Isiah Thomas FINALLY fired

by **kassian** on Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:01 am

NEW YORK, April 18 (AP) -- Isiah Thomas was fired as coach of the New York Knicks on Friday, ending a year fraught with embarrassing episodes on and off the court.

Thomas, the coach for two seasons, will remain with the organization reporting directly to new president Donnie Walsh, a rapid fall for Thomas who also was team president a little more than two weeks ago.

Walsh took over that role April 2, and his first big decision was to change coaches as he begins the process of turning around a team that never won a playoff game in Thomas' tenure.

"I just believe a new voice, a new coach, is necessary to change the direction of the team,'' Walsh said.

The Knicks finished 23-59, matching the franchise record for losses, in their seventh straight losing season.

This season alone, Thomas feuded with point guard Stephon Marbury and benched center Eddy Curry - the players Thomas acquired in the two biggest of a number of moves that never panned out.

Walsh wants a new coach in place by the draft in June, when the Knicks will finally have their lottery pick again after handing over their last two to Chicago in the Curry trade. Walsh said Sunday he had not yet talked to any candidates for either a coach or general manager job.

Thomas is 187-223 as an NBA coach, leading the Indiana Pacers to the playoffs in three straight years from 2000-03. Larry Bird fired him after becoming team president, a move Walsh - who had hired Thomas as coach - was originally against but eventually went along with.

http://www.nba.com/nba_news/isiah_fired_080418.html

by **Indy** on Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:23 am

Donnie has now fired Isiah twice.

by **cyanide** on Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:15 am

Fi-nal-ly. It took long enough.

by **Veheme** on Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:55 am

Finally! The Knicks are back on track.

by **GoHornets** on Sat Apr 19, 2008 1:02 pm

Get rid of Randolph and they might have a chance to qualify for the playoffs next season.

by **L10** on Sat Apr 19, 2008 1:03 pm

Now I would love to see the Knicks playing better :mrgreen:

by **BigKaboom2** on Sat Apr 19, 2008 1:04 pm

Poll option 2, in a bewildering move on Apollo_33's part, wrote:We should've let him a chance

lol wat

Bluesky · by **Andrew** on Sat Apr 19, 2008 1:39 pm

Indy wrote:Donnie has now fired Isiah twice.

Wasn't it Larry Bird's call to fire Isiah in Indiana? It happened almost as soon as he returned to the team as president of basketball operations.

The handwriting appeared to be on the wall and it's arguably a change that should have happened this past offseason but I'm sure Knicks fans are feeling somewhat vindicated all the same. Presumably, the unknown role he's supposedly being offered won't give him nearly as much power or importance in the organisation if he stays on with them.

It's a shame that thiis the legacy he's made for himself though. He was a great player back in the day and despite his less than stellar business career following his career with the Pistons, he should be remembered for what he accomplished as one of the top players in the league. Unfortunately, his blunders as an executive (and the harrassment lawsuit) are the deeds that stand out these days, fourteen years removed from his days as a player and with everything that's gone down in New York.

by **Jeffx** on Sat Apr 19, 2008 1:49 pm

Andrew wrote:It's a shame that thiis the legacy he's made for himself though. He was a great player back in the day and despite his less than stellar business career following his career with the Pistons, he should be remembered for what he accomplished as one of the top players in the league. Unfortunately, his blunders as an executive (and the harrassment lawsuit) are the deeds that stand out these days, fourteen years removed from his days as a player and with everything that's gone down in New York.

His record speaks for itself, Andrew. Isiah's a f-cking bum. He came here and made a bad situation worse. It'll take years to get out of the hole Isiah dug for this team. These cats who think the Knicks will be contenders next season are in same fantasyland as Zeke & Jim Dolan.

Bluesky · by **Andrew** on Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:06 pm

No question, he messed up and his mistakes won't soon be forgotten. I just think it's kind of sad in a way that he's managed to overshadow his legacy as a player with his actions as an executive, though it's his own fault that's happened.

by **Skills** on Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:07 pm

Legend as a player. Faliure as a businessman/coach.
Anyway, in the words of Stephen A. Smith:
IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME!

by **Leander** on Sun Apr 20, 2008 2:37 am

New York relieves Isiah Thomas of head coaching duties

by **Axel** on Sun Apr 20, 2008 9:01 am

I would like to see Jeff Van Gundy as the coach again.

by **Modifly** on Sun Apr 20, 2008 4:35 pm

Finally, and yes, they should somehow hire Jeff Van Gundy and it will be another Knicks era.

That would be after a couple of years though, it will definitely take a long while before the knicks could climb out of the hole Isiah dug for them.

FINALLY!!

Bluesky · by **Andrew** on Sun Apr 20, 2008 9:38 pm

Van Gundy would be a solid choice if he's at all interested but he'd still have to work miracles with the roster assuming it remains largely unchanged, which seems likely as I don't see players the likes of Randolph, Curry or Marbury being moved easily let alone players like Jerome James or Jared Jeffries.

by **Jeffx** on Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:19 pm

Van Gundy??? Guys , there's no way in hell he's working for Jim Dolan again.

by **cyanide** on Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:19 am

Honestly, I don't like Jim Dolan as much as I don't like Isiah on the team. Dolan should be fired as well.

by **Jeffx** on Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:17 am

cyanide wrote:Honestly, I don't like Jim Dolan as much as I don't like Isiah on the team. Dolan should be fired as well.

Unfortunately, owners can't be fired. And the commissioner can't force him to sell the team. We're stuck.

Bluesky · by **Andrew** on Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:31 am

At least Walsh has been given the power to bring in his own coach. Ultimately he's still going to answer to Dolan but if he's been given the freedom to productively try and turn the Knicks around it might be an encouraging sign.

by **Sauru** on Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:44 am

all this topic proves is there are at least 2(and counting) confirmed idiots on these boards

by **benji** on Tue Apr 22, 2008 12:27 pm

Jeffx wrote:Unfortunately, owners can't be fired. And the commissioner can't force him to sell the team. We're stuck.

Dolan isn't the owner though, he's merely chairman of the board, he can be dismissed by MSG. Unfortunately, his dad is one of the people who would have to fire him, IIRC.

by **Jeffx** on Tue Apr 22, 2008 1:12 pm

benji wrote:Dolan isn't the owner though, he's merely chairman of the board, he can be dismissed by MSG. Unfortunately, his dad is one of the people who would have to fire him, IIRC.

Well, that's the problem. As bad as they are, I read somewhere that the Knicks continue to make money. Go figure that shit out. Daddy's not going to do anything as long as he sees a profit.

Bluesky · by **Andrew** on Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:51 pm

But if they can back off and give Walsh freedom to work, maybe he'll be able to make some progress and right some wrongs over the next few seasons.

Isiah Thomas FINALLY fired

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Isiah Thomas FINALLY fired

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