Isiah Rips Greg Anthony

[Mr. J]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">NEW YORK -- The surprising play of rookie forward Renaldo Balkman this preseason has Knicks GM/coach Isiah Thomas feeling good. And he's letting ESPN analyst Greg Anthony, a former Knick, hear about it.

Still upset over Anthony's draft night criticism after the Knicks selected the unheralded Balkman with the No. 20 pick, Thomas ripped his fellow former point guard Wednesday.

"This so-called former Knick, on draft night with millions of people watching, had the audacity to take me to task on a player that I'm pretty sure he had never seen before in his life," Thomas said. "But he stands on national television and talks about a kid he has absolutely no idea about. I'm just glad that all of New York doesn't think like Greg Anthony."

Thomas went on to question Anthony's credentials as a TV commentator, and even took a slap at his 12-year NBA playing career.

"Greg Anthony should never ever be in a position to question myself on anything about basketball," Thomas said. "I do remember the kind of player he was. I'll leave it at that.

Balkman, a 6-8 forward from South Carolina, has played well during New York's first three exhibition games. He had 11 points and seven boards in 16 minutes against the Nets in his debut, and had nine points, seven rebounds and two steals in 13 minutes in Tuesday night's exhibition win over the Celtics. His hustle and energy even won over the Madison Square Garden crowd, which gave him a rousing ovation as he left the floor.

With Balkman off to a good start, Thomas felt free to vent some of his pent-up anger. </div>
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writ...reax/index.html

Very funny stuff right here. I like Isiah's moxie. "He could only go left"

 

[deception]

isiah needs to grow up- its was all about him and nothing about balkman.

 

[Chutney]

Not a very professional way to handle it, but that was pretty funny.

 

[Fiasco]

Easy to see why hes angry...I mean, hes the focus of a lot of criticism. But Balkman has done well, so hes in a position to get back at people who hammered his drafting....ya know, if Balkman ends up being a good player, Isiah is gonna go down as a damn draft genius, no matter how bad he is at everything else.

 

[jbbhoops4life]

pretty immature response by thomas. hes gotta grow up. i mean, hes trying to take over as the coach of the second-worst team in the league last year, and he could have done better in the draft. i understand that balkman is doing well and im not gonna rip him because i've honestly never seen him play. either way, hes a supposed to be a professional, start acting like one. (by the way, i was at the draft, it was insane, lol, u should have heard them going crazy.

 

[Karma]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"This so-called former Knick"</div>

That doesn't make any sense.

Isiah Thomas is a moron.

 

[Chutney]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Fiasco:</div><div class="quote_post">ya know, if Balkman ends up being a good player, Isiah is gonna go down as a damn draft genius, no matter how bad he is at everything else.</div>
I was thinking about that the other day. Imagine how big of a burn that would be to anybody who follows basketball (me included)? If he turns out to be worth his position it could be one of the major factors in Isiah's job security.

 

[B.e.]

Isiah Strikes Back.

 

[phunDamentalz]

Isaiah is a tool. He does one thing well - playing ball. Everything else - managing, coaching (remember the Pacers), running his mouth - he does badly.

 

[Shapecity]

Isiah still doesn't get it about the Balkman selection. No one questioned Balkman as a player, everyone was just stunned he was selected that early. In all likelyhood Isiah could have drafted him in the late 2nd round.

Here's a list of players he passed on:

Rajon Rondo
Marcus Williams (who I felt they should've taken)
Kyle Lowry
Shannon Brown
Jordan Farmar
Sergio Rodriguez

I don't think Balkman is going to have a better career than any of those players listed above.

 

[Mr. J]

<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Isiah still doesn't get it about the Balkman selection. No one questioned Balkman as a player, everyone was just stunned he was selected that early. In all likelyhood Isiah could have drafted him in the late 2nd round.

Here's a list of players he passed on:

Rajon Rondo
Marcus Williams (who I felt they should've taken)
Kyle Lowry
Shannon Brown
Jordan Farmar
Sergio Rodriguez

I don't think Balkman is going to have a better career than any of those players listed above.</div>
I understand what you're saying and while they might finish with a better career, Isiah chose Balkman based on need. With Marbury, Francis, Crawford, and Robinson, the Knicks are all set at PG/SG. After going 23-59, most of our players were pretty much immovable because they have high salaries and/or have the "cancer" label placed on them. So selecting Williams would have been a waste if he was going to scarcely play. Watching Balkman, he's exactly what the Knicks need: a scrappy, hustle player who puts it all on the floor. Granted, he's only playing preseason basketball, but based on what he's shown I'm confident he can hold his own against NBA competition.

 

[Shapecity]

<div class="quote_poster">MrJ Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I understand what you're saying and while they might finish with a better career, Isiah chose Balkman based on need. With Marbury, Francis, Crawford, and Robinson, the Knicks are all set at PG/SG. After going 23-59, most of our players were pretty much immovable because they have high salaries and/or have the "cancer" label placed on them. So selecting Williams would have been a waste if he was going to scarcely play. Watching Balkman, he's exactly what the Knicks need: a scrappy, hustle player who puts it all on the floor. Granted, he's only playing preseason basketball, but based on what he's shown I'm confident he can hold his own against NBA competition.</div>

It still doesn't justify drafting him early. If anything they could have selected one of those players and then take Balkman with their 2nd first round pick, instead of Mardy.

I also remember Isiah lying about Phoenix wanting Balkman, which is why drafted him so early. The Phoenix organization basially laughed in his face about it.

I've always felt drafting for need is foolish. You should always draft the best available talent, evaluate, and then trade your excess talent for need.

 

[Schaddy]

Can we just give Zeke a lifetime acheivement award already? This guy has to be the biggest moron in basketball. He was an amazing player, and I can't think of a single person in the history of sports, maybe Pete Rose, who's conciously done as much as Zeke to try and destroy the good will and respect he built as a player.

Criticizing Anthony as a player is hilarious. In case Thomas hasn't noticed, Greg Anthony is a far better broadcaster than Thomas is a GM.

I don't even know where Thomas comes up with this stuff. He's been crashing and burning for the last 3 years, yet all he does is continue to shove his foot down his throat. I think he seriously might have lost it by now. The guy is nuts.

 

[Chutney]

I just re-read his quotes and they are pretty ridiculous. Aside from the one Junoon pulled out, he also was pissed off at Anthony because he was criticizing his former team. Then he said something like former Lakers, Pistons, or Celtics would never do the same.

 

[Mr. J]

<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">It still doesn't justify drafting him early. If anything they could have selected one of those players and then take Balkman with their 2nd first round pick, instead of Mardy.

I also remember Isiah lying about Phoenix wanting Balkman, which is why drafted him so early. The Phoenix organization basially laughed in his face about it.

I've always felt drafting for need is foolish. You should always draft the best available talent, evaluate, and then trade your excess talent for need.</div>
Isiah probably just wanted to take him while he was available since "you never know". Still, Balkman, in terms of ability, is worth a 20th overall pick. His stats only say 8/6/1 in 17 minutes of preseason ball, but watching his hustle, defense, and intangibles he does much more than what the stat sheet indicates. We did take him early, but if we took Mardy 20th and Balkman 29th I think there would be less critics about our draft.

 

[marcelonbraga]

Do yo remember last year we have the same Frye being drafted??
Everyone wanted to kill Isiah for drafting him and he prove us wrong.
I think he drafts players for a lot of things that sometimes we don?t see in the stats but at the end are more important (basketball IQ, leadership, heart, etc)

 

[marcelonbraga]

Do yo remember last year we have the same conversation about Frye being drafted??
Everyone wanted to kill Isiah for drafting him and he prove us wrong.
I think he drafts players for a lot of things that sometimes we don?t see in the stats but at the end are more important (basketball IQ, leadership, heart, etc)

 

[phunDamentalz]

<div class="quote_poster">Schaddy Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Can we just give Zeke a lifetime acheivement award already? This guy has to be the biggest moron in basketball. He was an amazing player, and I can't think of a single person in the history of sports, maybe Pete Rose, who's conciously done as much as Zeke to try and destroy the good will and respect he built as a player.

Criticizing Anthony as a player is hilarious. In case Thomas hasn't noticed, Greg Anthony is a far better broadcaster than Thomas is a GM.

I don't even know where Thomas comes up with this stuff. He's been crashing and burning for the last 3 years, yet all he does is continue to shove his foot down his throat. I think he seriously might have lost it by now. The guy is nuts.</div>
The lifetime achievement award would include his quote about how Bird would be "just an average" player if he was black - even Magic Johnson thinks he was the best player he competed against besides MJ, and his recent sex harrassment suit.

 

[Chutney]

<div class="quote_poster">marcelonbraga Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Do yo remember last year we have the same conversation about Frye being drafted??
Everyone wanted to kill Isiah for drafting him and he prove us wrong.
I think he drafts players for a lot of things that sometimes we don?t see in the stats but at the end are more important (basketball IQ, leadership, heart, etc)</div>
The difference is that Frye was at least projected to be around that area. Balkman came out of nowhere. Besides, Frye still has a lot to prove even after an impressive rookie season.

 

[Custodianrules2]

I wonder if Balkman was on anybody's radar? I mean what if the guy went undrafted? The Knicks could have drafted Marcus Williams and traded his rights or held on to him and try to trade Francis or Marbury (as hard as it may sound).

I looked on several draft sites and nobody figured Balkman for being drafted even in the early to mid 2nd round.