<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Isiah Thomas plans to interview everyone from Phil Jackson to Gene Hackman for the Knicks' coaching vacancy this summer. No one knows exactly who Thomas will make his No. 1 priority, but if he's keeping a top 10 list in his Palm Pilot, it's time to cut and paste interim coach Herb Williams up a few slots. Williams, who inherited a dispirited and struggling team, has the Knicks playing with the defensive intensity and attitude that hasn't been seen in Madison Square Garden since Jeff Van Gundy was running up and down in front of the bench. Last night, the Knicks finally beat the Celtics, who humiliated them in their home opener and beat them two more times. The 107-82 victory was mean, nasty and against a quality opponent. It featured Stephon Marbury screaming at the Celtics' bench, Paul Pierce getting into it with Tim Thomas and even the mild-mannered Williams exchanging a few words with Boston point guard Gary Payton. "The game got a little physical and our guys didn't back down," Williams said. It was the second straight quality win for the Knicks, who have won eight of their last nine at home. In many ways, it was much more impressive than Monday night's rout of the Tim Duncan-less Spurs. The first-place Celtics had won seven in a row and are now 11-2 since Antoine Walker rejoined them. They walked into the Garden acting as if they owned it. Star players refused to talk with reporters before the game, and Pierce even yelled at a television reporter who was trying to interview Tony Allen. The Celtics clearly had been reading too many of their own press clippings, and that haughtiness carried over onto the court. "We didn't show them any respect," coach Doc Rivers said, shaking his head. "You have to show up and play. We had guys yapping with guys on their bench, and that is not winning basketball. That is not a winning team.</div> Source
