<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Larry Bird has been the greatest thorn in Isiah Thomas' professional side. After all, Bird not only stole the ball, he eventually took Thomas' job. The feelings of contempt that began during the 1987 Eastern Conference finals - when Bird intercepted a lazy Thomas pass and fed Dennis Johnson for the decisive layup - reached its nadir last summer when Bird fired Thomas as coach of the Indiana Pacers. ....... Knicks-Pacers was one of the league's fiercest rivalries throughout the 1990s. But when Patrick Ewing was traded following the 2001 season, Reggie Miller declared the rivalry dead. But now it has been revived by two legendary players from the Celtics-Pistons days. Both Thomas and Bird hold the title of president, basketball operations, and will be waging war from behind the scenes and through the draft, free agency, scouting and player development for the next few years. "I have no problem picking up the phone and trying to make a deal with anybody if I felt they had something that could help us," Thomas said. "I have a great deal of respect for (Bird). I really have no hard feelings. If he walks by and we happen to see each other I'll gladly shake his hand and chitchat." </div> Read the rest of the article here.
I didn't notice that coincidence. Now the rivaly continues with tonight's game. Check the preview in the Knicks forum for details.
