<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Greg Anthony, the ESPN analyst and former Knick, declined to respond directly to team president/coach Isiah Thomas' stinging barbs, but retaliated in the next best way: He trashed Thomas' team. In his first interview since Thomas destroyed him for bashing the Knicks' selection of Renaldo Balkman in this year's draft, Anthony said yesterday the roster lacks chemistry and that he expects them to miss the playoffs. It clearly was a direct hit on the guy who assembled this club. "I don't necessarily think that they're not a better basketball team," Anthony told The Post before the Knicks allowed lost to the Nets, 138-121, in their preseason finale at the Meadowlands. "I just think other teams are better in the Eastern Conference. They have a lot of issues; a lot of things need to be resolved. Basketball talent-wise, they are good enough. The makeup of the team is not good enough. They don't have the kind of chemistry one would like to have on a basketball team. That's unfortunate. That's the way it is. I see them improving, but making the playoffs is another level. Brass has to first get them back to some state of relevance." Last week, Thomas blasted Anthony for his draft-night diatribe, when the former Knick said Balkman could have been had as an undrafted free agent. In truth, Balkman likely would have been selected in the second round. However, Thomas could have taken budding star point guard Marcus Williams at No. 20 (he was taken by the Nets at No. 22 and had 21 points and nine assists last night) and saved Balkman for the 29th pick. With the hustling Balkman having an impressive preseason, Thomas unloaded on Anthony, deriding his playing career, saying he'll never work for MSG Network as long as he (Thomas) has a say, and adding it was disloyal for ex-Knick to be so harsh. "I don't really want to comment on anything Isiah has to say," Anthony said. "I don't want to discuss him personally, but I don't have a problem discussing the prospects of the team, as it relates to the rest of the league. It's not worth commenting on. We're in the business of being criticized. It comes with the territory." And so Anthony criticized the way Thomas assembled this $122 million roster: a club featuring an awkward backcourt of Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis and few defensive-minded players. "I think their team makeup is a problem, not the individual players," Anthony added. "They have guys who do a lot of good things on the basketball floor but I don't know if they complement each other." Anthony did a give a slight mea culpa when asked about Balkman's preseason. "Yes, I have [seen him]," Anthony said. "I think he's a solid, young basketball player."</div> http://www.nypost.com/seven/10282006/sport...rman.htm?page=0 I thought Greg Anthony was going to send some serious shots at Isiah. But he doesn't want any beef. He knows better.
<div class="quote_poster">MrJ Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">But he doesn't want any beef. He knows better.</div> Someone has to be mature in this whole situation.
He could have hit him where it hurts too. Isiah questioned Anthony's deficiencies in basketball. But, you've got Isiah's GM, coaching, and commentating failures to harp on. Smart move by Anthony, anyways. Why let Isiah drag you down with him?
Classy response fron Anthony. Im my opinion he's just saying what everyone else was saying so why single him out. Its not like his comments werent valid. But this just shows the pressure that thomas is under. He has always had a short fuse under that phoney smile of his. The Knicks are jacked up ( no offence to this forum) and if they have a bad season its probably the best for the future. Isaih will be gone and the knicks can get somone who can make some smart moves. And its not that Anthony doesnt want "Beef" He gets paid to state his opinion about the leagues not attack anyone personally. Thomas got defensive when Anthony simply stated his opinion. Seems like some signs of nervousness and insecurity are there. GL. NY
That's a good response, taking the high road. I wouldn't have felt too bad had he taken some shots at Zeke, though.
Isiah needs to be fired. Doesn't know how to assemble a team, created an insane payroll, and acts like a child who "may" have sexually harrassed a woman. Jeez.
