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djsunyc
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By MARC BERMAN
Knicks coach Isiah Thomas watches from the bench as his team loses to the Nets, 138-121, last night at the Meadowlands.October 28, 2006 -- Greg Anthony, the ESPN analyst and former Knick, declined to respond directly to team president/coach Isiah Thomas' stinging barbs, but retaliated in the next best way: He trashed Thomas' team.
In his first interview since Thomas destroyed him for bashing the Knicks' selection of Renaldo Balkman in this year's draft, Anthony said yesterday the roster lacks chemistry and that he expects them to miss the playoffs. It clearly was a direct hit on the guy who assembled this club.
"I don't necessarily think that they're not a better basketball team," Anthony told The Post before the Knicks allowed lost to the Nets, 138-121, in their preseason finale at the Meadowlands. "I just think other teams are better in the Eastern Conference. They have a lot of issues; a lot of things need to be resolved. Basketball talent-wise, they are good enough. The makeup of the team is not good enough. They don't have the kind of chemistry one would like to have on a basketball team. That's unfortunate. That's the way it is. I see them improving, but making the playoffs is another level. Brass has to first get them back to some state of relevance."
Last week, Thomas blasted Anthony for his draft-night diatribe, when the former Knick said Balkman could have been had as an undrafted free agent. In truth, Balkman likely would have been selected in the second round. However, Thomas could have taken budding star point guard Marcus Williams at No. 20 (he was taken by the Nets at No. 22 and had 21 points and nine assists last night) and saved Balkman for the 29th pick.
With the hustling Balkman having an impressive preseason, Thomas unloaded on Anthony, deriding his playing career, saying he'll never work for MSG Network as long as he (Thomas) has a say, and adding it was disloyal for ex-Knick to be so harsh.
"I don't really want to comment on anything Isiah has to say," Anthony said. "I don't want to discuss him personally, but I don't have a problem discussing the prospects of the team, as it relates to the rest of the league. It's not worth commenting on. We're in the business of being criticized. It comes with the territory."
And so Anthony criticized the way Thomas assembled this $122 million roster: a club featuring an awkward backcourt of Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis and few defensive-minded players.
"I think their team makeup is a problem, not the individual players," Anthony added. "They have guys who do a lot of good things on the basketball floor but I don't know if they complement each other."
Anthony did a give a slight mea culpa when asked about Balkman's preseason.
"Yes, I have [seen him]," Anthony said. "I think he's a solid, young basketball player."
*
Francis racked up 39 points, six assists and six rebounds, but committed a foolish act with 16.1 seconds left, giving Mikki Moore a hard push from behind. Both coaches came onto the court to help separate the players, who were both ejected. Why Francis was still on the floor was mystifying.
"In the heat of the game, things like that to happen, but you can't back down when someone intentionally fouls you," Francis said, explaining his action. "When I foul somebody hard, I put my hand up and referees call it."
* Thomas, ultra positive despite the Knicks' defensive ineptitude, said: "We're trying to get to where they are, we've got to fight, scratch, claw." Thomas claimed one of the Nets assistants was "mouthing off" during the Francis-Moore incident and he tried to approach the Nets coaches but they walked off without handshakes.
* Quentin Richardson started at SF while Jalen Rose did not play. Richardson should start in Memphis. |
10/28/2006 10:07 AM
