According a report in Monday's Newark-Star Ledger, James Dolan has given Isiah Thomas a vote of confidence, telling the team that Thomas didn’t have “anything to worry about right now”.
I can’t say that I’m surprised. Unlike Larry Brown, Thomas has been the consummate “company man”. He doesn’t talk negatively about his players or the organization which may rank higher on Dolan’s good employee criteria than actual performance (see Marv Albert). To Thomas’ credit, there has also been on-court improvement as the Knicks have already surpassed last season’s win total.
However, I still don’t believe the Isiah Thomas will turn the Knicks into a long term winner or deserved this vote of confidence. Let’s not forget that the Knicks are currently seven games below .500 in maybe the worst division in all of sports. There is still dead weight throughout the roster, namely Steve Francis, Jerome James, Jared Jeffries and Kelvin Cato. And while the Knicks will finish with a better record than last season and possibly make the playoffs, I think this “progress” is fools gold. This team just went from atrocious to really bad. Despite their “improvement” still turns the ball over too much (16 turnovers per game, last in the league) and doesn’t pass it enough (19 assists per game, 26th in the league). They are horrible on defense (22nd in scoring defense) and lack a franchise player. Besides that things are looking great. You can probably make a pretty good case that the Knicks are higher in the Atlantic division standings this season because Allen Iverson was traded out west, Richard Jefferson has been hurt off and on all season and the Celtics are throwing games.
Am I saying that Isiah should have turned this team into the Suns in half a season? Not at all but at the same time it's a little early to think he's the answer as a coach and that this team is on the right track. Isiah isn’t doing anything great, he’s just being graded on a curve.
normally, i view a vote of confidence as the seed that soon grows into the guy getting fired.
mike sherman got a couple in GB...one of them was a contract extension. terry porter got one with the bucks, and got the axe right after michael redd re-signed with the club. mlb managers get them all the time, and usually find themselves out of a job within a few weeks. i wouldnt be surprised if isiah makes it til the end of the season, but i wouldnt count on anything beyond that.
As you stated, the Knicks are playing more inspired ball under Isiah than they were last year under Brown.
Currently, although under .500 (as are all but six teams in the East), they're only 3 games out of the eighth playoff spot.
They have seven players averaging in double figures.
Unfortunately they're still saddled with the untradeable Steve Francis, and I'm not sure if Allan Houston's contract is still weighing on their cap.
But they do have a core of young quality players.
I'm not saying they're contenders, but with a deep 2007 draft and some wise trade maneuvers, they could conceivably make the playoffs next year in a weak Eastern Conference.
kwamby16 ...... I've no doubt that Isaiah must think of that as being very awe inspiring to have James Dolan believe in him just like that. This was the same James Dolan no doubt ! Who said that Larry Brown was the best coach available at the time of his hiring to turn the franchise around. Well we all know what happened there ! So this is just icing on the cake for Thomas as we can expect him soon to start counting how many life jackets and lifeboats there are onbaord before this particular sinking ship hits the iceberg. For as diligently as the've been playing lately with Isaiah still at the helm and Dolan doing his bit to make it seem that the iceberg is no more than a small obstacle. The franchise won't be sailing that long as the buoyancy of the franchise isn't that great !
rampant/tophatal.......
Last edited by rampantfanatic on February 12th at 8:29 PM.
I agree that the Knicks could make the playoffs, in the weak East, I just think they are far from becoming a true contender and with Thomas at the helm he will eventually trade a player or picks for some over the hill veteran. The guy knows talent but he doesn't know how to build a team.
Ramp
I see your point, but Dolan isn't a bright man. Isiah will hustle him into keeping the job just like he did last season. I would be completely shocked if Thomas wasn't back next season.
kwamby ......Dolan is not the fool we think him to be but he'll get rid of Isaiah when he's ready. It's more likely than not that it will be imminent if things continue to be the way they are.
Just read where A J Smith the GM of the Chargers in agreement with Dean Spanos the owner, has fired Marty Schottenheimer as coach. Let's just say it was bound to happen. Things were getting very testy within the organisation and much of it was due to Schottenheimer himself.
Hopefully now we'll see a coach installed that's not afraid to coach.
I pray that it's either someone like Ron Rivera or Mike Singletary. As both were denied the chance of coaching in Dallas because Jones wanted a 'yes man' whilst Garrett is groomed for the job. Make no mistake if Phillips should fail then Garrett will be immediately installed as hte next coach.
30 year old life long sports fan of the Knicks, Giants and Mets and since some of my best friends are Jets fans I root that they will end their years of inflicting heartbreak on their fans. I've worked in various roles for the NFL, NBA and AFL (gotta love Arena Football) which has given me a slightly jaded opinion of sports media.
Currently I look forward to watching Reggie Bush, Isiah Thomas getting fired and the Mets making a run at the World Series this fall. I'm absolutely tired of talking about Barry Bonds, T.O.,
Some of my favorite writers include: Paul Zimmerman, Len Pasquarli, William Rhoden, Peter Gammons, Bill Simmons, Peter King, Scoop Jackson, Marty Noble and a host of others that I'm forgetting.
