Isiah Gets One Year To Make Things Happen. NY Sun. 11-01-06

By John Hollinger

Here's the quandary if you're a Knicks fan — how much do you really want them to win this year? On the one hand, how couldn't you want them to win? They're your team. You have to root for these guys.

But on the other, the more they win, the longer Isiah Thomas stays around. And few things have proved to be more damaging to this franchise's long-term interests than letting Thomas make deals.

Fortunately, his tenure appears to be on its last legs. With the off-season dismissal of Larry Brown and Thomas's move to the sideline, owner James Dolan has signaled that Thomas will either fix the mess he created or pack his bags. Supplemental messages have reinforced that position, such as this Wednesday's buyout of forward Jalen Rose.

In the past, the Knicks would have just traded Rose for an even more expensive contract, thus prolonging the salary-cap agony in which the team now finds itself. But Dolan is refusing to play that game anymore, a clear signal that he's no longer drinking Zeke's Kool-Aid.

Thus, Rose and Maurice Taylor have taken buyouts and gone on their merry way, and the Knicks will slash $25 million of their payroll at the end of the season. The

Knicks also passed on matching San Antonio's offer sheet to center Jackie Butler, a move that is likely to prove a huge mistake but further signals the team's newfound commitment to fiscal prudence.

New York's only serious dip into the free agent pond came with the acquisition of forward Jared Jeffries, whom the Knicks signed to a five-year deal for the full midlevel exception. Although that was a bit extravagant, we're not talking about a Jerome James situation here — Jeffries can help because he defends and doesn't need the ball. However, he hurt his wrist in preseason and will miss the first quarter of the season.

Thomas's Knicks are short on defenders, but they're going to try to play uptempo and win games 120–110. The key to this new approach will be the backcourt of Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis. They look to be basketball's odd couple — two guys who thrive on having the ball in their hands all the time, attempting to share just one basketball. Obviously, they each have to make an adjustment to having the ball less, and both will have to learn how to get points as a spot-up shooter or playing off the ball in addition to their beloved drives from the top of the key.

They also need to push the ball. If you look at the careers of Francis and Marbury, you'll notice neither has played this style much or shown any inclination to try it. Despite their incredible quickness, both seem much more comfortable setting up drives in the half-court than pushing it ahead in transition. It should be said, however, that Francis looked fantastic in preseason.

Behind them, Jamal Crawford is one of the league's top sixth men and, in addition to relieving Marbury and Francis, should see occasional duty in a three-guard lineup. Crawford's shot selection improved from godawful to questionable last year, but that and his defense still need work if he's going to fulfill his considerable potential.

Up front, Thomas is in a similar situation with his backcourt — he has two talented players who have to make major adjustments. Offensively, Channing Frye and Eddy Curry are as talented as any frontcourt duo in the league. Despite Larry Brown's maddening refusal to play him, Frye had the Knicks' top PER last season and should help stretch defenses with his stellar shooting. Curry, is the low-post beast who will be a featured performer in the Knicks' halfcourt offense for as long as his minuscule stamina allows.

The problems come at the defensive end, where neither Frye nor Curry is an accomplished performer. Both fouled out in the final preseason game — Frye in just 11 minutes — and that trend is likely to continue in the regular season. Curry's poor conditioning and general inattentiveness make him an easy mark for opponents, especially in transition. Frye's problem is a lack of strength that gets him into trouble anytime he has to defend a decent post player.

Frye's backup, David Lee, is another bright young performer whom Thomas stole with the final pick of the first round a year ago. His energetic rebounding and ability to run the floor should help him in the Knicks' new uptempo style, and he can also fill in at small forward in a pinch.

However, backup center will be a problem. Jerome James has been a $30 million flop, and grizzled vet Cato is the only other legit center on the roster. Thus, Frye could find himself shifting to the middle on many nights, which only exacerbates his lack of muscle.

Small forward is the one spot where the Knicks have quality defenders. Jeffries is the ace, although he's better in traps and zones than as a oneon-one stopper, but Quentin Richardson and rookie Renaldo Balkman will fill in while he's out. Don't judge Richardson by last year — his back was killing him. This year, he's feeling much better and should help spread defenses with his 3-point shooting and improve the D with his knack for taking charges.

Thomas was crucified for drafting Balkman, but he played well in the preseason and should hold down a spot in the rotation. Reports on the Knicks' other first-rounder, Mardy Collins, aren't as encouraging. He was turnover-prone in the preseason, and the scouts I've talked to say he's way too slow. Not that it matters — he's the fifth guard in a four-guard rotation and is unlikely to play much.

So where is all this headed? Toward another trip to the lottery, probably. Of course, since Thomas agreed to swap picks with the Bulls if Chicago has a better record, the Knicks won't get a lottery pick out of it, which will only prolong the Knicks' stay in the lower rungs on the NBA. The only good news to come out of this is that Thomas is likely to be fired if the Knicks miss the playoffs, meaning they can finally get on with rebuilding this broken franchise.

But if the Knicks do manage to squeeze into the postseason and preserve Thomas's job for another year, you can forgive their fans if the clapping seems halfhearted.

another hatchet piece with a one-year ultimatum for Isiah

yawn

where is the originality?

"Here's the quandary if you're a Knicks fan — how much do you really want them to win this year?"

There is no quandry if you are a Knicks fan.

"You play to win the game"

Posted by fishmike:

pretty much how I feel. We have some good players but the mix isnt right. Also its very tough to root for a guy to hang around who has made such bad trades... cant get past the feeling that another one is in the works.

You don't really think a Dolan/Cablevision run team is gonna do well if they simply get a new GM? That's like giving a man having a heart attack a few bandaids!

Posted by TMS:

Posted by fishmike:

pretty much how I feel. We have some good players but the mix isnt right. Also its very tough to root for a guy to hang around who has made such bad trades... cant get past the feeling that another one is in the works.

i used to feel that way, but now that Dolan has shown that he's adamant against adding any more longterm contracts, i have a better outlook on things... i think the young kids on this team will be given a fair chance to gel as a team & grow together... that's miles apart from where this franchise's line of thinking was just a couple years ago, so that's at least progress in that sense.

I'd have to agree with the "pessimist" on this one. That is progress

Posted by TMS:

Posted by fishmike:

pretty much how I feel. We have some good players but the mix isnt right. Also its very tough to root for a guy to hang around who has made such bad trades... cant get past the feeling that another one is in the works.

i used to feel that way, but now that Dolan has shown that he's adamant against adding any more longterm contracts, i have a better outlook on things... i think the young kids on this team will be given a fair chance to gel as a team & grow together... that's miles apart from where this franchise's line of thinking was just a couple years ago, so that's at least progress in that sense.

Good post TMS- at least I don't feel a sense of impending doom or panic with personnell moves. I'm dissapointed that the tight purses didn't allow us to sign Butler- but that's gone, time to move on. I have not been an Isiah fan, but if he proves himself to be a good coach for this team, than I'd like him to be here. I just want a set philosophy and people that fit. Commit to the players we've got- give em a real shot at developing, be patient and then if it doesn't work out, you move in another direction. No more bandaids, no more restructuring and changing directions on the fly.

the releasing of rose is what led me to finally sign up for the UK forums.

I had no idea who was correct, the so called haters/pessimists/realists or the so called homers/optimists/koolaid drinkers.

But with the release of rose and buy out of moT, is sounds like the circus is no longer in town.

the team we have is the team of the future...and I forget who it was (has a band) posted the salaries for the coming years and it appears that the first acquisition by isiah thomas will be the piece that signals the end of being over the cap.

So with the season starting I wanted to get on before it was too late.

One thing you can say is that the media is beginning to show signs of loosening up (as are some of the posters here).

I remember a poster bonn3p0 that used to be extremely positive about the knicks and he just gave up under the pressure...hopefully others have not given up hope.

go knicks.

I am so disappointed in Hollinger. For a man who I have witnessed write some very potent articles, he sure did go with popular opinion on this particular one.

Like Misterearl says, "There is no originality whatsoever."