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Magic offers some words of advice for close friend Isiah
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TMS
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12/21/2006  2:08 PM
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12212006/sports/knicks/magic_talks_tough_to_isiah_knicks_marc_berman.htm
By MARC BERMAN
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FRIENDLY ADVICE: In the wake of Saturday's brawl with the Nuggets, Magic Johnson says Knicks coach and president Isiah Thomas, pictured last night, needs to recognize his responsibilities to the organization and to the NBA.
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December 21, 2006 -- Magic Johnson yesterday gave stern advice to Isiah Thomas: He's got to get rid of the tough-guy act on the sidelines to restore the Knicks to respectability.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Post during which Johnson acknowledged he had his pep talk with Stephon Marbury, Johnson said Thomas needs to change his stripes in the wake of Saturday's ugly Garden brawl with the Nuggets. Thomas has been under suspicion he incited the brawl by warning Carmelo Anthony, "Don't go into the paint."

"He has to understand he can't do what got him to be the best as a player, one of the best small men whose ever played the game," Johnson told The Post in a phone interview from St. Thomas, where he is vacationing. "He's not just the coach. He's also the president of basketball operations. He's looked upon as both. I think there's a line he has to see, and say, 'Can I cross this line in getting into confrontations with these players and these coaches?'

"He's wearing two hats," Johnson added. "It's difficult for him. Being tough is what got him to be the best because he never backed down from anyone. He's always been a tough guy and that's what made him a Hall of Famer. He's got to say, 'I'm not playing anymore. I am the president. I am the coach, but I do want my winning personality to rub off on the guys and some of that toughness,' all the things that made Isiah great."

"I'm cheering for not only the Knicks but cheering for Steve Mills and Isiah," Johnson said. "It would be great for basketball. That's why I want Isiah to really look at what's going on right now. Sometimes take a step back and see what's going on, really, 'Wow, is this going in the right direction for me?' Because I think it's important. The game he helped build up, the game he gave a lot to, he's got to make sure he doesn't hurt that whole image, not just himself but the image of the game, keeping the integrity of the game.

"As a friend, I want him to look at all that."
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Elite
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12/21/2006  2:11 PM
thats harsh coming from magic
TMS
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12/21/2006  2:16 PM
i agree w/Magic in saying that Isiah needs to think about the fact that he's representing the Knicks franchise as their President of Basketball Operations & not just as their head coach... he's a reflection on this team & this city whether he likes it or not... i like the draft choices Isiah's made & i think he gets blasted for things sometimes that he doesn't deserve, but some of the negative headlines he attracts to this team is not helping to improve the general public impression of the Knicks franchise.
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BlueSeats
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12/21/2006  2:17 PM
IOW, Magic to Isiah:

"Hey, I recommended your for that job, you're making me look bad."
Masterplan
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12/21/2006  2:42 PM
it's a good point. think the nuggets are in a hurry to pick up their phone when IT the GM calls?
Bippity10
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12/21/2006  3:06 PM
Posted by Masterplan:

it's a good point. think the nuggets are in a hurry to pick up their phone when IT the GM calls?

Great point. Isiah is going to get to the point where noone is going to want to make a deal. He has to understand that even if he is 100% correct in a situation sometimes it's okay not to confront.
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franco12
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12/21/2006  3:40 PM
Posted by Bippity10:
Posted by Masterplan:

it's a good point. think the nuggets are in a hurry to pick up their phone when IT the GM calls?

Great point. Isiah is going to get to the point where noone is going to want to make a deal. He has to understand that even if he is 100% correct in a situation sometimes it's okay not to confront.

That would be good because then he can't make any bad trades!
Swishfm3
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12/21/2006  3:56 PM
Posted by BlueSeats:

IOW, Magic to Isiah:

"Hey, I recommended your for that job, you're making me look bad."

I think Magic was talking from a 'black' man point of view.
Ira
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12/21/2006  3:59 PM
It's just common sense advice from a friend. I hope Isaiah listens and learns from it.
rojasmas
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12/21/2006  8:13 PM
What does Magic know about coaching? He was a failure at that and as a late night tv host.
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BlueSeats
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12/21/2006  9:38 PM
Posted by Swishfm3:
Posted by BlueSeats:

IOW, Magic to Isiah:

"Hey, I recommended your for that job, you're making me look bad."

I think Magic was talking from a 'black' man point of view.


I think he's just telling him those cut throat antics that shredded his eyebrows may have provided some entertainment value on the court, but they look foolish on the sidelines and in the front office.

I think it's like telling Nate to grow up and play basketball, but he's talking to Isiah.
Bippity10
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12/21/2006  9:56 PM
I personally don't have a major problem with Isiah's antics on the court if he was just the coach. But as the GM and coach he has to remember that if he pis-ses people off they aren't going to help him come trade time. It may be cool to act tough. Sometimes it may be the right thing to act like a tough guy. But when you are playing 2 roles you can't cut off your nose to spite your face.
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simrud
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12/21/2006  10:19 PM
Magic is a hater lol.
A glimmer of hope maybe?!?
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12/22/2006  12:37 AM
Posted by Swishfm3:
Posted by BlueSeats:

IOW, Magic to Isiah:

"Hey, I recommended your for that job, you're making me look bad."

I think Magic was talking from a 'black' man point of view.

Thats what I got from it. To me he was saying: 'turn down the ABM, Isiah, dont make those white folks angry'. It reads like some corporate manifesto or something. The criticism is ambiguous as it is confusing...whats wrong with being tough? There have been plenty of "tough" G.M's, coaches and presidents of b-ball operations. Had little conviction behind it.

My saliva and spit can split thread into fiber and bits/ So trust me I'm as live as it gets. --Royce Da 5'9 + DJ Premier = Hip Hop Utopia
SlimPack
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12/22/2006  12:48 AM
magic johnson is racist!
Bippity10
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12/22/2006  10:01 AM
Posted by sebstar:
Posted by Swishfm3:
Posted by BlueSeats:

IOW, Magic to Isiah:

"Hey, I recommended your for that job, you're making me look bad."

I think Magic was talking from a 'black' man point of view.

Thats what I got from it. To me he was saying: 'turn down the ABM, Isiah, dont make those white folks angry'. It reads like some corporate manifesto or something. The criticism is ambiguous as it is confusing...whats wrong with being tough? There have been plenty of "tough" G.M's, coaches and presidents of b-ball operations. Had little conviction behind it.

Once again, nothing wrong with being tough. But if you get to the point where other's don't like you, as a GM are you helping or hurting yourself. You have to look at the consequences of your actions as a GM, coach, President, Black man, White Man, Any other ethnic group man and ask yourself "does this help me"
I just hope that people will like me
sebstar
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12/22/2006  11:33 AM
Fair enough. I just would have liked for Magic to be a little more specific and provide more insight. What are the exact incidents to which Magic is referring? Is this all stemming from Carmelo-gate? If so would Magic or the '80s Celtics have played nice if they thought a team was trying to embarrass them the same way Karl was trying to embarrass the Knicks? The NBA is becoming way too feminine.

Winning solves 90% of the problems anyway. If the knicks are winning and they have a roster full of marketable players, GM's will call and everything else will generally work itself out. Zeke doesnt have to act like a Telletubby to accomplish that.
My saliva and spit can split thread into fiber and bits/ So trust me I'm as live as it gets. --Royce Da 5'9 + DJ Premier = Hip Hop Utopia
Bippity10
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12/22/2006  11:44 AM
Personally I think the way we showed Don(security guards), Lenny(fire his assistants before forcing him to resign) and Larry(No explanation needed) the door was not helpful. Even if we hated all three, show some class. You can argue that a coach that fights for his players is a coach that players will want to play for. I can buy that. But in the end it normally comes down to money for free-agents so I don't think the coach makes too much of a difference. But GM's will not deal with guys they don't like. So when you threaten players or disparage a team/coach, Gm's take notice. I personally don't think he's well liked. Which again, you don't have to be liked. But if you are not respected it lowers your options.Judging by a lot of the articles, commentators and some of the comments from GM's there is a small but growing group that is losing respect for the guy. In my opinion of course.

He needs to stop embarrassing the franchise. Bottom line.
I just hope that people will like me
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12/22/2006  12:14 PM
Magic is also right. Seems like most people see it.
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12/22/2006  1:04 PM
Posted by Solace:

Magic is also right. Seems like most people see it.

He is right. And that is the biggest problem I have with Isiah. Every time we are at what we feel is rock bottom, we end up getting knocked another level lower. And then, even if it IS our fault(the fight was on us), Isiah looks to pass the buck and blame it on anything but the team itself.

He finally turned it around and introverted the blame on the team for the poor play at home. I thought it was going to be different from then on. It hasn't been. Isiah is still spinning fast and loose.
~You can't run from who you are.~
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