CROSSING THE LINE

By MARC BERMAN

November 13, 2006 -- WHEN mild-mannered Spurs star Tim Duncan, whose personality borders on comatose, is disgusted enough to rip you in the media, it probably means you crossed the line.

Knicks coach/president Isiah Thomas crossed the line in San Antonio on Saturday night. Thomas picked a fight with Bruce Bowen late in the first quarter of the Knicks' 100-92 loss, profanely threatening the Spurs defensive whiz and yelling at his own team, "If he does it again, break his bleeping foot." Bowen told a San Antonio newspaper he thought he heard Thomas scream something about "breaking his neck."

In Thomas' eyes, Bowen had put Jamal Crawford in danger by placing his foot under him while Crawford soared for a jumper. In Thomas' mind, it was the same sin Bowen committed against Steve Francis last Monday that caused an ankle injury to the Knicks guard.

Afterward, Duncan said: "It's just a bad situation when a coach puts himself in that position and goes after a player. It's very uncalled for. We have bigger plans than trying to hurt somebody."

Duncan went on to say Spurs coach Gregg Popovich would never attack an opposing player verbally.

The NBA's disciplinarian, Stu Jackson, told league spokesman Tim Frank yesterday he does not plan to look into the Bowen-Thomas scrape and it's unclear if the Spurs will contact the league.

But Thomas, whose Knicks host LeBron James' Cavaliers tonight, should realize he's above that behavior, no longer a member of the "Bad Boys." Thomas' demeanor is judged on a different standard, especially as team president. The irony is that projecting the right image is very important to Thomas, whose suit-and-tie dress code became the model for David Stern's policy last season.

Mostly, Thomas exudes class: wearing an Autism Speaks pin on his suit during games, for instance. Thomas' stance on Stephon Marbury's discount sneaker movement for low-income families is a beautiful sentiment. Thomas believes Marbury's endeavor is more important than basketball. Thomas gets it.

That's why Saturday night in San Antonio is unbecoming of the Knicks coach. He tried to spark his tired team, feeling it was on the verge of packing it in. Thomas also could have sparked his team by lighting himself on fire with a match. That doesn't make it right.

The Spurs exude class. Popovich is maybe the league's best coach. Thomas' profane outburst could have set off an on-court brawl if it had been another arena against another team. Maybe that's why ex-Spur Malik Rose seemed so miserable in the locker room after the game, saying, "I'm tired of losing the same way."

Afterward, Thomas said: "My job is to set the tone. And I will set the tone."

For all his *****cat, smiling ways, Thomas' temper is notorious. But as coach/president, he does not have to act like one of the bullies he grew up with on Chicago's West Side. Thomas doesn't have enough tough guys on the club - and it starts with the oft-timid young frontline of Eddy Curry and Channing Frye. Thomas would be better served channeling that temper at Curry and Frye to get them to play like angry beasts.

The Knicks don't need to be tougher with their words. They need to be tougher with their actions, tougher on the boards, tougher when Tony Par ker drives to the bas ket unpun ished. They need to be tougher tonight when LeBron James attempts to take over the Garden.

Give Thomas a break on his too-sunny outlook on a 2-5 team. He is under a mandate from ownership not to be negative. Maybe the pressure of James Do lan's public one-year ulti matum is getting to him, because Thomas is a much bigger and better man than he was Saturday night.

marc.berman@nypost.com

Bowen did that to Vince and Vince wanted to fight him. Can the Spurs please stop acting dumb?

It is a foul like the rule states and they should call it more. He can end someone's career like that.

Too bad our players are such pus$ies and have no instinct to defend themselves.

I guess if they are suspended it costs too much money.

I think Berman is way off on this one. IT did what a coach has to do. He stuck up for his players and he let be known he was not going to put up with that s++t for Bowen. I think the foot thing with Bowen is intentional. Someone had to say something and if the league is not going to do anything, IT decided it was time he made the point. The whole incident was intended not only as a message to Bowen but also to his players. IT is trying to teach these guys how to fight in this league and the attitude you have to have if you want to be a contender. Hopefully, some of IT's toughness will rub off on these guys.

IT is right here. Bowen is dirty.

Posted by Killa4luv:

Posted by djsunyc:

breen used to be a ref.

r u serious?

yeah, i think he broke in as a ref or something like that WAAAAY back in the day.

i don't have a problem w/Isiah looking out for the safety of his players... JVG did the same thing when he ran out on the floor & grabbed onto Alonzo's ankle... he looked foolish maybe, but I admired him for putting himself on the line for his players.

Posted by MS:

Do the same thing as bowen does when he shoots a jumper.

that would necessitate being within a reasonable distance when he's shooting that jumper, & not standing 10 feet away like our perimeter defenders are doing on a nightly basis.

IT should fight Bowen, maybe they will both get thrown out of the league lol.

Posted by bigpimpin:

Isiah Thomas is a bad boy. Unfortunately, so is Puffy COmbs. lololol

They got something in common. They both have a history of leaving people out to dry.