Isiah: "Knicks Have No NY" <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">December 23, 2005 -- Isiah Thomas said he did not ring in his second anniversary as Knicks president by "celebrating." Instead, Thomas commemorated the day by ripping the mental makeup of the club he built, calling his players "weak-minded" and saying they lacked "mental stamina." Thomas went further, asserting that some Knicks do not have the "substance" to face the pressure of playing professional sports in New York. Thomas invoked George Steinbrenner, saying the Yankees owner knows how to build a successful New York team. Thomas said his Knicks, reeling from a seven-game losing streak and 6-18 start, have shown a "fear" of playing in the World's Most Famous Arena. The Knicks have lost their last five at the Garden, three in blowouts. It was the closest Thomas has come to admitting he has made mistakes in assembling a team that's longer on athleticism than mental strength. "We're competitive on the road; I don't know if there's a fear playing at home. We've had embarrassing losses," Thomas said. "It's more than just our talent. You need a tough mental stamina to walk into Madison Square Garden and perform." New York's embarrassing basketball team tonight hosts the depleted Jazz ? who, in an ironic touch, will have former Knick GM Scott Layden sitting on their bench as Jerry Sloan's assistant. Once the target of "Fire Layden" chants, Frank Layden's son was dismissed two years and one day ago. In their recent home losses, the Knicks have been booed as ferociously as any edition of the Orange and Blue. The Knicks are tied with their predecessors of 1986-87 ? which at least included a young Patrick Ewing ? for the franchise's worst-ever start after 24 games. Worse, Thomas doesn't even keep their projected lottery pick in a year they actually have a real shot to win it. The average margin of defeat in three of their last four home losses is 16 points. "You always hear about the Yankees' payroll; I see why they go get star players, be cause you got to be a real stud of a guy to handle this," Thomas said. "It's not a place for the weak-minded guy, regardless of your talent. You can have great success playing in other markets, but it's almost reversed here. Your talent doesn't matter here. It's whether you can withstand the force of the pressure coming at you." Thomas ? regarded as a savior after he replaced Layden and traded for Stephon Marbury ? is now being doubted, while Marbury is being booed. </div> Source Memo to Isiah, blame the guy who put this team together.
