Links: How Isiah Didn’t Get Fired Yesterday
And C-Webb in the Hall?
So I had an interesting afternoon yesterday. I was sitting here at my desk, minding my own business, when I got an email from a guy I know who knows many things. He’s a good person to know, particularly for a journalist, because he’s plugged in. I’m plugged in too, but to a different outlet. And whenever either of us hears things that can help the other person, we pass the info along.
I know a couple of people like this, and these kind of relationships are key to what I do and what SLAM does. And occasionally, you’ll stumble into some information.
Anyway, yesterday I was sitting here finishing off my column for Hawks.com (looks like my speech worked, by the way), when I got an email.
It read, simply:
I think Isiah got it today.
To the point, yes. But coming from who it came from, I knew it was coming from an informed perspective.
First thing I did was a google news search on “Isiah Thomas” to see if anyone else was reporting that he’d been fired. They weren’t.
So I gave My Guy, the person who had sent me the email, a call. From what he’d heard, there were some curious things going on yesterday morning at the Knicks shootaround. Like it only lasting 20 minutes, this just a day after the Knicks canceled practice entirely. Even weirder, apparently none of the players knew it was a 20 minute shootaround — he heard they were sent back to the locker room while Isiah went off somewhere, and after waiting around for a while they all just left on their own, without hearing from Isiah again.
Hmm. I started looking around online for some news. Who might have covered shootaround and already written about it? Marc Berman comes through in the clutch. But according to Berman, who was there, Isiah spoke to the media and planned it as an 18-minute shootaround.
Talked to My Guy again. He said something strange was going on, he was certain. He didn’t think Isiah would be coaching last night.
Should I do a post about it? My Guy had a serious source, and I trusted the intel. I actually wrote a post, about how something odd seemed to be underway. But you know what I didn’t want to be? I didn’t want to be wrong. So I deleted the post and headed to the Garden. I hadn’t planned on going to last night’s Knicks/Heat exhibition game, but I figured I might as well swing by on the way home from the office, not only to show my face but also to see if anything was shaking.
I got to the Garden at 6:00 p.m., just as the locker rooms opened. Went in the Knicks locker room and it seemed like business as usual. I asked around, and nobody seemed to suspect anything out of the ordinary (well, as ordinary as things can be in Knicks-land right now). The only player in the locker room was Nate Robinson, and he was on his Blackberry the entire time I was in there.
Around 6:30, I heard that Isiah was about to speak to the media, so Russ and I went down to the press conference room. Isiah was sitting in a folding chair in the middle of the room, and there were 27 reporters circled around him. Nobody asked about Donnie Walsh, and nobody asked about his job security.
There were a few interesting moments, though. Someone asked about teams tanking games late in the season, and Isiah explained that there was a balance to strike, that you have to develop your younger players at some point and figure out a way to evaluate the players you have “contractual obligations” to.
Someone else asked if preparing for a game against this Heat team, with all their D-League guys, was less exciting than prepping for a game against Shaq and Wade. “The good thing and the bad thing about me,” Isiah said, “is that I love basketball. Twenty-four hours a day, basketball consumes my every thought.”
(Well, basketball and popcorn, I wanted to point out. But I didn’t.)
Sitting there listening to Isiah talk, he was rather engaging. He can speak passionately about basketball, even when his team is 31 games under .500 and his job seems to be in jeopardy. He handles himself well, knows how to answer whatever is thrown at him. And in a way, I felt sorry for him last night, because he’s in the middle of a huge gossip storm and he’s trying to keep his head above water. (Later on I remembered that he pretty much got himself into this situation, and I didn’t feel so bad.) Still, I told Russ that if I was James Dolan or some other prospective employer, I can totally see how Isiah would be able to make a convincing argument for himself as the man who could solve all your problems and get your business on the right track.
Doesn’t mean he’d be correct, though.
As the game was getting set to tip off, I went home to watch the Cavs/Hornets game.
As it turned out, My Guy and I were both wrong. Isiah was, and is, still coaching the Knicks.
For now, at least.
• Here’s a cool site someone sent me a link to today. It’s called muxtape.com, and you can create your own mixtape and upload it online and email the link to people, who can then listen to your mixtape over the net. Looks pretty good. I’d be using here at my desk today except our internet here in the SLAM Dome is powered by gerbils and is not fast enough for this new-fangled technology. Seems like a good way to share whatever you’re listening to, though. I’ll upload some stuff one of these days and pass it along to you guys. And if any of you guys think you can impress everyone with your mixtape, make one and send me the link and I’ll post it. I have high hopes for a possible mixtape from Sam or DJ Toney Blare.
• Speaking of Toney Blare, I left the Knicks/Heat game and went home and did indeed watch the Cavs/Hornets game. You guys know what happened by now. I’ve been on the Hornets bandwagon for a few weeks now, and I still think they’re going to surprise some people in the postseason, but there was one thing last night that I thought was kind of strange.
The Cavs had the ball, down 1, with about 15 seconds to go in the game. They inbound the ball to LeBron James. Everyone in the world knew that was coming. And who do the Hornets send out to guard LeBron? Peja Stojakovic? Yes, Peja Stojakovic! I understand that Peja’s having a good season and has been able to log a lot of minutes lately, but he can’t guard LeBron. Most people can’t guard LeBron, I understand, but Peja really, really can’t guard LeBron, especially with the game on the line and your team needing a stop against a guy who is going to try and drive to the basket.
What happened? LeBron got the ball, went right around Peja and got a layup to put Cleveland ahead. David West and Chris Paul bailed them out, but I couldn’t believe Byron Scott left Peja on an island out there. Then I started thinking about it…who else could they have put on LeBron? Chris Paul is too small, Tyson Chandler’s too tall, David West is too slow, Julian Wright is too young, Bonzi Wells is too bonzi. If the Hornets can pick up a 6-5ish defensive specialist this summer, I think they’ll be set.
• Linkstigator Brendan sent along this link to Andrew Bogut giving himself high fives last night against the Hawks.
I was watching when that happened, and the best part about it (which isn’t shown on the clip) was actually the next free throw, which Bogut missed. The Hawks apparently sent one of their own invisible guys over to box Bogut out, and Bogut was able to dunk home his own missed free throw without a lane violation, which rarely happens.
• One last thought: With Chris Webber retiring, is he a Hall of Famer? Before you answer, remember that it’s a “basketball” Hall of Fame, so they take into account not just NBA performance but also college and anything else. And CWebb’s college career apparently never happened, after the NCAA wiped his Michigan records off the books.
48 Responses to “Links: How Isiah Didn’t Get Fired Yesterday”
Mar.27 at 4:35 pm
Myles Brown says:
No.
Mar.27 at 4:43 pm
Co Co says:
Yep
Mar.27 at 4:51 pm
Milan says:
“Bonzi Wells is too bonzi” - that’s a good one right there, true as well.
Mar.27 at 4:57 pm
TADOne says:
Webber is a HOF.
Mar.27 at 5:07 pm
memyselfand9 says:
C-Webb is a hof, imo.
one of the best big men to ever play the game.
one of the best passing games the L has ever seen.
a lot of people will say that Kg >> C-Webb and that KG is a hof right now.
imo, a healthy C-Webb is at least as good as Kg.
i know stats don’t tell the whole story but look at webber’s stats. look at a career highlight reel. (the face he did after the dunk on mark west in the clip on nba.com is hilarious, btw)
unfortunarely he never won it all and people will always remember that time out.
Mar.27 at 5:13 pm
rav says:
‘toine should also be in the HOF with C-Webb…. maybe not
Mar.27 at 5:20 pm
rav says:
According to basketball-reference C-Webb has a 65.94% chance of being a HOF, however vince carter has a 94.15% chance and mutumbo has a 1.03% chance of being a HOF (behind such greats as stephon marbury, shareef abdur-rahim and andre miller)
Mar.27 at 5:26 pm
what says:
Nobody wants to high five bogut because he doesn’t have enough tattoos or jewelry.
Mar.27 at 5:46 pm
jbn74sb says:
Bogut’s routine was pretty f-cking funny.
Mar.27 at 6:05 pm
Gerard Himself says:
was Bogut basically making fun of his teammates there? Hilarious clip.
Mar.27 at 6:07 pm
Gerard Himself says:
I watched it 3 times now. Hilarious.
Mar.27 at 6:17 pm
Captain America says:
Bogie was given team mates the “1″
Mar.27 at 6:17 pm
Captain America says:
Lang, I admire your take-it-to-the-bank ethic.
Mar.27 at 6:18 pm
Captain America says:
‘toine should be in the I-HOP HOF
Mar.27 at 6:33 pm
michelle says:
Who said everyone will remember the time out? Look it’s the basketball HOF not the NBA. C-Webb before his injury was a stud. Period. Titles are won by teams that includes great coaches.It’s obvious that those of you who say no didn’t watch the tranfomation of the Kings. They were one of the worst teams in the league and every team he played for made the playoffs. Stop with the who won a title lame argument. No individual player will win you a title even M.J failed year after year before finally beating Detroit. As for his days at MI he was a stud funky freshman and superb sophmore many talented players before him didn’t sniff the final four let alone twice as a younster. Every game is win or go home so WTF are you talking about? To judge a person on 30 seconds of their life is not only stupid it’s insane. You certainly wouldn’t want someone to do that to you and I’m sure you have made blunders in life like the rest of us.His play in the tournament landed him on the all tournament team and had he stayed in college MI would have won. Those Duke teams were full of seniors. So stop the madness.When healthy in the NBA Webb was a top 10 player that alone gets him in. People please if you didn’t watch him play don’t comment on what you don’t know. ESPN plays clips of Laetner’s game winning shot all the damn time but guess what he sucked in the nba and left contantly failing drug test at the end of his career. Oh but I guess most of you who form you opinions based on what you see on Sports Center didn’t know that because THEY DON’T TELL YOU. So get informed. Webb is 20, 10 and 4 with over 20 triple doubles as a PF/C. There are people in thew hall with stats less than that so CASE CLOSED!
Mar.27 at 6:37 pm
Tommy Patron says:
Muxtape.com is down until 9 eastern while adding new servers!
Mar.27 at 7:44 pm
Balling NZ says:
LOL @ Bogut, that’s pretty cool….
Mar.27 at 9:49 pm
Edu says:
And, most funny of all, Bogut thinks he has six teamates…
Mar.27 at 10:02 pm
Dacre says:
They wiped his records from NCAA?….Hmm the stigma surrounding that would probably mean he doesn’t get a nod. Shame.
Mar.27 at 10:43 pm
Fyan says:
Zeke kinda reminds me of a used car salesman and Bogut behaves normally for a guy from Oz actually.
Mar.27 at 11:53 pm
Atrain says:
As one of the few lone Bucks fans still paying attention to one of the more dissapointing seasons in my lifetime, its good to see Bogut still keeping a light mood on things. He spoke the other day about wanting to stay in Milwaukee, which I hope he does. One of the few on the current roster who could help turn this mess around
Mar.28 at 1:51 am
dma says:
how can cwebb go to hof if he’s never been the best player on his teams.
Mar.28 at 2:10 am
Danny says:
“Then I started thinking about it…who else could they have put on LeBron? ”
Isn’t this why they got Mo Pete? The Hornets are a 2-guard away from becoming a dominant team.
Mar.28 at 2:53 am
Lang Whitaker says:
I don’t know about dominant, Danny, because their bench still needs some work, Peja’s not getting any younger and they could use a defensive specialist type, but one more good swingman guy will make them a great team.
Mar.28 at 4:43 am
hursty says:
co sign Fyan. eccentric as hell but sh!t we’re funny
Mar.28 at 5:40 am
karan says:
from this moment onwards, andrew bogut officially kicks ass… high fiving thin air? come on, thats creative insanity.
Mar.28 at 9:44 am
Mendel says:
U of L BABY!!!! Hey Bruce Pearl, STOP SNITCHIN!! Earl Clark = Lottery Pick
Mar.28 at 9:49 am
FLUXLAND says:
michelle… C-Webb sucks .. face it.
–
The only reason he has them numbers is cuz like you said, his teams sucked.
—
Don’t forget C-Webb has been suspended numerous times for smoking weed, before you bring up C.L.
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I have followed him since his grade school days..he does not deserve the HOF.
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I don’t know if you missed that part in Langs post but if you did.. stop talking about the U of M days.. they mean NOTHING. Chris can’t even talk or go to the U of M until 2020!
—
What stud? The same one that turned into a mouse in crunch time?
Mar.28 at 10:44 am
Eboy says:
Flux must have got turned down for a date request by C-Webb.
Mar.28 at 11:34 am
tony b says:
Unrelated question….
Lang, did you end up hosting that mixtape? When you made a bet about Lebron averaging at least, I think, 15 points in his rookie year.
Mar.28 at 12:42 pm
Benny The Jet Rodriguez says:
Isiah Thomas was raised on popcorn.
Mar.28 at 1:47 pm
MICHELLE says:
DMA,
WTF are you smoking. He was the best player on the Bullets and the Kings. He was a rookie in GS and the other teams were post knee sugery. As for that wiping the Fab Five off the books bs. Obivously you people are very naive. Getting money,homes, gifts period was common. It’s not who was doing it, it’s who they choose to go after.I’m sure colleges still do that crap when they recruit.I still don’t know if Ed Martin was a MI booster.So stop with that crap. He doesn’t need his college stats anyway to make it his time in the NBA is good enough. Listen you people aren’t pro athletes and who do you think knows more, Barkley and A.I. or you. Ahhhhh, NUFF SAID!
Mar.28 at 1:50 pm
MICHELLE says:
Fluxland,
You are an immature idiot. I know he smoked weed when he was young and so does everyone else because the media told you. My point was the media bias.Bet you didn’t know about C.L. drug problems late in his career. C.L. sucked idiot.
Mar.28 at 1:54 pm
MICHELLE says:
People on here need to grow up I don’t give a damn about MI. DId they give all the money back they made off of Chris I doubt it.Turn into a mouse he made the basket before that with like 40 seconds left in the game. You folks are real small minded. Why don’t you say that sh.. to his face. We would see who the mouse is then.
Mar.28 at 2:02 pm
Toney Blare says:
we all saw the video, we know what it’s like when you’re “minding my own business.”
Mar.28 at 3:18 pm
monkeyface says:
C-Webb does not deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. He was a dominant, MVP-caliber player for three, maybe four years. He took his team to the Western Conference Finals and then blew it. Come to think of it, Mike Bibby took the big shots in Game 5.
He was a great college player. Legendary? Christian Laettner was better.
Statistically, he is inferior to KG. Though Garnett better at least make it to the Finals this year or his stock has to plummet in the all-time-great list.
C-Webb deserves to be in the Hall if Bob McAdoo, Dominque Wilkins, Alex English, Adrian Dantley, Mark Price, Chris Mullin, or, for that matter Reggie Miller deserve it. I don’;t think so.
Now, the Fab Five as a unit, for their impact on the game, without a doubt deserve it.
Mar.28 at 3:22 pm
arthur says:
I’d say he was, because his Kings team were the main competitor that the Lakers faced during their three year dynasty. If the Kings had been in the East the Finals would actually have been worth watching.
Mar.28 at 4:03 pm
Kevin says:
i don’t think Webber’s HOF, but he really was a talented player at some point..
Mar.28 at 5:02 pm
Keith says:
I’m a big Andrew Bogut fan, so I’m glad you mentioned about the put-back dunk off the FT miss. I was wondering if the clowning threw him off, mentally, for the second shot, but it turns out it was not the case… Bogut made the subsequent free throw. From the NBA.com play-by-play: Bogut Free Throw 1 of 2 (14 PTS) 4:45 [MIL 49-54]
4:45 Pachulia Substitution replaced by Jones
Villanueva Substitution replaced by Yi 4:45
Bogut Free Throw 2 of 2 (15 PTS) 4:45 [MIL 50-54] There was a put-back dunk on his own missed free throw which came about 40 seconds later, at 4:02 in the 2nd Quarter Bogut Free Throw 1 of 2 (16 PTS) 4:02 [MIL 51-55]
Bogut Free Throw 2 of 2 missed 4:02
Bogut Rebound (Off:5 Def:0) 4:00
Bogut Putback Dunk Shot: Made (18 PTS) 3:58 [MIL 53-55] So I guess your memory was just 40 seconds off. By the way, I heard his personal trainer (Croatian coach from Australia) had been in town working, among other things, on Bogut’s free throw shooting. Bogut was 5-6 so maybe the high five is now part of his mental routine at the line whether his teammates are there or not.
Mar.29 at 10:18 am
Shaun says:
bogut-rofl
c-webb - i’ve got to go with michelle on this one, great points, good to know theres a female out there that knows basketball (can i get your number btw? haha). and wtf is so wrong about smoking? it’d be a damn shame if anyone let alone c-webb didnt get into the hall just because of smokin.
Mar.30 at 1:53 am
Aaron says:
If the Hornets need a defensive mid sized swingman, how about Caron Butler. There’s going to be some kind of meltdown during the play-offs in Washington and they’ll probably blow the team up and rebuild around (I’m guessing) Gilbert, because he sells more jerseys.
Mar.30 at 2:15 am
Phila says:
Lang, got into the Garden to see a free NBA game and left to go home and watch his TV. Growing up in the hood I would give anything to go to an NBA game. Even if it was just the Knicks and Heat. You takin that for granted Lang.
Mar.31 at 10:32 am
michelle says:
C-Webb makes his teammates better. That is the best part of his game and the reason why many of the teams he played for were not playoff teams before he got there. Athletes have to play with the cards they are delt. My mind is not so shallow to pick out small moments of an athletes career instead I choose to look at the entire body of work. For years C-webb lead the Kings in points, rebounds and assist.I also believe in the famed series against the Lakers he did the same. It is not unuasal for guards to take big jumpers in games and that is just one game in what I think was a pretty good career even with the injuries. The Kings when he was traded I think were the 4th seed in the West then quickly sank to the bottom just hanging on as I think the 8th seed only to get embarrassed in the first round by Seattle. They have since not won a playoff series without him, and now like before Webb became a King they don’t even make the playoffs at all. Once again, keeping things in perspective lets look at that Lakers series. Better coach, more experienced players, and the refs in their pocket. Looks like to me the deck was stacked against the Kings to begin with. They were not the favorite to win and played the majority of the series without their 2nd leading scorer in Peja S. Most of the Kings big men stayed in foul trouble toward the end of the series which I’m sure altered their game a bit. In game 7 overtime it was the play of the Lakers exsperienced role players like Fox,and Fischer that sealed the deal. Again Webb had to defend Shaq since most of the Kings other big men fouled out. The Kings learned a lot in that series missing a lot of free throws and at times playing tight.They were no different from any other young team that had to slay the giant. Also no matter what never leave Horry alone. The shot he made to win I think game 5 or 6 was incredible and could not have been predicted. I’m sure that loss was a huge blow to confidence of a young team. Again, I choose to look at the big picture. The Kings losing the series had much do with all the things I mentioned and not the play of Webb.They should be proud since they also did many things right to keep the series close Webb kept his teammates involved that was his game. Stop trying to define who or what he should have been.The next year the Kings were the favorite to win it all but unfortunately in game 2 of the playoffs against the Mavs Webb went down with the career ending knee injury and the series was over. The Kings went on to lose the series without thier leader and best player. That would be the only time the Kings would lose to the Mavs in the playoffs. Webb rehabed hard and even returned early with much pain, swelling and played through it. He could have given up or just walked away but he didn’t.With bone on bone pain and inability to jump or turn to defend he continued on. Even when Webb returned from his knee injury and everyone said the Kings would lose, the Kings went on to beat the Mavs with Webb dropping a triple double on them in what I think was pivitol game 4. The Kings went on to lose in the next round to Timberwolves in 7 games. Someone mentioned earlier KG. Great player no doubt but before his knee injury Webb, Duncan and KG had many classic battles and I stand to correct you by saying KG did not out play Webb. KG because of his size could never handle Webb on the block. I have many of these games on tape so if you don’t believe me look it up. Webb and KG should not be kept out of the hall because of not winning a title again players deal with the cards they are delt. The Kings gave that dominant Lakers team all they could handle. I remember the year before that they dominated everyone including the Spurs beating them like 30pts every game in the playoffs so people when you talk sports please keep things in persective. The Steelers won the SB a couple years back but their qb had the lowest qb rating in the history of the SB and there was much said about the ref’s in that game. Should Big Ben then be a automatic hof because he won a SB even though he played terrible? Should the Buffalo Bills be looked at as a bunch of failures? Absolutley not. Luck also plays a part in titles and sometimes it’s just not meant to be. Tells me there is a reason these players should be remembered and never forgotten. They probably have a higher calling in life and someone wants us to remember them always.Sports writers who many of which were nerds in hs shouldn’t even have a vote for the hall. It should be former players and coaches only who aren’t so shallow and ridulous in their thinking. Again titles are won due to the right time, coaching, health,luck, refs etc. If even one thing is missing you are screwed. Great players like Webb before his knee injury can get you close I give you that. They can carry a team on their back but if you have the wrong coach it aint gonna happen. Flip S. good coach but not championship caliber same with Adelman. If Webb had been on the Lakers with Kobe and Phil I’m sure he would have a title. Teams also need time to grow together before they win in most cases. Ask this question would the Kings have been in the finals if they were in the East? Hell yeah! Were they the second best team in the league? Hell yeah so why do some of you think so shallow. There are teams in the west right now that won’t make the playoffs with 50 wins. While there are teams in the East thet will get in with records below 500. Is that fair? No, but like I said timing is everything and KG may finally be in the right place at the right time. I hope some of you don’t have kids because too many of you the glass is half empty instead of half full take the Fab Five there were young playing against many teames with seriors and juniors. They overachieved. IT’S WIN OR GO HOME PEOPLE AND IF YOU LOSE YOU ARE GOING HOME! Webb played huge in many tournament games so grow up with the T.O. bs. With 30 seconds left MI was LOSING he did not blow the game he took away the chance to tie or go ahead but that’s it the game winning shot still had to be made. I guess if you score late with 40seconds left in the game as Webb did but make a mistake with 30 left you ar a choker. That’s stupid and ridiulous thinking. He was the heart and soul of the Fab Five and without him there would be no final 4 or tilte game appearences. Also before you mention Ed Martin the alledged booster though it was never proven. Many college athletes both football and basketball stars recieved gifts, cars, money, homes and I can’t say that I blame them. It’s who they choose to target. That’s all, so kill the noise on that subject. The NCAA are full of a bunch of rich hypocrits allowing players to play who would otherwise be academically ineligible and receive all kinds of gifts to come to their schools to make them richer while looking the other way. So they have no credibility anymore then our gov. that prosecutes people but at the same time brought drugs into this country and claimed there were WOMD to go to war with Iraq. Didn’t mean to change the subject but people get a clue!I will close by saying just ask the Kings fans how much joy they felt while Webb was there? Then ask them how they fell now? It’s not all winning a title, most pro athletes will never win one. It’s about the journey. I guess the kids from Davidson should think they are failures according to the thinking of may of you. Also in juding an atheletes career it’s fair to throw out the first 2 yrs and the last 2 yrs of their career. Webb missed the second season with a shoulder injury and the knee injury came in 2003. He had far more then just 3 or 4 good years so again please check the tape.
Mar.31 at 10:49 am
michelle says:
Just thought about one more thing. The difference between a guy that scores 30 and takes all the shots are playoff appearences. Kobe learned that this year. In order for the team to have success and by success I mean making the post season, the entire team has to play their roles and be involved.If you get your mates involed and still average 30 then great. C-Webb has practiced this since the Fab Five and that’s why all his teams were successful and fun to watch.
Mar.31 at 11:07 am
michelle says:
Thanks Shaun!
Mar.31 at 6:13 pm
Julian says:
i agree with Michelle.
Mar.31 at 9:34 pm
Paul says:
I agree with Michelle. It’s a shame a woman has to break it down for you guys. Webb is a HOF for all the reasons she mentioned. Webb was rookie of the year with GS they also made the playoffs. Special players make their teams better that’s the best part of his resume. You have guys that score 30 and make the allstar team every year but are home come playoff time watching the tube with us.
Apr.18 at 1:55 pm
SLAM ONLINE | » Links: NBA Friday says:
[…] Now, you may recall the post I wrote a few weeks ago about how there were some weird things going on in Knicks-land, things even stranger than usual. At the time, My Guy was certain that Isiah had lost his gig coaching the Knicks. I wrote then that I thought we were wrong. […]