing some affinity, settling on a rotation and restoring the confidence Brown methodically shattered.

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Then he must get Eddy Curry to defend and turn him into the fulcrum of the offense. Beyond that, he has to hope there will be some coruscating moments from his resident jewel, Stephon Marbury. (OK, that part was sarcasm.)

But, yes, Thomas can do this. He proved it in Indy. He took a team of children to the playoffs three straight years. On his watch, Jermaine O'Neal became a star. On his watch, Ron Artest became a beast.

He has let the Knicks deteriorate for 30 months. Over the next six, he may establish one of two things: that he was the right coach for this group all along or that his team had a meatball for a general manager. I'm guessing it will be both.

one note.. Dave isnt the only guy thats said this. Walsh (Indy) said Isiah was a very good x's and o's kind of guy (too bad Anucha didnt think so).

I'm not sure it matters though as he's trying to build a boat w/ a bunch of bricks

Walsh said that Isiah creates a very "us against the world" attitude in the lockerroom. I actually think that will play well with the guys we have now, particularly Francis and Marbury. It will probably lead to some ridiculous quotes from Marbury this season, but hey, that's why the Knicks are the best entertainment bang for your buck.

Isiah is a good coach. The only negatives I've heard about him are clock management issues at the end of games. Ironically, that's actually the only thing I thought Larry Brown did well last year - but I'll take the trade off.

Posted by crzymdups:

Walsh said that Isiah creates a very "us against the world" attitude in the lockerroom.

I love the sound of that!

What doesn't create ridiculous quotes from Marbury? What's the over/under on his shoes falling apart tonight?

R ARTEST
J O'NEAL
B MILLER
R MILLER
J TINSLEY

A HARRINGTON
A CROSHERE
R MERCER
J FOSTER

Thats not a bad team......don't care how young they had a few veterans to go with young talent

Posted by Bippity10:

I'm okay with Isiah using a "prove Brown wrong" mantra in the locker room. Anything that motivates is a good thing. I just hope it doesn't linger and over time the guys become motivated by winning. Period.

I agree. He's probably telling many of them, "Brown thought you were such garbage that he wanted to waive you." Now that would certainly fire me up even more. There's nothing wrong with that. Isiah's got a lot of weaknesses but I bet he's a great motivator.


[Edited by - wsdm on 10-13-2006 3:57 PM]

Yea that would work with these losers

Isiah: "Stevie, Steph Larry was trying to have you both waived because he thought you weren't good enough get us to the Playoffs"

Stabury: "Man how he gonna tell the best pg in the league something like that"

Francis "I could care less, waive me, pay me, sit I can go someplace else, and make money"