3 Point Blogs - 3PointScore.com

Another season about to begin and no one is expecting anything from the New York Knicks except drama. But there is hope: Isiah Thomas has been approaching this team in a way that is so crazy, it just might work.

Last year Larry Brown had them practicing and running enough drills to last them for the next 5 seasons and guess who is in the starting 5 was the name of the game all season long as Brown would change the line up night after night. With Brown dramatic exit, Isiah steps in the middle of the cow pie to do some clean up, but he only has 1 season to get it done. If Isiah wants to succeed this season at least he knows what not to do.

Isiah seems to understand that in order for the Knicks to have a better season then last, he'll need to focus on them from a mental and emotional level and from the sounds of it, the Knicks organization is pleased with the results so far.

Mental confidence and the solidarity of the team were at the top of Thomas’ list of accomplishments for the Knicks during training camp. “I felt like we got a lot accomplished, not only on the basketball court, but as a group,” said Thomas. “I can’t really focus on one guy – my focus is really about the team.”

On and off the basketball court, Thomas notes that the Knicks were involved with the team-building
exercises. From the end-of-practice free throw shooting to Spike Lee’s visit to Charleston is evidence
that Thomas wants team unity. Even the motion offense shows how important team unity is to Thomas and the success of the Knicks.

Isiah Thomas is coaching under a microscope this season as he was given the ultimatum to improve the team this season or be fired. The Knicks only won 27 games last season so improvement might just be 28 wins. Some say it's 33, while others say it would be a successful season if they can at least truly compete for the 8th seed of the playoffs in March. Publicly, Grunwald hasn't made his expectations public, but I'm sure behind closed doors Isiah knows exactly what he has to do if he is to resume his job in the front office.

I have faith in the Knicks and in Isiah Thomas. Just look at their line up; Marbury, Steve Francis, Eddy Curry, and Jared Jeffries are all good players. In fact, this is a team that can make it to the playoffs if they can pull off that Suns like offense that Isiah wants them to run this season.

The lineup is unbalanced but there isn't much that can be done because it will be very hard for the Knicks to move some of these lofty salaries. For example many would say that Steve Francis and Ford are over paid. If the Knicks really want to improve they are gonna have to look into balancing their team which is just one of the reasons Isiah Thomas is in the spot that he is considering that it was him that created this line up.

Coming into the 06-07 season many questions will be answered for the Knicks as the season goes on. Will Isiah last the whole season? Can they do better then last season? Will Steve Francis get his act together? Can Marbury and/or Francis learn to share the ball? Who will be in a steady starting lineup? And will the Drama continue?

This season Pay close attention to the Knicks. Weather they have a good season or a bad one, one thing is for sure. They will not be boring.