1. The most important story coming out of New York these days is that Knicks owner James Dolan has decided to keep GM/Coach Isiah Thomas around beyond this season. I’m sure most people think this is a mistake. I’m also sure that the prevailing opinion is based on equal parts of Isiah-loathing and wishing to crucify him for past errors. But here’s what I know: the Knicks chose stability over chaos for the first time in the 21st Century. And when 35% of your roster has one or fewer seasons of NBA experience, stability is a very important factor in making sure that your young players develop into productive ones.
Isiah’s detractors are pointing to the fact that, due to the Larry Brown fiasco of last season, expectations were set at very low threshold. Additionally, these people are citing the demise of the Eastern Conference as a reason why the Knicks should not see themselves as having made any progress in 2006. To those critics, all I can say is that the Knicks cannot and should not be held accountable for the state of the Eastern Conference. The success or failures of 14 other teams has nothing to do with what the Knicks are accomplishing this year. They are competing. They are playing hard and playing as a team something that Larry Brown’s “play the right way” philosophy failed to produce. They’re 24-23 since November 28th and 15-12 since January 2nd. The trade for Eddy Curry is paying dividends, leaving the Bulls with Ty Thomas and a mid-first round draft pick while the Knicks are reaping the benefits of the second-best low post scorer in the conference (after Shaq). Stephon Marbury is actually playing the best team basketball of his career. The entire persona of the team has changed to one of togetherness, unity, and grit.
Bottom line, no matter what the journey looked like, no matter what his perceived shortcomings are, Isiah Thomas is doing a good job for the Knicks this year. And his extension was a well-deserved one that will benefit the franchise, haters be damned.
2. I’m just wondering what’s happening in Chicago. Despite being the defending NFC champs, the Bears have let go a good young coach (Ron Rivera), traded a productive and team-oriented good citizen (Thomas Jones) for peanuts, and are facing a very ugly situation with All-Pro linebacker Lance Briggs. Granted, the Briggs situation is not Chicago’s fault – if you can’t get motivated playing for $7M and being one of the five highest-paid players at your position, you’re an idiot – but it doesn’t change the fact that all of this, together with how lousy another year of Rex Grossman could be, makes the Bears a far dimmer star in the NFC than one would expect of a conference champ.
3. We’re about halfway through the Grapefruit/Cactus League season. I’m gearing up for my baseball preview which I expect to post sometime between Monday, March 19 and Wednesday, March 21. Just to give you a sneak preview, the following teams are not being considered for playoff consideration: Baltimore, Colorado, Florida, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Texas, and Washington.
Isiah’s detractors are pointing to the fact that, due to the Larry Brown fiasco of last season, expectations were set at very low threshold. Additionally, these people are citing the demise of the Eastern Conference as a reason why the Knicks should not see themselves as having made any progress in 2006. To those critics, all I can say is that the Knicks cannot and should not be held accountable for the state of the Eastern Conference. The success or failures of 14 other teams has nothing to do with what the Knicks are accomplishing this year. They are competing. They are playing hard and playing as a team something that Larry Brown’s “play the right way” philosophy failed to produce. They’re 24-23 since November 28th and 15-12 since January 2nd. The trade for Eddy Curry is paying dividends, leaving the Bulls with Ty Thomas and a mid-first round draft pick while the Knicks are reaping the benefits of the second-best low post scorer in the conference (after Shaq). Stephon Marbury is actually playing the best team basketball of his career. The entire persona of the team has changed to one of togetherness, unity, and grit.
Bottom line, no matter what the journey looked like, no matter what his perceived shortcomings are, Isiah Thomas is doing a good job for the Knicks this year. And his extension was a well-deserved one that will benefit the franchise, haters be damned.
2. I’m just wondering what’s happening in Chicago. Despite being the defending NFC champs, the Bears have let go a good young coach (Ron Rivera), traded a productive and team-oriented good citizen (Thomas Jones) for peanuts, and are facing a very ugly situation with All-Pro linebacker Lance Briggs. Granted, the Briggs situation is not Chicago’s fault – if you can’t get motivated playing for $7M and being one of the five highest-paid players at your position, you’re an idiot – but it doesn’t change the fact that all of this, together with how lousy another year of Rex Grossman could be, makes the Bears a far dimmer star in the NFC than one would expect of a conference champ.
3. We’re about halfway through the Grapefruit/Cactus League season. I’m gearing up for my baseball preview which I expect to post sometime between Monday, March 19 and Wednesday, March 21. Just to give you a sneak preview, the following teams are not being considered for playoff consideration: Baltimore, Colorado, Florida, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Texas, and Washington.
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