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Thomas believes he can win with Knicks’ roster
Friday, June 30, 2006
ASSOCIATED PRESS
<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>KATHY WILLENS ASSOCIATED PRESS </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Knicks fans mug for the TV camera during the draft in Madison Square Garden, including one holding a "Fire Isiah" sign. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Isiah Thomas has already been warned that he’s out of a job if the New York Knicks don’t improve next season.
Still, he sounds ready to take the floor with basically the same group that won only 23 games under Larry Brown.
"I’m not here waiting for Santa Claus to come save us," Thomas said yesterday. "I was told early on we didn’t have any money and there was no Santa Claus. And I’m not looking for this great player to come save the day for us.
"The guys that we have, we’ll make them better and we have a job to do. Nobody’s coming to save us."
Thomas added the coaching reins to his role as team president last week when Brown was fired. The Knicks said Brown wanted to get rid of nearly half the roster, but Thomas spoke as if he can win with those players.
"I do like our players," he said. "My job is to get their confidence back, and I think they can play at a higher level than what a lot of them performed at last (season)."
The Knicks’ salary cap woes will make it difficult for Thomas to make many moves, but he didn’t sound as if he necessarily needs to seek them, saying he would be less aggressive this summer than in past years.
"I’m very comfortable with our roster. I’m comfortable with the things that we have," Thomas said. "I’ll continue to look to get better ... but if we had to go into the season right now with what we have and the way we look, I’m comfortable with that."
Thomas spoke yesterday after introducing the players he chose Wednesday night in the NBA draft with the Knicks’ two first-round picks. Forward Renaldo Balkman of South Carolina was taken 20 th and Temple guard Mardy Collins went 29 th.
Thomas praised Balkman’s energy on the floor, but even Balkman sounded surprised to have heard his name so early on draft night.
"I never thought in a million years I’d be here right now," Balkman said. Neither did many other experts. Balkman, who averaged 9.6 points last season, didn’t even appear in the draft media guide.
Knicks extend Isiah Thomas' contract
By BRIAN MAHONEY
AP Basketball Writer
GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) -- Isiah Thomas delivered "evident progress" sooner than needed. Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan planned to wait all season before deciding on Thomas' future with the Knicks. But when New York fought through a few recent injuries to move into playoff position, Dolan concluded he no longer needed to wait.
Continued...
"What she told me was that Isiah asked her to go into the referees' locker room and make them happy," Browne Sanders testified.
Police chief rebukes Thomas for involving daughter in incident
NEW YORK -- A suburban police chief likened the conflicting accounts of an accidental overdose at Isiah Thomas' home to a "cover-up" and rebuked the former New York Knicks coach Saturday for saying it was his teenage daughter who required treatment.
"It wasn't his daughter," Harrison Police Chief David Hall told The Associated Press. "And why they're throwing her under the bus is beyond my ability to understand."
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"My cops ... know the difference between a 47-year-old black male and a young black female," Hall said.
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