SEVERAL Knick fans, I’m told, crossed paths with James Dolan in New Orleans during All-Star weekend.
I’m paraphrasing: “When is lack of results going to override loyalty? When are you going to fire Isiah?”
Jimmy Jazz had this alarmingly depressing response. Again, I paraphrase: “Just look at the Giants and Celtics. Where were they last season? We’ll be next season’s Giants/Celtics.”
Column contributor George Caballero wonders if I’m familiar with the Nigerian “419 Con.”
A con man tells you there’s a $100 million stuck in a Nigerian bank account and he’ll give you 30 percent if you’ll help him move it out of the country. Once you’re hooked, he starts asking you for your bank account information, money to bribe officials, etc.
Every step of the way, the con man (Isiah) tells the victim/mark (Dolan) his reward (a franchise player, the eighth playoff spot, a Giants-like run, a Celtics-like turn-around, etc.) is right around the corner “If only you’ll give me one more trade, season, mid-level exception, contract extension, etc.”
“Having already invested so much time, money and effort, and stubbornly refusing to believe he was dumb enough to get conned, the victim/mark keeps saying yes until he’s ruined, wiped out, humiliated, or declared mentally incompetent by Commissioner David Stern,” Caballero concludes.
One of many relevant points regarding the Giants and Celtics that differ from the Knicks and that Jimmy Jazz apparently fails to grasp is neither team is a one-man operation where Thomas doubles as president and coach.
To his everlasting credit, Thomas has managed to expertly bungle both positions yet somehow get munificently rewarded.
To his everlasting discredit, every player excepting Jamal Crawford and Nate Robinson (David Lee managed to maintain equilibrium despite frequently getting shorted minutes) either has regressed or retained statistically pleasing (losing) characteristics under his tutelage.
Additionally, Thomas has failed player development and cap management and devalued assets and turned on players (notably pets Stephon Marbury and Eddy Curry), something he has a penchant for doing, as the Pacers’ body count attests.
How Thomas messed up Marbury (at Dolan’s behest?) by demoting him two weeks into the season, and the insensitive manner in which it was done (letting him hear it from Curry) was unpardonable; it completely contaminated the atmosphere and corrupted the season.
How Thomas has crushed Curry of late is downright cruel, senseless and unforgiving.
How can Dolan condone the public entombment of a 25-year-old center who averaged 19.5 points and seven rebounds last season and was playing with such confidence?
How can Dolan continue to have faith in his eagle eye for talent if already Thomas has given up on a guy he obtained in 2005 for two unprotected lottery picks?
If that’s not enough proof for Dolan to see Thomas is just faking it as he goes along, somebody (daddy dearest) needs to protect him (and Knick fans) from himself.
Not that I’m about to give “Snacks” a lunchroom pass on this; he’s been out of shape since the umbilical cord was cut. At the same time, how come Thomas hasn’t demanded a strict diet and lower body-fat count?
“Snacks is so slow in transition and under the basket, it’s no wonder he gets beaten to almost every rebound,” column contributor Dan Rosenfeld zaps. “He looks like the T-Rex in ‘Jurassic Park,’ always a step behind the Jeep!”
Snacks recently was quoted saying he needs to work on his hook. How out of touch can one be? What he needs to do is work on his rebounding, defense, aggressive play and baby fat if he wants to be in anyone’s rotation.
Most of the current up-and-comers are actually fit, athletic, and trim. The days of the plodding, slow, fat, dump it into the dumpster and never see it again big man are nearing extinction.
Now you’ve got Yao Ming, Dwight Howard, Tyson Chandler, Al Jefferson, Emeka Okafor and Andrea Bargnani who can overpower or out-quick you.
That’s actually what Thomas has been trying to say, I submit, when he declared the league has gone small. He meant the style of the game – extend, penetrate, kick and shoot – has changed.
Teams still flaunt 7-footers; they’re not going small, they’re “playing small,” meaning they have five players boasting a capacity to handle, pass, spread the floor and shoot. Consequently, an inside presence just isn’t as effective as it used to be.
The Raptors provide perfect testimony. Seven own European experience. Coach Sam Mitchell wisely (at management’s urging, no doubt) built a system to make the most of it.
“Maybe we should applaud Dolan for making Isiah lay down in the bed of his own creation, and suffer in this steaming pile of mismatches as the toilet bowl cycles down and around for the third time,” column contributor Chip Stern steams.
“Unfortunately, Knick fans have to share the experience and the bed-bug infested mattress.
“Stop hogging the covers, Zeke.”