The $100 million mess

From horrible contracts to hideous play, Isiah's Knicks are embarrassing
Posted: Wednesday November 10, 2004 11:24AM;
Updated: Wednesday November 10, 2004 3:47PM
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I never have understood the rap against the NBA.

Yes, the product is overpriced and the constant barrage of piped in sound effects is enough to drive Seinfeld's Lloyd Braun into another nervous breakdown (hearing Ric Flair's patented "Wooo!" after every basket at Hornets games would be enough for me), but there's something special about watching the best athletes in the world compete at the highest level. I mean, the NBA is like a college all-star game every night, right? This, among other things, is what I was telling myself as I settled into my press-box seat to watch the Knicks' home opener Saturday night.

Boy was I wrong.

It's not that the Knicks are bad -- they've been mediocre since Jeff Van Gundy pulled his parachute 19 games into the 2001 season -- it's that they are the most fundamentally dysfunctional team I've seen, a condemnation that is as much a testament to general manager Isiah Thomas' infatuation with high-profile scorers as it is Lenny Wilkens' inability to coach them. Bounce passes in traffic. Failure to box out. These are facets of the game more likely to be taught at the AAU level than an NBA practice, but New York either forgot these basic fundamentals or simply chose to ignore them.

It's easy to blame Wilkens, but everyone knew when he took the head-coaching job last January he was more of a caretaker rather than the long-term solution. He is someone to hold down the fort until Isiah either A) hires a more high-profile coach, or B) decides that high-profile man is himself. But the real culprit here is Thomas, a tremendous competitor in his playing days whose abilities as a GM rank somewhere between a Clippers draft pick and David Caruso's movie career.

What has he accomplished since taking over 11 months ago? He's acquired a franchise player in Stephon Marbury, who has led his team in scoring each of the past five seasons but has yet to lead one out of the first round of the playoffs. He overpaid on an extension for Kurt Thomas when no team appeared willing to pay him anywhere near that amount. He has commandeered the checkbook of owner James Dolan and pushed the New York payroll above the $100 million mark for the first time in franchise history.

And to what end? In trying to model his team after the Yankees, Isiah has turned them into the Mets. The Knicks are a mediocre team in a mediocre conference, destined to salvage that elusive seventh seed and earn the right to get waxed by the Pistons, Pacers or Heat in the first round. I understand New York isn't like other markets. You can't blow up the team and not expect to feel the wrath of the tabloids as you struggle through a series of 27-win seasons. But what's the alternative?

Thomas needs to realize that the only way for this team to get better is for him to allow it to get worse. Build around the talents of young draft picks Michael Sweetney and Trevor Ariza instead of hoarding "stars" such as Marbury and Tim Thomas. Bring in a young coach such as John Kuester or Dwane Casey and give him the latitude to build a team from the ground up without living with the fear of finding a pink slip in his mailbox.

The Knicks are one of the most storied franchises in sports, with a great history and tradition. I think it's time they start acting like it.

Whether this guy's right or not, we'll find out sooner or later.

I'm so glad the Knicks played well against 76ers. I loved the way Nazr bounced back, not to mention the way Ariza, Sweet, Steph, and Kurt played. It's bothering me that TT still is MIA.

Shandon's waived (Knicks paid $40million+ including luxury tax), and it seems like Isiah is getting ERob. Whatever happens with the make up of this team and coaching staff, they gotta play like the last game every night they're on the court. The big test is tonight! The big guys'd better show up... Go Knicks!

based on this season, its a fair article. Harsh, but fair. ITs not long, so its not about balance.

He says we should rebuild around young talent like Azira and Sweets, not Marbs and TT. He is half right about that. And some say building around a point in his prime may not be that great. In a few years, he won't be in his prime.

We all knew with the leagues highest payroll, they are going to get a lot of bad press. The yanks get it, and they win! Lose, its magnified.

It all gets done on the court anyway. Not in the media.

If team goes one or two deep in playoffs, then its a massive resurgence. If no playoffs, a massive failure.

We know the story better than most.

Some fair criticism but he neglects to mention that Ariza and Sweets wouldnt be getting any PT if Isiah werent here,regardless of who drafted who.I agree about TT,disagree about Marbury.There arent many PGs that are better and available.

I agree about bringing in a young coach.I dont want to see another Bill Fitch type who was good once but is now just making a living off of his name and not much else.

Posted by Nalod:

based on this season, its a fair article. Harsh, but fair. ITs not long, so its not about balance.

Fair would be to not make such strong claims after just 3 games. This article is less about fairness and more about rushing to judgment.

people around the country love to hate on NY in general, too.

i think the flaw in the article is that it's based on his reactions to that one game against boston. he says as much. and having played only 3 games, there's not much else to base it on. but seriously, does he really think guys like kurt and sweetney don't know how to box out? the boston game was a fluke until its proven otherwise. as for building around young guys, sweetney and ariza are getting how many minutes a game? close to 20, if not more? compare that to pre-isaiah, they'd be on the IR. so we haven't torn it apart, but we are playing young guys who will be central to the team in the future.

bottom line, there will be plenty of articles like that, no matter how we're doing. with the #1 payroll, losing game 7 of the finals could be reason to trash the team. so whatever.