<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Knicks assistant coach Herb Williams stuck up for his former boss yesterday, saying Larry Brown was not to blame for the Knicks' 23-59 record last season. While Knicks brass believes Brown violated his contract by not giving it his best, Williams said injuries were an underrated cause of Team Titanic's demise. Asked last night about the club's league-record 42 starting lineups at a charity function for the John Starks Foundation at a car dealership in Glen Clove, L.I., Williams defended Brown. "I never want to second-guess Larry," Williams told The Post. "He has been in the league too long. No way I'd ever second-guess him. I'm not going to put blame on him. It falls on everybody." One year ago, Williams was days away from being rehired as Knicks head coach before Brown was booted by the Pistons and hired by the Knicks. At his introductory press conference, Brown declared Williams was his heir apparent. But with Brown gone, desperate owner James Dolan turned to Knicks president Isiah Thomas instead. "One thing about the NBA, you never can predict what will happen year to year," Williams said. "It would have been nice [getting promoted], but things didn't work out that way and I will do everything as an assistant to help Isiah win." Williams took another slight when Thomas had his Chicago childhood buddy Mark Aguirre be the head coach of the summer-league team in Las Vegas "I don't think it made a big difference," Williams said. "I had my input." Thomas told The Post in Vegas he will not have a top assistant. It's a hodgepodge staff that will include Brown leftovers Dave Hanners (being courted by Denver) and Phil Ford. Brendan Suhr has moved back to the bench from the front office, joining Aguirre. Suhr and Aguirre once fought over a front-row seat two years ago. "If everybody wants to win, everybody has the same mindset, it won't be a problem," Williams said. "If guys have a set agenda, maybe there'll be problems. The coaching staff has to keep together." Williams was the lone Knicks coach to sit and talk to Brown during the Orlando pre-draft camp last month when Thomas and Brown weren't speaking. Williams has spoken to Brown since the dismissal. "I'll keep that private," Williams said. * Starks on the Knicks' chances: "I think we definitely can make the playoffs this year. I'll say that."</div> http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/larrys...marc_berman.htm
Man. This post reeks of corporate culture politics. I hope Herb does not get tossed to the curb after being such a great soldier for this organization. I wish somebody did a game by game analisis of the season to see the real reasons why so many lineups were used. Maybe I will. Stay tuned.
