http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/story/240894p-206611c.html

Isiah: Winning only thing

Words Pack a punch

BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER


Isiah Thomas invokes Vince Lombardi in looking to establish winning atmosphere in Knicks' preseason games.




CHARLESTON, S.C. - Isiah Thomas quoted Vince Lombardi yesterday and even sounded a bit like George Steinbrenner when Thomas made the declaration that he wants a winning record in the preseason.
"Exhibition counts," he says. "We want to win in exhibition."

Thomas hasn't gone mad. The Knicks' president is simply doing everything in his power to reestablish a winning culture around Madison Square Garden, from dress codes to upgrading the roster. It's been 31 years and counting since the Knicks last won an NBA title. They haven't won a playoff series since 2000 and haven't owned a winning record since 2001.

But in the post-Jeff Van Gundy era, Thomas is something of an anomaly: a high ranking Knicks official who is actually obsessed with winning.

"Winning is not a sometimes thing, it is an all the time thing," Thomas said yesterday after the Knicks concluded their week-long camp at the College of Charleston. "You don't do things right every once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit and unfortunately so is losing. That comes from Vince Lombardi. I wish I could take credit for that ... but I'm adapting that."

Thomas, who won two NBA championships as the Hall of Fame point guard for the Detroit Pistons, wants his players to share his obsession. He is realistic about their title hopes for the foreseeable future. But after the Knicks reached the playoffs last season, Thomas believes there is no reason they can't make it to the second round with an outside chance at the conference final.

Thomas hinted yesterday that he expects a strong finish, but considering the strength of the Knicks' schedule in November and December, he would be satisfied with a .500 record after 20 games.

The Knicks open the season Nov. 3 against the Timberwolves in Minnesota, one of 11 road games in their first 20. Seven of those games are against playoff teams: Minnesota, Indiana, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Memphis and New Orleans. There is also a possibility that Allan Houston, suffering from sore knees, will not be available the first few games or weeks of the season.

"We definitely have a tough schedule," Thomas said. "You look at our first 20 games, especially our road schedule, and we'd be lucky if you're .500 after those first 20 games. Eventually the schedule balances out."

Thomas is not setting the bar particularly high, but a .500 record does mean something to a team that has suffered three straight losing seasons. The Knicks haven't held a .500 record or better since December 13, 2001, when their record stood at 11-11. Since that date they haven't spent a single day either at or above .500.

Incredibly, every NBA team has managed to achieve mediocrity for at least one day since Dec. 13, 2001. The Knicks have gone 224 games without being at least .500, but could end their run of futility by beating the Timberwolves on opening night or by defeating the Boston Celtics in the home opener Nov. 6.

"What teams tend to do sometimes is jump out and be really good the first 20 games and then the rest of the schedule catches up to you," Thomas said. "We're prepared to run a marathon. And we're not going to base it on how we start but how we finish."

The Knicks were 27-24 after Thomas arrived, 23-21 following the Stephon Marbury trade and 21-18 under Lenny Wilkens. The slate is wiped clean starting with Thursday's preseason game in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., against the Nets, the team that swept them in April. Although Houston will not play, Marbury will be used sparingly and Wilkens will be using different combinations and giving minutes to players who may not be in the rotation, Thomas want to see results.

"Whoever is out there, they have to execute and try to win the game," he said. "You have to get in the habit of winning no matter what it is you're doing. Your mind-set has to be to win the game."

The Knicks were 27-24 after Thomas arrived, 23-21 following the Stephon Marbury trade and 21-18 under Lenny Wilkens.

Not that this so so amazing, but when you consider all the trades and injuries we had during that stretch its not a bad record by any means. With a large amount of adversity we were still 27-24 under Isiah. Yet despite having a better team somebody's worst case scenario is 7-20 something.

Please.