[ IMAGES: Images ON turn off | ACCOUNT: User Status is LOCKED why? ]

I'm not happy about Isiah Thomas being hired
Author Thread
Silverfuel
Posts: 31750
Alba Posts: 3
Joined: 6/27/2002
Member: #268
USA
12/22/2003  10:11 PM
BUT I AM REALLY HAPPY ABOUT LAYDEN BEING FIRED.

Also, I think we should lay off on all the hard feelings for a few weeks. There is no way anyone on this board will cheer for the Knicks to lose. I am sure anyone in favor of Chaney is just trying to keep their optimism alive and that is fine by me.

Also, I dont think anyone is a fan of Layden because of the bad moves he made. We dont have a choice about the decisions with the knicks. Some people choose to hate them, others just choose to live with them. I am not too excited about Isiah but I am going to live with it and not complain. Lets just hope Chaney's time is up!
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
AUTOADVERT
martin
Posts: 76261
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
12/22/2003  10:27 PM
you know, that was sentiment exactly. Happy that Layden is gone but not entirely overwhelmed that Isiah was replacing him.

But I guess it begs: who would you have replaced Layden with?
Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
Silverfuel
Posts: 31750
Alba Posts: 3
Joined: 6/27/2002
Member: #268
USA
12/22/2003  10:32 PM
Posted by martin:

you know, that was sentiment exactly. Happy that Layden is gone but not entirely overwhelmed that Isiah was replacing him.

But I guess it begs: who would you have replaced Layden with?
This is going to sound terrible and I am going to get ripped apart about this but I wanted Layden to stay for this year and find a different coach. Could've replaced Layden with the ex-philly GM. The white bald guy with a Goate.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
martin
Posts: 76261
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
12/22/2003  10:37 PM
Posted by Silverfuel:
Posted by martin:

you know, that was sentiment exactly. Happy that Layden is gone but not entirely overwhelmed that Isiah was replacing him.

But I guess it begs: who would you have replaced Layden with?
This is going to sound terrible and I am going to get ripped apart about this but I wanted Layden to stay for this year and find a different coach. Could've replaced Layden with the ex-philly GM. The white bald guy with a Goate.

know who you mean but can't think of the name either. But the thing is, most GMs want their own coach. So Dolan did do one thing right: make the GM change and then demand action after that.
Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
martin
Posts: 76261
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
12/22/2003  10:38 PM
Posted by martin:
Posted by Silverfuel:
Posted by martin:

you know, that was sentiment exactly. Happy that Layden is gone but not entirely overwhelmed that Isiah was replacing him.

But I guess it begs: who would you have replaced Layden with?
This is going to sound terrible and I am going to get ripped apart about this but I wanted Layden to stay for this year and find a different coach. Could've replaced Layden with the ex-philly GM. The white bald guy with a Goate.

know who you mean but can't think of the name either. But the thing is, most GMs want their own coach. So Dolan did do one thing right: make the GM change and then demand action after that.

Croatie? something like that
Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
Silverfuel
Posts: 31750
Alba Posts: 3
Joined: 6/27/2002
Member: #268
USA
12/22/2003  10:47 PM
These are not my opnions but they kinda make sense: (This is obviously about the Layden firing)
-----------------------------------------------------------
This could mean several things.

Possible meanings:

1. Maybe there is hope for Dolan after. This could mean that he accepts he has no buisness being directly involved in basketball matters. After all Thomas isn't the yes man type that Layden was. This would spell the end of Lame Duck Chaney who has proven himself to be nothing more than a yes man and is clearly not suited for any position above assistant coach.

2. It also could mean the knicks are finally accepting rebuilding. Thomas has a decent record for building a frachise. He's no jerry west, but he's no Layden either. I'll take thomas' draft record over Layden's anyday. Thomas also isn't afraid of starting the youth movement.

3. Nothing at all. This could be a PR move to keep the fans who were clearly displeased with Layden (only because they don't realize the real source of the knicks problems, Dolan. If they did the NY fans would pull a charlotte) Nothing might change at all, and we gotta be ready for that possibility as well.

Overall for whatever reason. I'm just glad he's gone. I'm sick of his bull****, lies, secrecy, poor articulation, and his love (or is it Dolans love) for softy boy band type NBA players (especially from Utah). I would have fired him after Mike and the Mad dog interview 1 or 2 and making a fool of himself with his repeditive statements "uh I'm err gonna do what's best for the team and uh oh yeah Keith Van Horn is younger and taller." lol

Now we will hopefully have a president that can level with the people, have a clear vision and direction and let the people know what the direction is instead of leaving us guessing and 2nd guessing all the time.
-----------------------------------------------
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
BRIGGS
Posts: 53275
Alba Posts: 7
Joined: 7/30/2002
Member: #303
12/22/2003  10:54 PM
Pat Crocie was his name--but he is not a basketball talent evaluator--he is what Steve Mills is--more on the business and marketing end of the spectrum. Pat Crocie had no role in evalauting talent or making trades.

I thought that a team of Magic Johnson and Michael Cooper would be the best. Somethinmg like president GM and assistant GM. You have to give credit to Thomas on his draft picks which is a very important facet of the job--he also snagged Doug Christie from us for nothing.


I did not get a sense that Thomas had a defined role at the press conference and that this was all rushed together. Was Jeff Nix retained? Dolan seems obsssessed with playoff $$$$$$$ and making consumers *happy* that we made the playoffs but Isiah was talking about winning the whole gig. I think thats a problem which needs clarification.

Isiah neeeds to take a powerful role here and there has to be significant leeway. I have to imagine item number 1 is finding more explosive players with athletiscm. The problem with Layden is he acquired players with no thought to a style of play. If we had a chance to trade doleac for White, why didnt he do it? He was arrogant to a fault and was not open minded to what NYers wanted to see on the court. What does he care, he's laughing all the way to the bank with 30mm or so. Heck Andersen and Weatherspoon should throw him a few million for giving them powerball winning contracts.
RIP Crushalot😞
Vmart
Posts: 31800
Alba Posts: 1
Joined: 5/23/2002
Member: #247
USA
12/22/2003  11:11 PM
I think when you have the highest payroll you expect playoffs. Also if you have the highest payroll you should have a team that should come close to sniffing the finals on a regualar basis. One thing Dolan does is shell out the money for players and that is one thing you can never fault him on. Because he is not a basketball man he left that to Layden to take care of but Layden wasn't very good at it. Thomas is going to get everything Layden got but its up to Thomas to make something out of the money that Dolan shells out. Don't think for one moment that Thomas doesn't like the gig he just got because he has a lot more money to work with than most teams. He has the abiltity to evaluate talent and he looks for the athletic type palyers which is completely opposite Layden. His most difficult problem is how in the hell he is going to get rid of some of the dead weight on the team.

I'm very happy with Isiah Thomas I wanted him for coach but got him for GM and you guys are going to realize that he is going to turn this team 180 from non athletic group to one that is athletic. I am very happy with the addition of Thomas as the NYK gm.

Sometimes change for change sake is what is required and in this case getting Thomas sure couldn't make matters worse. Because lets face it we hit rock bottom already its only up from here.
gunsnewing
Posts: 55076
Alba Posts: 5
Joined: 2/24/2002
Member: #215
USA
12/23/2003  7:15 AM
yeah how ****ed up were dolan's comments. At least lie and say you want a championship. It is clear he could careless and the knicks and the history of the game . He just wants his $$$$$$$$
DefAndReb
Posts: 20459
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 10/9/2002
Member: #336
12/23/2003  7:31 AM
Pat Croce was a team trainer who made some smart business investments, making him enough money to buy the 76ers. He was the owner, guys, not even a Steve Mills type. He was a Dolan, not a Layden or Mills. Oh, wait, he couldn't have been a Dolan, because he built a winning team by hiring smart basketball execs and bringing in a good coach.

After the team made the Finals, he sold his stake and went on to other business ventures.

It's a testament to his marketing savvy that you guys would think he constructed the team. He was able to bring fans to the Spectrum when the team was still under .500. That's a real owner.
Nedyal1
Posts: 20243
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 8/22/2003
Member: #463
12/23/2003  7:57 AM
Croce had a mean motorcycle accident and thought he might not walk. Dude like runs marathons now.

I would have to agree on most statements here. I don't trust Dolan either. Dolan fired Grunfeld to protect van gundy, and it looks like Laydog was canned to help Chaney. I too don't think Chaney is getting fired right away, unless they just promote Malone. Dolan loves chaney. I suspect this might be a self promotional move to prevent fan backlash. Its nice, but with no substance, will not last.

The media was quite nice to Laydog given the circumstances. Laydog record was one thing, but his inability to communicate really got under a lot of peoples skin. If he was not a good guy he would have been ripped to shreeds long ago.

I do wish Zeke well! And hope Dolan gives him the balls to do the right thing.
THE PROBLEM AT HAND MUST BE SOLVED WITH A HIGHER LEVEL OF THINKING THAN THAT IN WHICH IT WAS CREATED: ALBERT EINSTIEN
gunsnewing
Posts: 55076
Alba Posts: 5
Joined: 2/24/2002
Member: #215
USA
12/23/2003  8:05 AM
yeah I have more of a problem with Chaney, but it's Layden's personality that pissed me off the most, even more than his moves. Like when you used to come on the fan and act like a total dip ****.
TRU
Posts: 20752
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 1/25/2002
Member: #196
USA
12/23/2003  8:14 AM
This is from Mike Vaccaro of the Post:

"Any one of the following issues would make the task that faces Thomas impossible: a sitting coach, who the players long ago stopped listening to. Role players who are paid like stars and are impossible to trade. A franchise player who is a 6-6 shooting guard with a bad back and a worse contract. A former All-Star who makes the entire city cringe whenever he leaves his feet. And three point guards who, combined, are maybe 40 percent the player the new president was in his prime.

Together, they represent Titanic in tank tops. "

I think that sums it up royally.

I just feel a little bit cheated... I really think that you should make the playoffs unless you're rebuilding. Outside fluke seasons where you're top two guns go down with injury or something, if you spent a entire offseason and training camp preparing a team to compete, it should at least finish eigth. If it doesn't, then it should have been deliberate-- by deliberate I mean a result moving out contracts, clearing cap room, that sort of thing. Too try to compete, and come out ninth or lower is inexcuseable. To do it once is ground for dismissal. To allow it to happen twice is ground for capital punishment.

But back to feeling cheated-- I just feel like the best thing for the team to do is rebuild. It's the smartest thing to do for long term sucess. But since Layden failed so miserably (see above) we've been already been losing for the last few years FOR NOTHING. Now, I don't have the patience to wait another few seasons. Hence, fan frustration.
Let it be known: I believe in the Knicks this year-- deep into the playoffs, I swear to you my brothers...
Silverfuel
Posts: 31750
Alba Posts: 3
Joined: 6/27/2002
Member: #268
USA
12/23/2003  8:18 AM
The problem I have with Isiah is that he hasn't done much either. In Toronto, he drafted good players but he got fired and then they traded for Carter and then the coaching change took them to the playoffs in 2000. In Indiana, he had all the talent in the world and he could'nt make it past the 1st round in 3 tries. Bird fired him and replaced him with Carlisle and Thomas was pissed.

Now I'm really worried that Isiah has 'HEAD COACH' dreams. I am worried that he will never be able to do anything as a HC and if he is a HC & GM he will have way too much power and might make bad moves.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
DaMano718
Posts: 20090
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 10/16/2002
Member: #342
12/23/2003  8:43 AM
Werent they talking about Magic Johnson coming to be the GM of the knicks a while ago.... I would have much rather had him than Zeek.... I just hope to god that zeek doesnt coach..
Silverfuel
Posts: 31750
Alba Posts: 3
Joined: 6/27/2002
Member: #268
USA
12/23/2003  8:48 AM
Posted by DaMano718:

Werent they talking about Magic Johnson coming to be the GM of the knicks a while ago.... I would have much rather had him than Zeek.... I just hope to god that zeek doesnt coach..
My feelings exactly
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
gunsnewing
Posts: 55076
Alba Posts: 5
Joined: 2/24/2002
Member: #215
USA
12/23/2003  9:05 AM
what has Magic Done?
Andrew
Posts: 26600
Alba Posts: 2
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #1
USA
12/23/2003  9:06 AM
Posted by DaMano718:

Werent they talking about Magic Johnson coming to be the GM of the knicks a while ago.... I would have much rather had him than Zeek.... I just hope to god that zeek doesnt coach..

I don't know why people want Magic as the GM. Personally I like the guy. Awesome player and personality. But really, what talent evaluation experience or team managment experience does he have. Isiah at least has a little with Toronto. Having Magic as the GM would be a big risk.
PURE KNICKS LOVE
gunsnewing
Posts: 55076
Alba Posts: 5
Joined: 2/24/2002
Member: #215
USA
12/23/2003  9:10 AM
im not worried about him making bad moves..im just worried about him having to concentrate on coaching when what we really need him to do is get to work on fixing our player personel.
Vmart
Posts: 31800
Alba Posts: 1
Joined: 5/23/2002
Member: #247
USA
12/23/2003  9:14 AM
Posted by gunsnewing:

what has Magic Done?

He had a run with the Lakers as a Coach and got canned or left in middle of the season. He was only there for 25 games or something.

He had a show the Majic Johnson show and got canned.

He is currently a staff memeber of the Lakers a glorified cheerleader.

He shows up on TNT and has trouble speaking but makes his point

He owns businesses that are successful Majic Johnson group of theaters.

All in all he and Thomas are about the same. Thomas is the better coach and probably a better talent evaluator. Majic doesn't have experience in that capacity.

I like the Thomas hiring he is going to be a good fit for this team. I guess only time will tell. But I wokeup with a big grin on my face this morning knowing that Layden is gone.
I'm not happy about Isiah Thomas being hired

©2001-2025 ultimateknicks.comm All rights reserved. About Us.
This site is not affiliated with the NY Knicks or the National Basketball Association in any way.
You may visit the official NY Knicks web site by clicking here.

All times (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time.

Terms of Use and Privacy Policy