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Pac-10′s Best Gather for Battle in Seattle

January 20, 2011   Michelle Smith   No comments

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In a conference living light on the marquee these days, Thursday night’s matchup between 25th-ranked Arizona and No. 20 Washington in Seattle is likely the most interesting duel of the Pac-10 regular-season.

On paper, it’s the two best teams, with the two best players going head-to-head for an early claim on first place in the conference standings.

The Huskies and the Wildcats, at the top of the Pac-10 in scoring offense, scoring margin, rebounding margin, field-goal percentage, 3-point percentage and 3-point percentage defense.

 

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The Works: Steve Kerr’s Propaganda, Isiah’s Near Miss

November 05, 2010   Bethlehem Shoals and Tom Ziller   No comments

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In The Works today: the vindication of Isiah Thomas begins; trying to figure out what Tom Thibodeau was thinking and Kevin Harlan’s false ecstasy. But first, does Steve Kerr need a gag order?

Amar'e StoudemireKerr’s Campaign

It’s become something of a running joke on ESPN that Jeff Van Gundy will stick up for big bro Stan Van Gundy and his Magic whenever the opportunity presents itself. The level of self-awareness, even sarcasm, often present there is welcome; even if JVG feels his kin isn’t getting due respect, he’s smart enough to understand that no one is going to mistake him for impartial. The introduction of irony to these statements actually makes us more likely to take them seriously.

But this dynamic brings to light one of the most unsavory — and least interesting — aspects of the broadcast game: the problem of legacy. It’s not just LeBron James who needs to be concerned with how the future will view him as part of the past.

What, you didn’t see a sustained of critique of Steve Kerr coming right around the bend? Kerr, now back with TNT after a stint as Phoenix’s GM, is universally respected as an analyst. His work in Phoenix wasn’t too shabby, either; somehow, the historical record has put the blame for the Shaquille O’Neal trade on the entire organization; it didn’t hurt that Shawn Marion went downhill really fast. Plus, he managed to keep Steve Nash around, and then cobbled together a roster that exceeded all expectations last year. Kerr did great things, leaving only because Robert Sarver was too silly to realize you have to pay general managers to win in this new NBA.

That doesn’t mean, though, that Steve Kerr isn’t still looking to spin his time in Phoenix. To wit: his statements about Amar’e Stoudemire when TNT was in Chicago for Knicks-Bulls.

 

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David Stern Accepts Blame for Knicks’ Isiah Thomas Confusion

October 07, 2010   FanHouse Staff   No comments

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Isiah ThomasFor several days in August, the New York Knicks had basketball fans everywhere scratching their heads with the news that ower James Dolan intended to hire Isiah Thomas as a consultant.

As confusing as it was to understand why Dolan would desire the services of the man responsible for driving his franchise into the ground, the most perplexing wrinkle was that Thomas intended on remaining in his capacity as head coach at Florida International University.

Needless to say, it didn’t take long for the NBA to intervene, informing the Knicks that having an NCAA head coach on their payroll was a clear violation of league rules, prompting Thomas to rescind his interest. The conflict of interest seems so obvious; why did the Knicks ever think it might work?

Because David Stern said it would.

In an interview with several New York writers, the NBA commissioner admitted the mistake of initially giving the unusual arrangement the green light before later realizing it conflicted with league policy.

“It’s fair to say I missed the issue,” Stern said, cited in the New York Post. “I told them they can do it. And when it was announced, my guy said it’s not allowed. I blew that one pretty good.

“It didn’t comply with our rules and ultimately wouldn’t have complied with NCAA rules.”

 

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Summer Session: Pac-10 Slogan, ‘It Has to Be Better’

September 09, 2010   Michelle Smith   No comments

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It Has to Be Better. That probably isn’t the slogan that Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott would want to attach to the men’s basketball season, but it’s the prevailing sentiment as the conference’s 10 teams begin organized workouts on Sept. 15.

A conference with history and pride and tradition barely got two teams in to the NCAA field last spring, and the prospects for drastic improvement just aren’t that good.

Washington, which reached the Sweet 16 last March, is the only team in the conference that has been ranked by the preseason magazines and that qualifies the Huskies as overwhelming favorites.

UCLA, which finished below .500 for the first time since 2004, and Arizona are expected to be better, expected to return to their rightful places in the field of 68 come March.

But beyond that, there’s only a lot question marks.

More Summer Sessions: ACC | Big East | Big Ten | Big 12

 

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The Works: Sympathy for Mr. Bosh, Dissecting Melo

August 17, 2010   Bethlehem Shoals & Tom Ziller   No comments

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In The Works today: Denver sleuths Melo out of town; we all jump too fast on the latest Anthony news; and the quandary of covering the Knicks.

But first, a brief defense of newest arch-fiend Chris Bosh.

Bosh Ain’t So Bad: Yesterday, I was sure that Chris Bosh had leaped beyond the pale. It was like he had watched the transformation of Bron Bron’s public image and thought, “I want me some of that.”

Then I went back and took a good, hard look at the original New York Daily News piece, which furnishes a funny little thing called context. While I don’t think Bosh’s comments are anything but ill-advised, possibly inexcusable, they’re more frank than outright cruel.

I also noticed, once the huff had passed, that he was talking as much about us (media, fans, general scavengers of 2010 tidbits) as he was himself. Take, for starters, this gruesome quote:

“If you think about how many times somebody asks you, ‘How are you,’ that’s how many times I was asked, ‘Where you going?” said Bosh, who was in Manhattan Wednesday to unveil his Got Milk! advertisement. “So it’s like, well, in my case, I’m going to have fun with it. I’m going to play with people’s emotions. I’m going to be high and low.”

Maybe “play with emotions” was being a little too blatant about it, and makes him sound downright manipulative. But put yourself in his big red shoes. Bosh was asked, for months and months on end, where he was headed. Everyone asking had an agenda.

 

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Despite James Dolan’s Efforts, Isiah Thomas Will Not Work for Knicks

August 11, 2010   Anthony Olivieri   No comments

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Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas will not be a consultant for the New York Knicks thanks to a conflict of interest with his job as head coach at Florida International.

Multiple reports stated that Thomas rescinded his acceptance of the Knicks‘ offer after being in contact with the NBA commissioner’s office.

“After speaking with Commissioner [David] Stern and Knicks executives, it has become apparent that my new agreement violates certain NBA bylaws. Because of this, I have decided to rescind my contract with the team,” Thomas said in a statement.


 “I have nothing but the utmost respect for Jim Dolan, Donnie Walsh, Mike D’Antoni and the entire Knicks organization, and I want to thank them for affording me this opportunity.”

NBA laws prohibits anyone who coaches or works for a college program or an international team, and in turn has regular contact with underclassmen, from working for any of the league’s 30 teams.

“We have been informed by the Knicks that Isiah Thomas has rescinded his consulting agreement with the team,” Stern said in a statement. “As a result, it is not necessary for the league to take any formal action on the proposed arrangement. However, we have reminded the Knicks of NBA rules that prohibit team personnel, including consultants, from having contact with players not eligible for the draft.”

Thomas ran the Knicks from 2003-2008 and also coached the team for two seasons before being run out of town as one of the most disgraced executives in New York sports history. Despite that track record, and the blemish of a sexual harassment suit filed against him and Madison Square Garden, Thomas holds a close relationship with Dolan, the Knicks’ owner.

This summer, Dolan tabbed Isiah as a recruiter for top free agents — including LeBron James — who still respect the former NBA champion point guard for his top flight career. It’s still entirely possible that Thomas — whether the fans like it or not — will return to the team in some capacity at another time.


“Although I’m disappointed that Isiah will not be working with the Knicks as a consultant, I continue to believe in his basketball knowledge, including his ability to judge talent,” Dolan said of Thomas in a statement. “He’s a good friend of mine and of the organization and I will continue to solicit his views. He will always have strong ties to me and the team. We wish him continued success at FIU.

“I also believe Donnie Walsh has done a terrific job since joining the Knicks and my tremendous respect for him has only grown since he’s joined the organization. I’m confident that the work that Donnie, coach Mike D’Antoni and their staffs have done this summer has the team poised for long-term success.”

According to the NY Post, Thomas had said on Miami radio he would be willing to leave FIU to be a full-time consultant for an NBA team. The newspaper also said that, if that team were the Knicks, it would go against Walsh’s wishes.

 

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Team USA Notebook: Rondo Welcomes Shaq, D’Antoni Defends Walsh

August 10, 2010   Chris Tomasson   No comments

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Shaquille O'NealNEW YORK — Rajon Rondo likes having a new big guy in town.

Then again, it’s not as if Boston brass consulted him.

“I don’t have any choice,” Rondo said in an interview with FanHouse about the Celtics‘ recent signing of free agent Shaquille O’Neal, 38.

Rondo, though, had good things to say about this hardly green center joining Gang Green.

“I like it,” the Boston point guard said after his Team USA practiced Tuesday at John Jay College in preparation for the World Championship later this month in Turkey. “He’s another enforcer. So we’re happy to have him. … He rebounds, shoots a high percentage from the field and can finish at the rim.”

Asked whether O’Neal could cause chemistry problems due to the Celtics already having many leaders and whether O’Neal could be happy coming off the bench, Rondo sidestepped those questions.

Rondo stressed he didn’t think it was proper to say the move was made to help counteract East rival Miami having assembled a superteam of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

 

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The Works: Leave (GM) Isiah Alone

August 10, 2010   Bethlehem Shoals & Tom Ziller   No comments

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In The Works today: Someone give Rashad McCants a job; is your city lousy enough for an NBA franchise?; and Michael Jordan returns to the scene of the crime.

But first, the Isiah Thomas hire from the head, not the heart.

Surely, the Knicks had to know the announcement Isiah Thomas had been brought back as a consultant would go over like Hamburger Helper at a Martha Stewart potluck. Half the NBA community laughed, and the other was offended just enough to be angry.

As it is, multiple reports that the NBA may tell the Knicks “no” are still circulating. This does look like an NCAA violation waiting to happen, even if all the good NBA teams have illegal scouts in high-school gyms anyway. The most interesting subplot is watching whether Thomas resigns from his coaching position with Florida International University to keep the Knicks job; if he does, we’ll know just how true the rumors are that Isiah has designs on his old GM seat.

But beyond the actual mechanics of the hiring, there’s been an elephant in the gym and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. And it’s that Donnie Walsh hasn’t been altogether that much better than Thomas.

 

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Consulting With Disaster: Isiah Thomas to Moonlight With Knicks

August 06, 2010   David Whitley   No comments

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Isiah ThomasThere was depressing employment news Friday. The Labor Department reported 131,000 jobs were cut last month. And the Knicks announced they had re-hired Isiah Thomas.

At least it was depressing for Knicks fans. The reaction of other NBA observers ranged from baffled to bemused to being rushed into surgery after busting a gut laughing.

Sorry, New York. The report is apparently true. Isiah is back.

Can Rick Pitino be far behind as head coach? When do the Knicks trade for Rashard Lewis, Jermaine O’Neal and the rights to Mel Gibson’s next movie?

Over the past few weeks there were reports Thomas had conned his way back into the Knicks’ heart, but Friday’s announcement still looked like something out of The Onion.

 

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Isiah Thomas Returns to Knicks as Consultant, Keeps Coaching Job at FIU

August 06, 2010   FanHouse Newswire   No comments

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Isiah ThomasNEW YORK (AP) — Even after losing all those games and an embarrassing sexual harassment lawsuit, Isiah Thomas has a place with the New York Knicks.

Thomas was rehired Friday by the team as a consultant, two years after he was fired as its coach and president.

“Isiah Thomas brings unique experience as a Hall of Fame player, coach, executive and owner, and we believe having him as part of our organization will be extremely beneficial to the team’s success,” Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan and team president Donnie Walsh announced jointly in a statement.

Thomas, a Hall of Famer with the Detroit Pistons, had a dismal run as team president from December 2003-April 2008, with the Knicks never winning a postseason game despite often having the NBA‘s highest payroll. He was also the coach the final two seasons, getting dismissed after a 23-59 season in 2007-08.

Despite all that, plus that lawsuit brought by former team employee Anucha Browne Sanders that cost MSG $11.6 million, Thomas has remained close to Dolan and Walsh, even while coaching Florida International University, a job he will keep.

 

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