A Champion's Opinion........

Amen.... I'm glad this is coming from someone who actually played the game, and not from someone who has probably lacked any semblance of athletic ability their entire lives, or someone who has absolutely no idea about what it takes to compete. Sounds EXACTLY, like what I have been saying all year. BTW, Willis is not an MSG employee either, just one of the greatest legends that has ever donned the uniform. If Curry gets in shape, we can beat anyone, period. The onus is on Curry... Isiah's job is getting that message through to the most important piece in the "current" roster. Unless we could get Kobe, and possibly, add Artest next year, we have to be resigned to the fact that Curry is the one individual who's progress (conditioning/ defensively/ etc) can propel the Knicks into a contender and/or champion. If he can do that, watch the chemistry flourish... Mark my words.



Willis Reed defends Isiah Thomas, laments losing ways of Knicks
Friday, January 11th 2008, 4:00 AM Bedford/Getty - Willis Reed -Farrell/News

Reed's dramatic and historic effort in Game 7 against the Lakers on May 8, 1970 helped spark the Knicks to their first title.
The May 9, 1970 front page of the Daily News.

These should be heady times for Willis Reed. He is eagerly counting the days until the NBA All-Star Game arrives in his native Louisiana, providing another much-needed economic boost to New Orleans. And he is looking forward to seeing one of his neighbors in Ruston, La., Karl Malone, get his ticket punched this spring to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
But when Reed sees what is happening to his beloved Knicks, he feels as frustrated as any season ticket-holder. But where the team's legendary captain and former coach draws the line is in calling for Isiah Thomas' head.
"I can't say I'd make a move with Isiah," Reed said Thursday at an appearance at the NBA Store. "I think he's doing all he can. He's got talent there. But they just don't have the chemistry right. Hopefully, my guys will turn it around. Sometimes, it takes time and I hope that's the case."
While the collection of players Thomas has assembled is flawed, Reed kept coming back to the obvious lack of cohesion.
"When we played and when we won, we were a team," said the lone Knick to win the NBA's MVP award, in 1970. "We were like brothers. We were there for the same cause, we were there for each other, we worked for the same goal, and we won two championships."
But these days, the Knicks are known only as accomplished losers, which pains Reed.
"I'm a fan and I believe Isiah will eventually turn it around, but I am frustrated because we all want to win," he said. "I'm sitting down there in Ruston, watching their games on TV, and I just know they're trying everything. They're willing to spend the money. They've got good talent. But it just has not clicked. There's something missing."
Perhaps more than a few of the players are not cut out for New York, a point Reed concurred with.
"I know that New York is not an easy place to play," he said. "You better have tough skin, thick skin, around here. We had some bad teams, too, and we got booed, before we got good. So my advice to the players is, don't read the paper. Stay focused on doing what you can do as a player to make your team better."
While he monitors his old team, Reed has been appearing in public service announcements on behalf of the Louisiana Bureau of Tourism to promote his state as a travel destination. He will be in New Orleans Feb.16-17 for the All-Star Game.
"When I watch TV, I see the same footage all the time - New Orleans is underwater," he said. "But New Orleans is not still underwater. There's a lot of excitement about the All-Star Game. It's going to be a phenomenal event for the city and the state. You see, a lot of good things are going on down there."
Among them, Reed lists Malone's expected nomination to the Hall of Fame.
"His longevity and work ethic were phenomenal," Reed said. "The only reason he didn't get his ring was because of Michael (Jordan). That's all he's missing from his career. But anybody who plays power forward in our league should look at what the Mailman did to see how it's done."
mlawrence@nydailynews.com