Posted by BlueSeats:

The writing has been on the wall for Francis since Orlando '05.

Posted by bigbeast:

Posted by BlueSeats:

The writing has been on the wall for Francis since Orlando '05.

wish LB had read it before begging for Francis' services....

Posted by buddapaw:

Posted by BlueSeats:

Posted by bigbeast:

Posted by BlueSeats:

The writing has been on the wall for Francis since Orlando '05.

wish LB had read it before begging for Francis' services....

That would make sense if LB were the GM, but he wasn't. He was barely even the coach at that point.

Was he at any point?

Posted by nixluva:

Posted by BlueSeats:


No, I don't think Isiah's really let anyone coach this team yet.

I don't understand what you mean by this. In what way did Isiah stop LB from coaching the team? He seemed free to do just about whatever he wanted. Isiah got him players he asked for, got rid of certain guys, within reason and he was allowed to go with 40+ different lineups, so as far as I can tell he wasn't limited in any way during the year.

As for Francis, this is a good time to go with our young guards and see what they can do. Nate and Collins need to be used. They're young and healthy and have different strengths that can help this team.

Isiah "Lords" over all his coaches from the tunnel. Wilkens was afraid to admonish Marbury when he went off on a tirade after having his defense challenged. Isiah also traded players Lenny absolutely wanted kept because the chemistry was good. Funny he could override Lenny, but people persist in the folly that he couldn't with Larry.

In Herb's short time there was a game where he sat Marbury for the 4th and we surged to come from way behind to win. In post game comments he said we'd see more of that. Then came a sit down with Isiah and he issued a retraction saying "Steph is definitely still our man."

We all know Isiah's relationship with Marbury, you really think Steph would have been challenging LB over his role (7 games into the season after LB told him not to get into a one-on-one duel with Kobe), and the structure of the offense, and saying we should run "no set play", and calling him "insecure," etc, without a wink from Isiah?

And we heard reports that Isiah fought with LB over who should be played. We've also read reports of players Brown wanted who we did not obtain. Brown was not working alone here. He had a boss named Isiah, who participated in his hiring and firing.

People have to get it through their heads that Isiah did things he might not have done if LB wasn't here, just as LB did things he wouldn't have done were Isiah not here. They definitely exerted pressure upon each other, and failed in unison. But Isiah is the boss, he's the one who hired him, and the bucks stops at the highest offices.

People trying to exonerate Isiah in the failings of his administration remind me of President Reagan and Iran-Contra. Remember we got caught illegally funneling arms to the Contras in violation of a congressional or international ban? Reagan's defense was that it was being done by a "cowboy" in the CIA (Oliver North) and he knew nothing about it. Nice try, but even his erstwhile staunchest supporters admitted that the scheme was grand enough that he was culpable either way. Either he new about it and was lying, or he was a slothful, incompetent fool.

Posted by highfivesucka:

I think his playing style during his all-star days really did him in, when you jump that high to dunk the ball every time you touch it, the weight of your entire body is coming down hard on those knees. sad if he does retire because he's still got some years left in him.

Posted by nyk4ever:

Posted by TMS:

word... there needs to be some policy where the player comes off the cap if he can't play a certain amount of games due to injury, but will still get the remainder of his signed contract from the teams... that way, both sides get protection.

Thats a very good idea TMS.