|
How about them Knicks? (pg. 7)
|
View this Thread in Original format
| verndogs |
| quote: | Source: James Dolan leaning toward firing Isiah Thomas before season's end
BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Saturday, January 12th 2008, 4:00 AM
James Dolan appears to be bored at Friday night's Knick loss to the Raptors ... Goldfield for News
source is growing tired of Isiah Thomas. Goldfield for News
... and according to a source is growing tired of Isiah Thomas.
After all the losing Isiah Thomas has done - both on and off the court - the Knicks' president and head coach appears to be finally losing the support of his strongest ally as well.
Garden chairman James Dolan recently told confidants that he knows a coaching change must be made and that he is preparing to do just that, according to a source close to Dolan. No timetable was given, but the source indicated that Dolan is leaning toward making a change before the end of the season.
Dolan's change of heart comes 10 months after he rewarded Thomas with a contract extension believed to be worth $24 million. Also, two months ago a Garden official leaked a story to three newspapers that Thomas still had the support of ownership.
However, that public show of support came days before the Garden reached an out-of-court settlement with former executive Anucha Browne Sanders, who had filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Thomas, Dolan and the Garden.
Also, the Knicks have performed miserably on the court, which is a reflection of Thomas, who as the team president is responsible for acquiring every player on the roster. With Dolan looking on from his baseline seat at the Garden Friday night, the last-place Knicks lost to the Toronto Raptors, 99-90, to drop their record to 9-26.
It is not clear whether Dolan would allow Thomas to continue in his role as the team's highest-ranking decision-maker once he is removed from the bench. Such a scenario would seem unlikely, but Thomas' survival skills should never be underestimated. He has outlasted three coaches since coming to New York, including a pair of Hall of Famers, Lenny Wilkens and Larry Brown. Neither Wilkens nor Brown coached more than 82 games, the equivalent of a full NBA regular season. Meanwhile, Thomas is 42-75 as Knicks coach.
It also is not known who will be hired to replace Thomas. In all likelihood, assistant coach Herb Williams will be hired on an interim basis and the team will begin a coaching search.
There is no shortage of candidates either for Thomas' front office job or his coaching job. Jerry West and Jerry Colangelo would be considered the top two candidates to become team president. Coincidentally, Colangelo's son, Bryan, who is the GM of the Toronto Raptors, spoke briefly to Garden president Steve Mills before Friday night's game.
The same source claims that "people are coming out of the woodwork to try and get Dolan's attention." The source said that group includes everyone from former Knicks - both recent and from decades ago - as well as current GMs.
"The same is true of guys who are trying to get the coaching job," the source said.
Dolan has been uncharacteristically mum on Thomas' future since announcing the extension last March. Thomas, however, has been outspoken in his belief that he is the right man for the job.
In many of his interviews with reporters, Thomas seems to be talking directly to Dolan. For example, Thomas said last week that the Knicks will win a championship with him running the team. He also has said repeatedly that he has no intention of resigning.
But last night, Thomas sounded like a coach who knows that his time is running short. Thomas compared himself to the construction worker who lays the foundation to a house for someone else to live in.
"When you move into your house, the guy who poured the concrete never really gets a chance to live in that beautiful house that he built," Thomas said. "Our job right now is to make sure that we lay the concrete and that we lay it correctly." |
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...ard_firing.html
Glad to see the brainless Dolan finally figured out the obvious |
|
|
| Trancealot |
| quote: | Originally posted by BiG MiKE
2 in a row! If they beat the Nets... :-o |
Am I missing something. They played the Wizards tonight and then the nets tomorrow.
If you could read the future pretty well and correct you should be saying 3 in a row! If they beat the Nets :toothless
ok back to business: Well the Knicks won two in a row. NY is happy but for how long??
Way I see the season as of this sec in two ways
If they do well the rest of the way,Knicks fight for a playoff spot because east always has sub .500 teams that fill those last 2-3 playoff spots. Pretty sad record though lol(11-26) ughhh
If they do bad, Same old story for next season. Fast changes and no results.
for both scenerio(s): Isiah hmmm who the f knows. Like he said "We will all know when he is fired" |
|
|
| BiG MiKE |
I wonder if anyone can honestly believe whether or not it was Isiah's doing or the team's to suddenly become better at passing the ball :eyes: This is what's helping them now I think :)
Randolph seems to be finally working now :P And who knew Balkman could play the way he is now. |
|
|
| Trancealot |
| quote: | Originally posted by BiG MiKE
I wonder if anyone can honestly believe whether or not it was Isiah's doing or the team's to suddenly become better at passing the ball :eyes: This is what's helping them now I think :)
Randolph seems to be finally working now :P And who knew Balkman could play the way he is now. |
one more: Maubury not playing as well. Seriously, only long term good decision for the Knicks would be to trade him for some rookie or semi-decent player you could mold into a all-star like some of those Sacramento players. Unless he got one of those Big ass contracts 30 year /100million the Knicks love to give to everyone even though they are injured, retired, etc... |
|
|
| verndogs |
| quote: | Originally posted by Trancealot
one more: Maubury not playing as well. Seriously, only long term good decision for the Knicks would be to trade him for some rookie or semi-decent player you could mold into a all-star like some of those Sacramento players. Unless he got one of those Big ass contracts 30 year /100million the Knicks love to give to everyone even though they are injured, retired, etc... |
no
only good long term decision with Marbury is to let his contract expire and get back the cap space, one expiring contract at a time |
|
|
| verndogs |
| quote: | Originally posted by Trancealot
is it ok if I say get rid of stephon maubry and nothing else??
I stated one option: trade and pick up the existing contract
you mentioned another: wait until contract expires
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/s...all&oref=slogin |
If it means a buy out, yes I'd welcome that.
I rather not have the Knicks take on more salary. |
|
|
| BiG MiKE |
| Mauling the Nets. Can't be a fluke. |
|
|
| verndogs |
| quote: | Originally posted by BiG MiKE
Mauling the Nets. Can't be a fluke. |
Won the battle, but the war was lost years ago :toothless |
|
|
| BiG MiKE |
| quote: | Originally posted by verndogs
Won the battle, but the war was lost years ago :toothless |
:p
Another win :) |
|
|
| verndogs |
| quote: | Originally posted by BiG MiKE
:p
Another win :) |
unfortunately, the chances of getting a top 3 pick goes down with every win, so even when Isiah gets the boot we lose in the long run |
|
|
|
|
