Hope in the Big Apple

[Vyper]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Big Nasty:</div><div class="quote_post">Thomas brings new star, new attitude to Knicks

By Roscoe Nance, USA TODAY

NEW YORK ? After 28 days as the New York Knicks' president of basketball operations, Isiah Thomas still gets lost going between his Manhattan office and the team's practice facility in nearby Westchester County.

But Thomas knows exactly where he's trying to take the Knicks and is wasting no time getting them there.

Since replacing Scott Layden on Dec. 22, Thomas has acquired All-Star point guard Stephon Marbury ($104.9 million contract through 2008-09) and former All-Star swingman Penny Hardaway in an eight-player trade with Phoenix and replaced coach Don Chaney with Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens.

"We have a great coach in place," Thomas says. "We have a great point guard. We've got the fans back. We've got a team. We're back in the NBA. There's an energy in this city that's electric because you're moving toward something. I feel good about where we are."

The changes have Madison Square Garden buzzing with playoff talk, a phenomenon missing the past two seasons.

"It's great what he has done," says film director Spike Lee, a Knicks season ticketholder. "He has put the New York Knicks back in the front of people's mind. We're not a forgotten, neglected franchise. I have total belief in what Isiah is doing. He's going to take us to the promised land. I believe that. We're going to make the playoffs this year."</div>


Link - Article

 

[Crossover]

Let the truth be told. Whereever Thomas goes, that team suddenly becomes a lot better and playoff caliber very, very quickly. Damn, does he ever know what he's doing.

 

[Rave]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Crossover:</div><div class="quote_post">Let the truth be told. Whereever Thomas goes, that team suddenly becomes a lot better and playoff caliber very, very quickly. Damn, does he ever know what he's doing.</div>

Jermaine O'Neal was very fond of him, said he was a very nice man. I guess it's one of the things that make him so likeable, even now he's still one of the tough, relentless people. This being as an excutive in this case. Unlike Jordan I believe Thomas has some great basketball business chemistry in him, with the likes of Dumars, McHale and Bird.

 

[Erin]

During halftime of the Spurs/Celtics game on Sunday, they had an interview with Steph. They said how Steph loved Isiah and admired him and in the interview, Steph was wearing a Thomas jersey.