In what amounted to a farewell speech before last night’s Knick home finale, Isiah Thomas finally sounded like he’d been told of his doomed fate, and gushingly thanked the fans for late-season support.
There were only faint boos and weak “Fire Isiah” chants in the final minute of the final home game of Thomas’ Knicks coaching career, but the Garden long ago lost its venom of fall and winter. Either the fans were too full from free food, or the anger had long ago been beaten out of them. And, after all, Thomas, 56-107 as coach, already has been fired as president.
MORE: Read Berman’s Knicks Blog
In Thomas’ Garden coaching swan song, the Knicks blew a nine-point second-half lead, beaten by the depleted Celtics, 99-93, at the sold-out Garden, setting the franchise record for most home losses (15-26). The Celtics were without their Big 3 – Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen – in extending their Atlantic Division lead over the Knicks to 42 games.
At least owner James Dolan knows how to throw a party. The fans left the Garden stuffed from the free hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, chocolate bars, Cracker Jack, ice cream and soda, though they still departed hungry for a winner at 23-58.
But Thomas still is talking like president Donnie Walsh has a job for him in the organization.
“My job is to do what the boss says and since I’ve been here, I’ve been asked to wear a lot of different hats and I’ve have tried to wear them as best as I can,” Thomas said. “Whatever he wants of me, whatever he wants me to do, I’ll do. That’s his call. I’ll be OK with whatever decision he makes.”
Walsh and Thomas apparently are figuring out a new role for him, perhaps working with players in a fancy title – director of player development. The Knicks’ season finale is tomorrow in Indianapolis and an announcement on Thomas’ fate should come by Friday.
“I want to be a part of the Knicks,” said Thomas. “I want to be part of the parade. Good things are going to happen here. I want to be a part of it.”
The only good thing that happened to Knicks fans this season was last night’s free stuff. Extra vendors dished out the goodies. Lines were speedy and fans behaved with decorum. As one fan said, “It’s like a bar mitzvah with an NBA game as dessert.”
Thomas called the fan support “mind-blowing.” They sold out eight of their last 10 games, 21 overall. Only a few months ago, Thomas complained the Garden boos were affecting his team’s play. Yesterday Thomas paid them homage.
“If this is the worst it could possibly be, then the best in New York has to be heaven if this is the worst, if this is bottom,” Thomas said.
“If this is the extreme on the bottom, then New York is a great place to be, an awesome place to be. Because they’re there. We’ve been in lot of arenas where there’s apathy; fans don’t care. When I first got here, people didn’t come to the games.
“I honestly love the way they supported our team through these difficult times,” Thomas added. “There’s a certain aspect of losing that really, really stinks and the fans have a right to voice it when it stinks . . . because we’re in the locker room voicing that, too.”
As Thomas made his way for the last time to the interview room, he stopped to chat with the injured Garnett. “Are you trying to steal our man,” Celtic Brian Scalabrine said.
Thomas admitted to a “unique” season, starting with the sexual harassment trial that spilled into training camp.
“Let’s just say, it’s been a very unique year,” Thomas said. “I don’t think the things that we had to go through aren’t normal in the course of an NBA season that I’ve experienced.”
Celtics 99 Knicks 93