Isiah Thomas didn't offer a reaction to the late breaking news that Bob Knight, who coached Thomas at Indiana, where the two won the 1981 NCAA title, had suddenly resigned from Texas Tech in the middle of the season. Isiah didn't hear the report and didn't want to respond without speaking with Coach Knight, as he calls him.
Some of you may be hoping Coach Knight advises his most famous pupil to follow his lead.
But while Isiah wouldn't talk about Coach Knight, he was open to talking about Coach Coughlin, whom, Thomas revealed, he's had some correspondence with recently. What kind of correspondence?
"Just only in writing letters and saying hello," Thomas replied.
Letters? Who writes letters these days?
"Not love letters," Thomas clarified.
"You just wish him luck," Thomas then said, "that's all."
Isiah went on to say how he and Coughlin "have communicated and talked through different people in terms of how to handle different situations. Again, the way they've done it and the persistence and the stubbornness that they've don it with, we admire that."
Perhaps they could admire the work Ernie Accorsi and Jerry Reese have done, too.
*
- At 14-34, which is equal to Larry Brown's results at this point in the 2005-06 season, are we past the point of breaking down the games? The Knicks looked to be cruising against a tired-looking Clippers team in the second quarter, but couldn't sustain it after the half. The schedule -- this was the third game in four nights for both teams -- is definitely is taking it's toll. The Knicks do another three-in-four starting Wednesday against the Pacers, Friday against the Spurs and Saturday at Milwaukee.
- With no Nate Robinson and Quentin Richardson out in the second quarter with the ankle sprain, this should have been a big-man dominated game. Eddy Curry seemed to have his way in the first half with 16 points, but then pretty much disappeared in the second half. He matched his first half rebound total (1) in the second half. One Garden fan was so furious he screamed, "Eddy, get a rebound!" So he did.
- The offense got very sloppy in the second half. Lots of poor decisions with the ball, poor pass attempts into the post and bad shot selection. Out of one timeout, the ball went to Renaldo Balkman for a deep corner jumper. That's your play coming out of a timeout? Balkman has worked on his shot, but there has to be a better option coming out of a timeout.
- Jamal Crawford struggled with his shot in the first three quarters. He missed his first 7 shot attempts of the game, but did appear to be looking to pass more. He's got to be wearing down from the heavy schedule and heavy minutes. You'll never get him to admit it, though.
- Q had a boot on his ankle after the game, but said it was just precautionary. He said he was hoping he could be able to play Wednesday against Indiana. He had a pretty good game going (14 points in 16 minutes) before he landed on Corey Maggette's foot.
- Can we get Wilson Chandler and Randolph Morris some burn? The vets are getting ready to shut it down here. Instead of putting out a lineup that has just one legit scoring threat along with Balkman, Jeffries and Lee (three players who struggle from the perimeter), why not insert Chandler for spot minutes? We know he has a good stroke and can shoot (don't look at his numbers, the kid has hardly played), so at least it gives you another perimeter option.
*
Speaking of which...I happened to be walking down the hallway before the game when I saw Isiah lead Jerome James into his office before the game for a private chat. There's little doubt Isiah -- who has done nothing but take bullets for Big Jerome's inability to get himself in playing shape and to stay healthy -- was not happy about Jerome's "use me or move me" comment in the Seattle Times on Sunday. Jerome basically said he wants the Knicks to trade him this summer if they aren't going to play him.
Because $30 million over three years, which is what's left on his contract, is just so easy to move when the player who owns that contract hasn't showed up in shape or able to play in two years. Because the Knicks wouldn't love to dump that contract onto someone else.
Isiah hinted that he didn't think Jerome was physically able to play in a game at this point. But, you know, we're only a little more than halfway through the season. He's still trying to get into game shape.
"Hopefully there’ll be a time I’m hoping in this season that he will have opportunity to play because there are some times defensively with his shot-blocking and rebounding and the way he protects the plate that we could definitely use him," Thomas said of James.
That was as far as the compliments go. When asked if Jerome could give him consistent minutes, Isiah said, "That I don’t know. He may get that opportunity. I don’t know if that will be any time soon, but we’ll see."
*
A friend of mine who is an executive with a team in another sport was watching the broadcast of the Knicks-Clippers game and burst into laughter when he heard Walt Clyde Frazier say the following in the closing minutes of the loss: "What a shame this performance is. It kills all the momentum they built up on the road trip."
You can only imagine the look that must have been on Mike Breen's face. "Well, Clyde," he said, "I guess that says everything about how far the Knicks have fallen, considering the Knicks were winless on the trip."
Priceless.
Comments (11)
I'M A DIE HARD KNICK FAN WIN OR LOSE .............IT'S SIMPLY TIME FOR CHANGE.
Alan,
Just want you to know I have stopped posting, not because of your great work, but because I no longer follow the Knicks very closely. Its a shame really, because you are an excellent writer and one of the best sports bloggers.
However, since Dolan and the owners of this team don't care about the team, winning or its fans, I see no reason to care.
I hope Newsday moves you to a beat that is meaningful.
David
Alan, I wish you could clear something us for me. All year long I've wondered about the coaching. What is the coaching philosophy? What do they do in practice? How are they developing the young picks that everyone praises Zeke for? If Zeke has no intention of playing Chandler or Morris, why doesn't he send them down to the D league? Given the success of the run 'n' gun in this past summer league, and Zeke's continual boast of assembling a "younger and more athletic" core of players; why chain them down with a couple of anchors like Curry & Randolf?
Dispite you obvious dislike for Frye, I've been watching the box scores all season, and it looks to me like the coaching staff has a developmental plan for him. He gets a minimum of minutes every night. He has started many games. When he is playing well, he gets more minutes. His shooting confidence seems to have returned and he seems to be having a good time and working hard out on the court.
P.S. Do you think Bobby Knight might be willing tocoach the Knicks?
Dolan didn't fire Isaiah on Sunday night or yesterday. It's not going to happen this season. (I know I'm probably not coming to any kind of stunning revalation here...)
That would've been such a quick and easy, rip-the-band-aid-off way to do it. It would've been buried in the papers. With everyone covering the Giants, no columnists would be available to write the "it's about time Dolan realized his mistakes" piece that's going to come whenever Jimmy gets a clue.
This is really torture. Just when you thought things might be turning a corner, bam - 6 game losing streak. How depressing.
another thing...
All this Giants cheering at games is getting really depressing too.
In a way - an opposite sort of way - it reminds me of '94. I remember being at a playoff game at the Garden that season. The Knicks were up big, and it was the closing minutes. The Rangers were playing the next day. After the PA announcer called that there were 2 minutes to play, the crowd cheered, and then creeped into an unsolicited "Lets go Rangers" chant that filled the building by the 1:00 mark. Everyone was smiling, slapping hands, all knowing what was being said behind the chant. The Knicks had it locked up. We were outwardly mocking the opponent in the Garden. They weren't winning there. The Knicks weren't gonna blow this.. not even an afterthought. We were already thinking about the next big game in the city.
Now, we cheer the Giants in the Garden, and we're outwardly mocking the Knicks. *This* is what we want to see. Toughness, determination, good coaching, and smart management moves. *This* is a team that's worth our time, worth our standing o's, worth that special Garden roar. And they don't even play here.
Well, all I can say is...you gotta love Clyde.
I just wish Zeke would go with this lineup and say the hell with it:
C - Randolph (the hell with it, just put him there)
PF - Lee (give this man 35+ minutes as a starter, and he'll put up Oakley numbers)
SF - Balkman (let him have a shot at being a shutdown defender)
SG - Crawford
PG - N8 (at this point, who cares about his height, let the man run with it - I get that he's not consistent, but with the Knicks record, let him play).
I'll also agree with Alan about getting Chandler and Morris more time on the floor.
Off to see if Scott Weiland actually shows up for the Velvet Revolver gig tonight...
Bri
One perk from the Giant's fantastic Sunday - no more endless stream of stories about Boston's miraculous sports year.
After reading Isiah's inane comments after each game about the other bottom feeders losing games too, or needing to find their way, Kaman's statements are refreshing in its honesty, if depressing. He said the game was basically between two bottom of the barrel teams and called it a dust bowl or toilet bowl. That is what the Knicks have become. I just wish ownership would get its collective head out of its a$$ and implement some sort of plan.
I like Brian's line-up - it seems like the best the Knicks can do with the current roster. See what Lee, Balkman and Nate develop into with extended minutes, and see if the rookies have anything to contribute. Find out where to use the draft pick, dry and dump some of the bloated contracts if that's even possible. Drop the we can win now crap and start looking to the future. Preferably one free of Weasels...
Brian - how was Velvet Revolver?
That should be "refreshing in THEIR honesty" and "TRY and dump some of the bloated contracts"
Alan, nice try on the terms of Jerome James' contract. He doesn't have 3 years at 30 mil remaining. He has 2 years after this one (the 2nd is a player option that he's sure to exercise) for 6.2 and 6.6 million. Thanks for playing.
Isiah Thomas is a self promoting "wanna-be" coach. He writes Tom Coughlin letters ? I'm willing to bet Coughlin wants no part of being associated with Thomas. Who does ? Even the other names he's dropped along the way in Riley, Jackson, Daly, and Knight; the last two he played for; are never heard from in regards to Isiah.
Former teamates, rarely if ever, mention his name as a sign of support. The only one has been Magic Johnson; and the team trainers probably know as much as he about the intricacies of the game. Magic makes a fool of himself every time he tries to analyze or comment on a game. One of the best players ever; but again, a guy that can't put 2 and 2 together when analyzing a game.
Figures he and Isiah are such good buddies. It's too bad Stupid Stevie Mills didn't ask Jerry West his opinion on a coach instead of Magic.