So, I was trolling through the topics at The Fantasy Lounge Forums’ General NBA Talk section and found this topic asking how Isiah Thomas would do as the new New York Knicks head coach this upcoming season.  In it, someone I know (as much as one could know anyone through the internet, anyway) intimates that the Knicks will be better with Thomas than Larry Brown for various reasons, which is great.  Everyone has an opinion.  HOWEVER, he went on to say that Larry Brown stunk (he actually used a word more associated innocently with what peope do with lollipops) as a coach and that great coaches such as Phil Jackson adjusted their coaching style to fit the players’ strengths and cover their weaknesses.  Having played and watched basketball for over two decades, I was dumbstruck!  So, I started writing a long post, so long in fact I thought it should be an article.

And thus, here it is…

I’m a Knicks fan and born and raised in the NYC area.  I’ve been a fan for about 20 years, remembering when Bernard King was the shiznit and Ken Bannister was THE ugliest player to ever play in the NBA before Manute Bol and Popeye Jones came into the league.  I’ve also followed Larry Brown’s career for about that long, fondly remembering him coaching Danny Manning and Kansas to the NCAA championship, as well his back-and-forth between teams that puts Rick Pitino to shame.

Last season, the Knicks season was EVERYONE’s fault… mostly Thomas for the team he put together in what seemed a whimsical manner and the players for dogging it.  No matter WHO your coach is, if you start mailing it in, I officially hate you.  Players are paid (and pretty good money at that) to play the game.  And isn’t this usually a game, at the heart of it, that they’re supposed to enjoy and would do for free?  Okay, I’m talking like a crazy person now, aren’t I?

The players really disappointed me and while I do blame Brown for not settling on a rotation, the players weren’t giving him anything.  And I don’t care who you are, you listen to your coach. It’s HIS system, not yours.  And, as far as great coaches adjusting to their players - Phil Jackson DID NOT do that with Michael Jordan.  Jackson MADE Jordan play the triangle offense, which Jordan had to adjust to and did.  He was no longer freelancing and trying too hard to create for himself and his teammates (notice the decline in his TO in general since Jackson came on board).  It was THE SYSTEM.

To say that Larry Brown is a bad coach is an ignorant thing to do.  The guy is a Hall of Fame coach.  He’s third ALL-TIME in playoff wins with 120, behind Jackson (178) and Pat Riley (171).  On the other side, he also is first all-time in playoff losses at 111 (Riley is second at 107).  Do you know what that tells me?  Brown has to be successful to fail that much.  He gets his teams into the playoffs, which is THE basic goal when you’re grinding through a season.

And, the following also tells me all I need to know about Larry Brown as a coach and relating to his players and why I blame the Knicks players for last season’s fiasco, particularly Stephon Marbury.  What am I talking about?  I’m not talking about practice, I’m talking about Allen Iverson. 

Before Brown got to Philly, AI was all about AI (to a degree he always will be).  Brown came in and they fought back and forth, even through the media.  But, guess what? When Iverson won the All-Star game MVP in 2001 and the sideline reporter was trying hard to interview him, what was AI saying totally ignoring the reporter?

“Where’s my coach?  Where’s my coach?  Where’s Coach Brown?”

And who did Iverson thank for making him a better player? 

That’s right… Larry Brown. 

I remember when AI was arrested in high school for being part of riot and I knew then that he was going to be hard to coach, but because of his talent, his behavior would at least be tolerated.  And kudos to John Thompson for not giving up on Iverson and welcomed him with open arms to Georgetown.  In any case, if Larry Brown can get through to Allen Iverson and help him and his teammates succeed (the Sixers got to the NBA Finals that year) that tells me a lot.

Larry Brown is a great coach that was handcuffed by his bosses last season.  Brown was asking for a shot-blocker and who does he get?  Steve Francis, a Stephon Marbury clone.  HUH?  Yeah, definitely handcuffed. 

But, Brown doesn’t get a pass because like I said, he needed to settle on a rotation.  But, it starts somewhere at the top.

Isiah Thomas is a HORRIBLE GM and I think most of the world knows that.  It was brilliant of him to take Damon Stoudamire in 1995, as Stoudamire turned out to be the Rookie of the Year that season.  So, kudos for that pick, Zeke… and kudos for the pick of Channing Frye last season.  But, a decade between good draft picks does not make a good GM.  I won’t even get into Renaldo Balkman.

Back to the players.  It’s easy - shut your mouth and play the game.  Unless you have something of substance to say, just play.  Stephon Marbury - best point guard in the league, indeed… at what?  Nate Robinson - you’re a rookie talking back to a Hall of Fame coach?  Show me something on a consistent basis besides giving hope to all short guys that they can slam too.  And, I can go down the list, but I won’t because I’ve wasted enough time on this.

Here’s the facts - Jim Dolan stinks as an owner.  Isiah Thomas stinks as a GM.  Larry Brown DOES NOT stink as a coach overall, but he did last season and wasn’t totally to blame.  Stephon Marbury stinks as a “coach on the floor,” which is the job of the point guard.  And for someone that is supposed to be the best at his position, how many times did I see Marbury hold the ball too long, turn the ball over, and for the most part not want to take the money shot at the end of the game… too many.

Can Thomas succeed as the head coach?  Well, it depends on what your definition of “success” is, but yes, I do believe he can because he’ll kiss the player’s butts and stroke their egos, so they’ll play for him.  And, it’s not like the team doesn’t have talent.  They do, but also have some serious chemistry issues and a logjam at the 1, 2, and 3 spots.  IF Thomas can fix that, I’ll quickly give him his props.

But, for some reason, I think I’ll be giving him a good riddance and good bye when the all is said and done.  It’s a sad day for Knicks fans when the team situation is uglier than Bannister, Bol, and Jones combined.