You know, the more I think about it, is the more I am liking what Isiah is bringing to our organization. This man is trying to establish the true feeling of a great organization here in N.Y. Here is a man who wasn't even part of our family, in fact he was once an enemy, but yet still wants to bring back guys that he had once considered his enemy back to this organization. The hiring of John Starks and hopefully a return of Ewing or Oakley will further puntuate what I am trying to say. All dynasties, or great franchises, have always found way to keep their ex-great players within the franchise, I.E.: Detroit and the Lakers. The success that these two franchises have enjoyed is still reflecting even today. Those two teams have offered a position to: Magic (as an owner), Detroit hired Joe Dumars as their GMs. Look at the other teams that have had great players and have won many championships, but failed to reinclude their great ones after resuming their playing career, I.E.: Bulls, Boston, the Rockets, etc, the result is very bad. In fact those teams are so bad, and it appears that they will remain bad for a great period of time.

I give props to Isiah for trying to bring back the ex players.

I think Steve Mills, the President should get some props. He runs things also!

Mills was here through the Layden regime.. so to hell with him.

Briggs said it best... Isiah is turning NY into a basketball factory. He's got a bunch of HOFers to work with his players. Kareem is working with Nazr, Aguire w/ Sweetney, Isiah w/ Marbury... He has a chance to establish NY as a place that already has a great homecourt, every game is sell out, but now its also a place with a winning environment where players get better and will get paid. Even if KT gets traded he still got his $$. Players notice that. With the Knicks being more high profile there will be endorsements, etc... the whole thing just grows.

I liked the fact that he didnt jettison Sweetney with the other players Layden signed.He could have done it to separate himself even further from the stink of the Layden era.He gave him the chance that Layden and Chaney didnt and now it looks like its paying dividends.

He put the team before his ego, I hope it stays that way.

Its amazing how much people take out of nothing more than a PR move with the hiring of Starks. After the night they retired Ewing's number, when Starks received the 2nd biggest ovation of the night, Dolan wanted to bring back Starks in any capacity to quiet fan's unhappiness. That's why he's being hired, for good pub.

Bringing HOFers to work with players means nothing. Jordan came back to work with the Wiz, how did that turn out? Magic came back to coach the Lakers, how did that turn out? Kareem was tutoring Kandi-man, how did that turn out? I'm not even going to bother with people continually trying to credit Aguirre for Sweetney learning to be a pro in his rookie year and a strong work ethic that he's had his entire life. Just because you're a HOFer, doesn't mean you can teach young players.

NY has a great homecourt because of the city they play in and the fans they have. Every game isn't sold out. Winning environment? Not lately. If we're only getting the attention of players that want to get paid, there's something wrong with that.

Posted by knicks1248:

If your job was on the line would you put a rookie in??

If he could contribute I would,he proved that as soon as Thomas/Wilkens gave him some PT.

[Edited by - kwazimodal on 09/30/2004 12:50:01]

So what your saying is that he had no pressure on him to win right now, I guess thats why Allan & Dice were playing ( Dice 27 minutes in his 2nd game) when they should have been sitting, or should of had there minutes cut significantly.

Layden and Chaney had nothing but good things to say about sweetny, the just felt they would bring him along much slower then IT and Wilkens.
In the games sweetny did get major minutes ( in the chaney era) he really didn't prove that he should be out there on a regular. IMO he didn't start doing that until IT and Mcguire started working with him consistantly.

Sure, after another month and a half in street clothes.

it was definetly a lot shorter then a month, I recall IT wondering wy the hell in was in street cloths in the first place, and this was when he witness there first practice.

You guys are all missing the points.



All dynasties, or great franchises, have always found way to keep their ex-great players within the franchise, I.E.: Detroit and the Lakers. The success that these two franchises have enjoyed is still reflecting even today. Those two teams have offered a position to: Magic (as an owner), Detroit hired Joe Dumars as their GMs. Look at the other teams that have had great players and have won many championships, but failed to reinclude their great ones after resuming their playing career, I.E.: Bulls, Boston, the Rockets, etc, the result is very bad. In fact those teams are so bad, and it appears that they will remain bad for a great period of time.

Then he blew his knee out and hasnt been the same since.

Did you see him play prior to the injury, and if thats the case, why did he com out as the #1 overall pick

Posted by Kwazimodal:

Posted by islesfan:



Sure, after another month and a half in street clothes

Better late then never.Isiah and Wilkens just got the job and were making alot of personel moves,try to give them some credit for giving him a fair chance to contribute.

He was Layden's #1 draft pick, isn't it fair to say that Sweetney was going to get a fair chance if Layden hadn't been fired?