Before I post this, I'd rather not this thread turn into the one at the other place, OK? I hate seeing my fellow Knickerbocker fans bicker over something so trivial.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/story/478207p-402295c.html

Isiah Thomas cautioned reporters yesterday not to turn the Knicks' season into a battle of wills between the embattled head coach and the team's disgruntled fan base. But it may be too late.

The fans already have started chanting "Fire Thomas," and Thomas didn't help himself after practice yesterday when he said that Wednesday's crowd at Madison Square Garden had the wrong take on the Knicks' 113-102 loss to Washington.

"I can't expect them to understand the game the way I understand it or see it the way we see it," Thomas said. "It's better that the punishment is given to myself than to the players. The players got to think and move free and perform. We had a good day today."

Thomas believes that the Knicks were simply beaten by a hot-shooting Wizards team that made 14 of 20 three-pointers. He didn't blame it on a lack of effort or defensive breakdowns, which could be perceived as an indictment of the head coach. Washington was indeed playing at a high level but the Wizards had also dropped their first eight road games, including a 20-point loss to the Knicks on Nov. 15.

And even if Thomas wants to chalk it up as a loss to a better team, he runs the risk of further alienating the fans by making comments that some could interpret as the Knicks' president questioning their basketball IQ.

"People were kind of giving it to me," said Thomas, who told his players immediately after the game to keep their heads up and ignore the boos. "As being the leader of the team, when you get the bad medicine, you teach them how to swallow the medicine.

"It was a bad night. We accept it, but we're still very proud men and we're going to conduct ourselves in that way."

Thomas is in a unique position because Garden chairman James Dolan has given him a one-year ultimatum to improve the franchise. The Knicks' 7-14 record and their dwindling home attendance haven't helped Thomas' cause. So in an effort to bolster his case, Thomas usually points out that the Knicks are playing hard and showing fight. He also doesn't miss the opportunity to remind everyone that Jared Jeffries has been sidelined since the preseason and that Channing Frye also is out with an ankle injury.

Whereas Larry Brown had a tendency to coach his team through the media, Thomas seems to be pleading his case to Dolan through the press. His overriding theme is pretty much the same every day: "Things are getting better ... we'll turn this around ... just wait until we get healthy."

It is impossible to know if the message is getting through to Dolan, who has not addressed the media since June. Dolan's loyalty to Thomas is strong, as evidenced by his decision to fire Brown last summer. But Dolan also vowed to have unwavering support for Scott Layden and Don Chaney, and everyone knows how that turned out.

In fairness, the Knicks do play hard on most nights and have shown themselves to be resilient. Thomas has also made a stronger commitment to Eddy Curry. But whether the Knicks are on their way to being a contender in the not-so-distant future remains to be seen.

As for the injuries, Thomas' constant reminders of Jeffries' absence come across as an excuse because just about every team - Miami (Shaquille O'Neal), Memphis (Pau Gasol), Seattle (Ray Allen) - has been hit by the injury bug. The only difference is that the Knicks lead the league with 14 losses, including a 2-8record at home.

Of the thousands of empty seats on Wednesday night, Dolan's vacant one was the most noticeable. Maybe he is just avoiding being an easy target like his head coach.

As to why he thinks the fans' anger is being directed at him, Thomas said: "Well, because I'm the coach. But it's just like you guys will write things and say things, it's not personal, it's the Knicks and we are under the Knicks' umbrella.

"I sure as hell don't take it as Isiah against, and I hope you guys give me the benefit of the doubt in the reporting that you don't make it Isiah against (the fans) or them against (him). They're disappointed with our Knicks team, but I also think they're very happy about the future the Knicks hold."

I'll just say this. I want my Knicks to win, badly. With or without Isiah. But the more he talks, the more he seems to show how of a con-man he is. Plus, I don't think challenging already-pissed off consumers to your product is the optimal way to get them back on your side.

[Edited by - K22 on 12-08-2006 10:15 AM]

I might've missed it but I don't see where he took another shot at the fans although I'm sure he would've loved to

Isiah should be responsible for letting fans know when they should cheer or boo. He knows best.

nyk4ever - but he DID draft David Lee before most people had him on the radar

He slipped in Channing Frye

and Jared Jeffries is on the way

Nah, let's bitch and moan instead

Posted by nyk4ever:

It's never Isiah's fault. It's the coaches fault, then its the players fault, then it was Larry Browns fault and now it's the FANS fault of all people. This man is a joke and has absolutely ZERO accountability.

"I can't expect them to understand the game the way I understand it or see it the way we see it," Thomas said. "It's better that the punishment is given to myself than to the players. The players got to think and move free and perform. We had a good day today."

Ummmmmm........... why watse anymore bandwith

Isiah needs to watch it... A few more quotes like this.. hes gunna get bood right out of his job......... He has no leg to stand on. We have every right to be unhappy

[Edited by - Elite on 08-12-2006 03:43 AM]

Seriously the guy is an *******, and calling a team better than you is never a smart move, and saying the fans couldn't see what he could is laughable, seriously he needs to shut up, he is doing everything he can to become the most hated man in the city

"I sure as hell don't take it as Isiah against, and I hope you guys give me the benefit of the doubt in the reporting that you don't make it Isiah against (the fans) or them against (him). They're disappointed with our Knicks team, but I also think they're very happy about the future the Knicks hold."

Priceless! Again whats this future, a center that is never in shape, doesn't defend and has no idea what help defense is......

A 5'7 pg who bounces the ball off the floor in a tight game to make a higlight play in the midst of a losing streak

A combo guard that is back down to shooting at 40% and makes some of the worst decision in the NBA

A 6'11 defensive specialist that doesn't average 6pts 1blk/of steal, who limited to no offensive ability

Do we have one player that can really make you pay from the outside, one player that is going to get the athletes the ball?

Fyre is good and bad, and can't really defend and looks to be worthless half the time when he is not outscoring the guy he is guarding thats why its better to have him off the bench.....

OK I'll give you

A warrior inside that rebounds the ball and is a leader at the sf position and plays the game and doesn't complain and should be the captin of this team, but our coach who is ****sucker doesn't want to give it to him for fear of alienating Marbury a player no one really likes (hopefully his body holds up he deserves it)

A 6'9 PF that never takes a play off has shown the resiliance to get better and is becoming one of the best rebounders in the game

A back up center that can come in and stretch the defense with his jumpshooting

A nice backup pg who is in the charlie ward mode that will pley a nice role defending off the bench

A relentless defender who will become an enforcer for the team

We have a great bench, which i have stated and its a championship bench but there are no real solid starter prospects out there other than maybe q and lee

where did Zeke take a "shot" at the fans?

He's protecting his players as any coach would.

What is the real problem here?

Headlines?

[Edited by - misterearl on 12-08-2006 11:17 AM]

>>There is not a worst GM in professional sports right now

bettalaylow - not even worth disputing so long as you provide another basketball GM who inherited the same roster, mandated salary cap and changed the franchise fortunes in a little under three years.

but that's just me

not even worth disputing so long as you provide another basketball GM who inherited the same roster, mandated salary cap and changed the franchise fortunes in a little under three years.

but that's just me

Oh right its Layden fault dude get over it are you his agent because seriously do you even want the Knicks to win or do you just want to see Isiah have his job? Because if your first priority is the Knicks organization than Isiah does not even enter into the convo. Don't tell me **** about the roster because NOT ONE SINGLE PLAYER IS LEFT OVER FROM LAYDEN'S DAYS and the only thing Isiah has done the payroll is augmented it but here we go again with Layden.

Posted by MS:

Seriously the guy is an *******, and calling a team better than you is never a smart move, and saying the fans couldn't see what he could is laughable, seriously he needs to shut up, he is doing everything he can to become the most hated man in the city

"I sure as hell don't take it as Isiah against, and I hope you guys give me the benefit of the doubt in the reporting that you don't make it Isiah against (the fans) or them against (him). They're disappointed with our Knicks team, but I also think they're very happy about the future the Knicks hold."

Priceless! Again whats this future, a center that is never in shape, doesn't defend and has no idea what help defense is......

A 5'7 pg who bounces the ball off the floor in a tight game to make a higlight play in the midst of a losing streak

A combo guard that is back down to shooting at 40% and makes some of the worst decision in the NBA

A 6'11 defensive specialist that doesn't average 6pts 1blk/of steal, who limited to no offensive ability

Do we have one player that can really make you pay from the outside, one player that is going to get the athletes the ball?

Fyre is good and bad, and can't really defend and looks to be worthless half the time when he is not outscoring the guy he is guarding thats why its better to have him off the bench.....

OK I'll give you

A warrior inside that rebounds the ball and is a leader at the sf position and plays the game and doesn't complain and should be the captin of this team, but our coach who is ****sucker doesn't want to give it to him for fear of alienating Marbury a player no one really likes (hopefully his body holds up he deserves it)

A 6'9 PF that never takes a play off has shown the resiliance to get better and is becoming one of the best rebounders in the game

A back up center that can come in and stretch the defense with his jumpshooting

A nice backup pg who is in the charlie ward mode that will pley a nice role defending off the bench

A relentless defender who will become an enforcer for the team

We have a great bench, which i have stated and its a championship bench but there are no real solid starter prospects out there other than maybe q and lee

YOu are smoking son......... you need to breath in and speak less with Isiah and Marbury on the brain. JJ2 was a starter on a playoff wizards team, his numbers aren't great, ok and???? He is a glue guy. Jamison numbers are great and he got benched more times then JJ2 in washington, because jj2 provides intangible talents......... which oddly means unmeasureable, go figure.

Don't feel like getting into Frye, Lee and nate, all I can say is if they played in some of the situations other players are in(who oddly still put up about the same numbers with more mintues, better talent around them and less stressful situation), you would be knobb slobbing our the guys we didn't and still saying our team has no future or only a bright bench.