January 18, 2007
Let Isiah Be Isiah

There are people in the Knicks front office who have accused me of dreaming up more conspiracy theories than Oliver Stone. So I had to admit it was amusing to read some of the comments about the mysterious missing blog. You guys don’t miss anything.

APThe Daily News editorial department had nothing to do with it disappearing – I particularly liked the reference to the Bermuda Triangle by the way. I decided to remove it after I re-read it. I felt that it was unfair to some of the folks in the organization who are merely doing their jobs.

That said the salient points from the Lost Blog are that Isiah Thomas needs to enjoy the same freedom Pat Riley, Don Nelson, Jeff Van Gundy, Don Chaney, Lenny Wilkens, Herb Williams and Larry Brown all enjoyed. Thomas is never given one moment alone with the beat reporters to speak openly about his theories and philosophies about the team.

Every time he speaks, a public relations official is there to record every word he utters. Can you imagine Riley and Phil Jackson operating like that?

Knowing Thomas, I think he misses the opportunity to set the record straight in a very off-the-record setting. He’s an engaging guy who deserves the forum to talk about why David Lee doesn’t start and why Steve Francis was really sent to Houston.

There are a few reasons why Van Gundy was so popular with beat reporters. Besides the fact that he won games, he would actively debate reporters on stories they had written and would talk openly about player’s strengths and weaknesses.

Thomas would be just as good if not better than Van Gundy at talking shop with reporters. I can just hear Thomas saying, “Why do some of you think that I have something against David Lee? I drafted him, remember? Why should I start him when he is doing such a good job off the bench and he’s playing more minutes than Jared anyway?”

Thomas, who is fighting for his job, is not allowed to be himself under the Knicks strict media policy. He doesn’t even have the forum to scream at the press behind closed doors. (How many of you would like to see that?) The team will say it is looking out for Thomas’ best interests but I’m not so sure. If that is the case, why didn’t someone advise Isiah to issue a “no comment” in his postgame press conference following the brawl against Denver? While the Nuggets all refused to comment, Thomas laughed about the incident and blamed Denver for starting it. Either someone gave him bad advice or no advice at all.

With everything Thomas has on his plate, the Knicks need to ease up and allow the man to be himself. Perhaps, things will change next season for Thomas, who I believe is a sure bet to get a contract extension.

* * *

Am I crazy to think that the Knicks could be the third best team in the East? I watch as many games as I can with the NBA League Pass and I’m not impressed by Orlando or Cleveland, which just lost back-to-back games to Seattle and Portland.

When healthy, Miami and Detroit are clearly the class of the conference. Maybe you have to put Chicago third. But assuming the Knicks make the playoffs, as long as they avoid playing the Pistons or the Heat in the first round, they will have a great opportunity to advance to the second round. As long as Stephon Marbury and Eddy Curry stay injury-free.

* * *

Did you happen to see Channel 5’s SportsExtra interview with David Lee on Sunday? In the background, my daughter got quality television time shooting baskets at the team’s training facility. Whenever one of the beat writers takes their kids to work, the Knicks are nice enough to provide them with a pretty nice playground.

i sort of came to that conclusion as well after the dolan interview on WFAN when he basically whined about not wanting to change the whole front office staff again, how mills' job is safe, and how he lauded sather on the bang up job he did with the rangers (6 years into his tenure). after hearing that, i figured isiah was going to be back for at least another year. he's a smooth talker and dolan seems like a gullible individual who craves (p)sychophants.

this team isn't going to collapse and will probably win somewhere in the 35 game range. and that may (probably) be good enough for dolan. although there's some chirping about "playoffs or bust" when it comes to zeke. i guess we'll see at the end of the season.

yeah, but does he get the Tom Coughlin "here's another year because we're waiting for Bill Parcells" extension or does he get the Dolan Don Chaney 3-year extension especiale?

Posted by djsunyc:

Posted by kam77:

yeah, but does he get the Tom Coughlin "here's another year because we're waiting for Bill Parcells" extension or does he get the Dolan Don Chaney 3-year extension especiale?

no reason for isiah to get more than a one year extension with a team option for a 2nd. nobody is hiring him next year so no need to give him anymore years guaranteed.

lol, good that Isiah ain't negotiating his own contacts or it would be a 5 year deal for the max.

Posted by kam77:

yeah, but does he get the Tom Coughlin "here's another year because we're waiting for Bill Parcells" extension or does he get the Dolan Don Chaney 3-year extension especiale?

if the Knicks are waiting for someone else, this is the summer to do it. Jerry West, Donny Walsh, (Thorn too?) are in the last year of their contracts. Kiki (who I don't care for) is also available.

If the knicks get into the playoffs, isiah will get a 3 year extension. probably as coach/president though. i guess they could bring in one of the other guys as GM. That'd be odd though.

hey, they can always fire him after 6 months. it aint your money

[Edited by - efw on 01-18-2007 2:49 PM]

Posted by islesfan:

If he gets an extension I'm never posting here again because I will no longer be a Knicks fan.

Don't go. You're practically the only sane one.

If the Knicks are so good, if the east is that bad--then any reasonable person would assume that the playoffs are a given for usthat the goal is to make the playoffs. We enjoy a 2/3-1 ratio in salary expenditure--we have a good mix of expereince and age. I mean the LA Lakers have been winning with no one OLDER than 28. If there is a reasonable bench mark for success--especially in the east--isn't the playoffs one? I mean if a team like Toronto makes the playoffs and we don't--isn't there some kind of problem? I would think at a MINIMUM that we should play .500 ball the 2nd half of the season???? no excuses?????

Posted by BRIGGS:

If the Knicks are so good, if the east is that bad--then any reasonable person would assume that the playoffs are a given for usthat the goal is to make the playoffs. We enjoy a 2/3-1 ratio in salary expenditure--we have a good mix of expereince and age. I mean the LA Lakers have been winning with no one OLDER than 28. If there is a reasonable bench mark for success--especially in the east--isn't the playoffs one? I mean if a team like Toronto makes the playoffs and we don't--isn't there some kind of problem? I would think at a MINIMUM that we should play .500 ball the 2nd half of the season???? no excuses?????

Hey Briggs. Good to see you back. Anyway, you said no excuses. This team is built around excuses. The unfortunate truth is that Isiah's extension is likely because the bar has been set so low. It's ironic that the only Knick coach that gets proper support from the GM and owner is the one that actually IS the GM.

Posted by Solace:

Posted by BRIGGS:

If the Knicks are so good, if the east is that bad--then any reasonable person would assume that the playoffs are a given for usthat the goal is to make the playoffs. We enjoy a 2/3-1 ratio in salary expenditure--we have a good mix of expereince and age. I mean the LA Lakers have been winning with no one OLDER than 28. If there is a reasonable bench mark for success--especially in the east--isn't the playoffs one? I mean if a team like Toronto makes the playoffs and we don't--isn't there some kind of problem? I would think at a MINIMUM that we should play .500 ball the 2nd half of the season???? no excuses?????

Hey Briggs. Good to see you back. Anyway, you said no excuses. This team is built around excuses. The unfortunate truth is that Isiah's extension is likely because the bar has been set so low. It's ironic that the only Knick coach that gets proper support from the GM and owner is the one that actually IS the GM.

Thanks--I went from having a sniffle one day to 48 hours later being in the hospital with pneumonia. It's kind of worse for me because it aggravates another condition I have--so I have to take it slow for a period of time. I appreciate the kind words that some people put out for sure.

i'd be OK w/having Isiah coach this team next year, but i think we need someone else to take over the reigns as the everyday GM... Isiah can still give his input on the draft & scouting NBDL talent in that capacity w/o negatively affecting the salary cap over the long haul.

Posted by Rich:

Posted by TMS:

i'd be OK w/having Isiah coach this team next year, but i think we need someone else to take over the reigns as the everyday GM... Isiah can still give his input on the draft & scouting NBDL talent in that capacity w/o negatively affecting the salary cap over the long haul.

They would probably keep Grunwald.

i'm talking about a real GM who's in charge, not just a figurehead to take care of the administrative roles while Isiah coaches the team but still retains the authority to make trades.

Posted by holfresh:

Posted by BRIGGS:

If the Knicks are so good, if the east is that bad--then any reasonable person would assume that the playoffs are a given for usthat the goal is to make the playoffs. We enjoy a 2/3-1 ratio in salary expenditure--we have a good mix of expereince and age. I mean the LA Lakers have been winning with no one OLDER than 28. If there is a reasonable bench mark for success--especially in the east--isn't the playoffs one? I mean if a team like Toronto makes the playoffs and we don't--isn't there some kind of problem? I would think at a MINIMUM that we should play .500 ball the 2nd half of the season???? no excuses?????

Since their 5-11 start...The Knicks has been 12-12....and getting better...

Isiah needs at least two years more...No reason to have the lame duck thing over your head when trying to build a team...The guy deserves more years it the Knicks continue to improve and play better...I would like to see him get some help in the front office...I'm not sure the current guys isn't more than a yes man for Isiah...But given where we were last year and how far we have come, Curry's and Lee's development, Q playing better...I think he needs at least two years to just have some flexibility to improve without the ax over his shoulder...

If this is a good team--if the right personell are here--then we should win games. Everything else is horse maneur. I'm not taking away anything or giving anything--just win baby--show me the wins. I don't think Toronto should be ahead of us in the standings but they are. I don't think the Nets be should ahead of us in the standings without their only good frontcourt player, but they are. So win the games--that will take car of business. Lose the games and EVERTHING should be questioned. there has been 0 NO ZILCH NONE nothing zero impact from the three acquisitions this year--one of which cost another 30+mm--the other a jalen rose 16mm $ buyout which we took instead of a PG we could use quite desperately at times.