Post by Bornthrilla on Dec 12, 2007 9:50:40 GMT -5
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Isiah remains on task despite openness of fan disdain
ESPN.com news services
GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Isiah Thomas insists fans can influence the way his team is playing.
Whether the New York Knicks coach expressed that belief to anyone in the Madison Square Garden crowd Monday night remains a mystery.
Thomas was repeatedly asked Tuesday about a season ticket holder's claim following a loss to Dallas that the coach scolded fans near the bench for not being more supportive of the team. He eventually acknowledged that perhaps there was a discussion.
"I think I said to the refs, too, I said to the ref, 'If [the Mavericks] let us hang around and we can scrap our way back into the game, we'll have a chance to win it,' " Thomas said after practice. "And I think I may have said that to one of the fans sitting there. 'If we just hang around in this game and we keep fighting, we'll have a shot of winning it.'
"I don't recall being combative. I think everything I've tried to say here has been pretty positive about what the fans want, what we want to give them."
That would differ from the account Mara Altschuler, a fan sitting near the Knicks' bench, gave to reporters after Monday night's game. She said Thomas told fans they were a poor "sixth man" for the team, contrasting their lack of support with what colleges like Indiana or North Carolina get at home.
The Knicks (6-14) have the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference and entered the season following a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by a former team executive. The Garden and Thomas reached an $11.5 million settlement with Anucha Browne Sanders on Monday, and commissioner David Stern announced Tuesday there would be no league punishment.
"Fire Isiah!" chants have resounded throughout the Garden during recent games. Though the Knicks say they understand the fans' right to boo a poor performance, the players clearly are bothered.
Thomas made it clear, however, that the booing will not detract from his attempt to turning around the Knicks' fortunes.
"The grit that you need and the determination you need to win and build a championship team, you've got to have some tough skin," Thomas said after New York's 99-89 loss to Dallas. "Your skin has to get thicker every day, not thinner.
"I fight 'til I die. It's not about giving up or quitting. To me, it's win or die. I literally mean death, I don't mean 'walk away.' I mean death. That's how I have coached. We've got a job to do here and we're going to get it done. I'm confident we have the right players and confident we have the right people, and we'll dig our way out of this."
Thomas said he'll occasionally talk to kids sitting near the bench. He twice was criticized early last season after it was reported he made seemingly threatening remarks to San Antonio's Bruce Bowen and Denver's Carmelo Anthony -- the latter moments before the start of a brawl.
NBA crowds and media sit closer to the action than in any other major sport, and it's easy to hear conversations a coach might wish remained private.
"We play in a very intimate environment and that's the beauty of our game -- the fans are up close," Thomas said. "They get to hear and see your frustration. They get to feel your sweat, see your pain, live with your misery, celebrate your joys. That's the beauty of our game. It's up close and very personal."
Zach Randolph said he's bothered by the openness of fans' animosity.
"It's real hard. I ain't never been in a situation like that and I don't understand," Randolph said. "I guess they say it's New York fans, but you know it's real tough. Honestly. Especially for me, because I've never experienced every time a player walks off the court you're booing.
"Everywhere else, in Portland, fans were a big part of our team. Fans are a big part of every team everywhere you go. We need the fans to be supportive with us, even when we're down."
Thomas and Crawford say fans don't come to the Garden planning to boo, although the jeering starts when the coach is announced during pregame introductions. Thomas thinks that's contributing to the Knicks' poor starts.
"I believe that the fans positively impact performance, whatever sport it is," Thomas said. "The fans impact and they have a positive way of motivating you. But the boos motivate us also because we know that the fans want more and they deserve more and we want to give them more."
The crowds were just as harsh this time last year, but became supportive following the Knicks' spirited play while short-handed after the brawl.
"We were in a similar situation last year where we had to win our fans back and I think we can do it again this year," Thomas said. "We can win our fans back. Last year we had a difficult time at home winning our fans and eventually we won them back and I believe we can do it this year."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Isiah remains on task despite openness of fan disdain
ESPN.com news services
GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Isiah Thomas insists fans can influence the way his team is playing.
Whether the New York Knicks coach expressed that belief to anyone in the Madison Square Garden crowd Monday night remains a mystery.
Thomas was repeatedly asked Tuesday about a season ticket holder's claim following a loss to Dallas that the coach scolded fans near the bench for not being more supportive of the team. He eventually acknowledged that perhaps there was a discussion.
"I think I said to the refs, too, I said to the ref, 'If [the Mavericks] let us hang around and we can scrap our way back into the game, we'll have a chance to win it,' " Thomas said after practice. "And I think I may have said that to one of the fans sitting there. 'If we just hang around in this game and we keep fighting, we'll have a shot of winning it.'
"I don't recall being combative. I think everything I've tried to say here has been pretty positive about what the fans want, what we want to give them."
That would differ from the account Mara Altschuler, a fan sitting near the Knicks' bench, gave to reporters after Monday night's game. She said Thomas told fans they were a poor "sixth man" for the team, contrasting their lack of support with what colleges like Indiana or North Carolina get at home.
The Knicks (6-14) have the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference and entered the season following a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by a former team executive. The Garden and Thomas reached an $11.5 million settlement with Anucha Browne Sanders on Monday, and commissioner David Stern announced Tuesday there would be no league punishment.
"Fire Isiah!" chants have resounded throughout the Garden during recent games. Though the Knicks say they understand the fans' right to boo a poor performance, the players clearly are bothered.
Thomas made it clear, however, that the booing will not detract from his attempt to turning around the Knicks' fortunes.
"The grit that you need and the determination you need to win and build a championship team, you've got to have some tough skin," Thomas said after New York's 99-89 loss to Dallas. "Your skin has to get thicker every day, not thinner.
"I fight 'til I die. It's not about giving up or quitting. To me, it's win or die. I literally mean death, I don't mean 'walk away.' I mean death. That's how I have coached. We've got a job to do here and we're going to get it done. I'm confident we have the right players and confident we have the right people, and we'll dig our way out of this."
Thomas said he'll occasionally talk to kids sitting near the bench. He twice was criticized early last season after it was reported he made seemingly threatening remarks to San Antonio's Bruce Bowen and Denver's Carmelo Anthony -- the latter moments before the start of a brawl.
NBA crowds and media sit closer to the action than in any other major sport, and it's easy to hear conversations a coach might wish remained private.
"We play in a very intimate environment and that's the beauty of our game -- the fans are up close," Thomas said. "They get to hear and see your frustration. They get to feel your sweat, see your pain, live with your misery, celebrate your joys. That's the beauty of our game. It's up close and very personal."
Zach Randolph said he's bothered by the openness of fans' animosity.
"It's real hard. I ain't never been in a situation like that and I don't understand," Randolph said. "I guess they say it's New York fans, but you know it's real tough. Honestly. Especially for me, because I've never experienced every time a player walks off the court you're booing.
"Everywhere else, in Portland, fans were a big part of our team. Fans are a big part of every team everywhere you go. We need the fans to be supportive with us, even when we're down."
Thomas and Crawford say fans don't come to the Garden planning to boo, although the jeering starts when the coach is announced during pregame introductions. Thomas thinks that's contributing to the Knicks' poor starts.
"I believe that the fans positively impact performance, whatever sport it is," Thomas said. "The fans impact and they have a positive way of motivating you. But the boos motivate us also because we know that the fans want more and they deserve more and we want to give them more."
The crowds were just as harsh this time last year, but became supportive following the Knicks' spirited play while short-handed after the brawl.
"We were in a similar situation last year where we had to win our fans back and I think we can do it again this year," Thomas said. "We can win our fans back. Last year we had a difficult time at home winning our fans and eventually we won them back and I believe we can do it this year."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
