Knicks give Thomas one year to turn team around

[Legacy]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">NEW YORK -- Isiah Thomas has one year to turn around the New York Knicks -- something Larry Brown couldn't do. And if Thomas doesn't, he'll be gone, too.

"At this time next year, Isiah will be with us if we can all sit here and say that this team has made significant progress towards its goal of eventually becoming an NBA championship team. If we can't say that, then Isiah will not be here."

"But he has to do that and he has one year, one season to do that. At this time next year, Isiah will be with us if we can all sit here and say that this team has made significant progress towards its goal of eventually becoming an NBA championship team. If we can't say that, then Isiah will not be here."

The remarks by Dolan were his first since firing Brown as coach Thursday and replacing him with Thomas, the team president and general manager.</div>


Source

 

[LBJ2006MVP]

Dolan: Isiah Has One Year To Fix Knicks
26th June, 2006 - 6:22 pm
Newsday - James Dolan, Isiah Thomas and Steve Mills had a meeting with six Knicks beat writers and The Associated Press on Monday afternoon.

"It's my contention Larry never intended to coach this team beyond this season," Dolan said Monday. Holding one hand about 18 inches above a conference table, Dolan added, "If there's any doubt about that, there's a stack of evidence that high."

Isiah Thomas has one year to turn around the Knicks, something Larry Brown couldn't do. And if Thomas doesn't, he'll be gone, too.

"This is his team; he made this bed," Dolan said of Thomas. "There's no one better than him to make this go forward. If I can say there has been significant progress after one year, he'll be here. If we can't say that, he will not be here

 

[Beat]

I didnt see that one comming....I really didnt.

 

[ChicagoSportsFan]

BUt he didnt define what turning the Team around means. I hope he doesnt mean a playoff team because the odds of that happening are low. And thats not fair to give someone such a short timetable.

But its kind of funny. He used Isaih to boot Larry, now he has basically booted Thomas LOL!

BYE BYE Thomas!!

GL NY!

 

[Tribute to H2O]

Oh my God. I dont believe it. Dolan has found himself a brain! Never in my wildest dreams would I expect that to happen! This is ironic. Isiah Thomas created this team from top to bottom and now he gets to coach it with his job on the line. This is too good. Now when he fails with the team that he himself has contructed he'll have no more excuses. He'll finally be held accountable for his stupidity. Oh Happy Day!!! Take care Isiah! Your reign of idiocy in New York was short but not short enough!


Anyway I think Isiah Thomas will be fired.

 

[Char]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tribute to H2O:</div><div class="quote_post">


Anyway I think Isiah Thomas will be fired.</div>

Seconded. I will be really really impressed if Isiah is able to turn this team around. I foresee that Isiah will not make it to coach the whole 82 games.

 

[Mr. J]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tribute to H2O:</div><div class="quote_post">Oh my God. I dont believe it. Dolan has found himself a brain! Never in my wildest dreams would I expect that to happen! This is ironic. Isiah Thomas created this team from top to bottom and now he gets to coach it with his job on the line. This is too good. Now when he fails with the team that he himself has contructed he'll have no more excuses. He'll finally be held accountable for his stupidity. Oh Happy Day!!! Take care Isiah! Your reign of idiocy in New York was short but not short enough!


Anyway I think Isiah Thomas will be fired.</div>
I'm worried with his replacement. Dolan isn't really good at finding GM's. Layden and Thomas should say enough.

But as I said, it's either the Knicks get better, or Isiah is gone.

We can't lose.

Btw, you can listen to it here: http://www.msgnetwork.com/knicks.jsp

 

[Mr. J]

Apparently, Larry Brown has snooped behind Isiah's back and has made offers to other teams for the players.

He also said about Steve Francis "I'm dying to have this player." "I'm begging you to get these players"Those were his exact words. Hmm, Isiah is viewed as the bad guy for those moves when they were Brown moves. Interesting...

Then 4 weeks later he wanted to get rid of them.

He said we needed to waive 6 of the players despite their $180 million cost.

One of the biggest mistakes he's ever made.

 

[VinsanityVC15]

YAY!!!i saw this on tv today. i really want NY to win again.

 

[Henacy]

I dont think Dolan is expecting Playoffs, because he said at the beggining of the interview that he wasnt even expecting playoffs in 05-06 with Larry Brown as coach, so how could he expect it from Thomas. I think he is looking of stablization in 06-07, if they go from 23 wins in 05-06 to mid 30's in 06-07, with some growth shown in the young guys like Frye then I think he will look at it as a begin in the turnaround realistically.

I think Stephon Marbury benefits the most from this situation, I think that Thomas is going to give him the regiens and let Steph play like Steph, that wont get the Knicks to the playoffs, but it will allow them to win more games then last year. I think the guys that clealry lose in this situation are going to be Francis and Rose, because Thomas pretty much made it clear he didnt want them here.

 

[Chutney]

It's great that Dolan has finally come to his senses, but what a stupid thing to say publicly. How seriously do you think other GM's are going to take Isiah now, knowing that he's being pressured to bring success this season? The Knicks are obviously going to be active in the trade market this year. Richardson, Francis (who I don't believe was ever meant to be a permanent player), Jalen, and Stephon are all players that will be shopped by Isiah at some point. I could see other teams just lowballing Isiah, which will make his job that much harder.

 

[giftedvisionz]

Agreed, a very unprofessional thing to say. It's like a soap opera, and it's the main reason why I want to watch this team next year. I do, however, like the fact that we know Isiah should be out by next year. I can't wait!

 

[Apollo]

Good move by Dolan, this is Isiah`s final chance to turn this team around.

 

[Bobcats]

Lol, not off to a good start by picking Balkman.

 

[Custodianrules2]

I've got a feeling players will stand up to Isiah without retribution. That's what happens when the owner declares him a lame duck coach.

 

[Mr. J]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">I've got a feeling players will stand up to Isiah without retribution. That's what happens when the owner declares him a lame duck coach.</div>
A lot of the players like Isiah, but they might go like Darius Miles: "you're getting fired anyway."

 

[Legacy]

This whole thing is like a soap oprea. I hope Thomas gets fired.