The Pioneer Times

Issue date: 11/1/06 Section: Sports

Can they turn things around this season?

Is he the answer?

When your boss gives you an ultimatum of "win or you're fired," then surely the pressure will be on.

In the case of Isiah Thomas, New York Knicks coach, the pressure will only be magnified by the glare of the New York media and impatient fans. The man who made the ultimatum, owner James Dolan, will also surely be watching very closely.

Last season, the Knicks were downright dismal under certain Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown. The team won only 23 games, which was its lowest win total in 20 years. Thomas, who was the general manager last year, decided to make the move to coach after Brown was fired following the season.

The turn-around for what would be considered improvement isn't much, but a competitive team that comes close to reaching the playoffs would probably be what saves Thomas' job.

Much of the same cast returns from last year, save for lone acquisition Jared Jeffries. Jeffries, brought in to be the defensive stopper the Knicks have needed, will be out six to eight weeks with a non-displaced left wrist fracture.

Another player looking to put last season behind him is guard Stephon Marbury. Marbury struggled in Brown's system last year, and seemed to have daily turmoil with the coach in the tabloids. Marbury hopes to flourish under Thomas' more wide open approach.

"We're playing well," he said to the Daily News. "Our demeanor is totally different than last year, going into the regular season. We all know what we're doing. We're a lot more confident, as far as playing basketball."

If the Knicks are truly going to improve however, the defense should be the main priority. The team allowed 102.0 points per game last season, which was fourth worst in the entire NBA.

Last year, center Eddy Curry had an up and down year. After missing most of Chicago Bulls training camp due to an irregular heartbeat, Curry was traded to the Knicks. The time missed seemed to have an impact, as Curry struggled during the season and looked winded and lost at times. This year, with a full training camp under his belt, Curry looks finally answer the promise Thomas had in mind when he traded for him.

Another breakout year can be expected of forward Channing Frye. After being selected in the first round last year, Frye averaged 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds. In the off-season he added bulk to his wiry frame, which should provide more scoring opportunities for the 6'10 player out of Arizona.

If the Knicks are going to succeed this upcoming year, the team needs better cohesion among its shoot-first guards Marbury and Steve Francis. If the two play like Thomas envisioned when he traded for Francis last year, then opposing teams will be in for trouble.

As far as how the Knicks will do this year, it seems the team just has too many questions. Will Marbury share the ball enough to keep his teammates happy? Will Curry improve his defense and hustle and finally fulfill his promise? Will Thomas feel the pressure if the Knicks start losing? The last point is a major possibility, with 10 of the team's first 17 games taking place on the road.

"What I'm trying to prepare this team for is a worst-case scenario," Thomas told the Daily News. "That you get yourself in a hole and chances are we can get knocked down a couple of times and we have to be strong enough as men to get up and fight ourselves out of a hole."

If the hole becomes a cavern however, then Thomas will be out of a job. And the Knicks will have another dismal season the team will long to forget.





2006-2007 NBA Predictions



Eastern Conference Finals



Cavaliers over Nets



Western Conference Finals



Suns over Spurs



Finals

Suns over Cavaliers

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