By Geoff Walter / SNY.tv

 

 

The holidays are almost here and many people are getting pink slips stuffed in their stockings instead of toys and goodies. Knicks Head Coach Isiah Thomas is already on thin ice for his handling of the team the past two seasons and Larry Brown's arrival and departure. Between mounting losses, a horrible record at home, impatient fans, the media attention, spats with players, and an owner breathing down his neck, can Thomas make it to Christmas let alone the end of the regular season? Here's your chance to see my take on Isiah's future and respond with some thoughts of your own.

As of right now, the Knicks have a 6-13 record. In the first 17 games of the 2005-06 season, the Knicks were in exactly the same place and then went on a seven game losing streak. With the 103-100 loss to the Raptors Saturday night, another losing streak seems like clockwork. As Yogi Berra would say, "it's deja vu all over again." Not only that but, the Knicks now have a 1-7 record at home. Last year at the Garden, under Brown, the Knicks were 3-3 through the first 19 regular season games.

There was no urgency and no defense in the game against Toronto, nor was there for much of the past 19 games. In those performances, the Knicks have failed to move the ball, play effective defense, and shoot the ball well. So far, three of the six wins were by three points or less. Of the 13 losses, eight were by ten points or less. When games are that close, it's defensive miscues, missed shots, costly turnovers, and missed free-throws that are usually the culprits. The Knicks have those in abundance.

San Antonio, Houston, Cleveland, Indiana and Detroit are all either at or above .500 on the season, and the first three have already played the Knicks twice. For the most part, New York has held its own and shown off some fourth quarter rallies. Last year through the first 19 games the Knicks only faced L.A., Phoenix, Detroit and Miami once, with sub-par teams in between.

Or maybe they never were, or will be. Jared Jeffries (left wrist) is out until late December, or January. Channing Frye (left ankle) is also out for three to six weeks. Therefore, by January we should be seeing what Thomas can or can't do with the team.

Eddy Curry has been a terrific spark off the bench, and there is a lot less infighting, aside from the Stephon Marbury situation. The Knicks also have a horrible home record, which is both inexcusable and detrimental to any playoff hopes the Knicks aspire to and which Thomas believes the team is capable of. Not to mention that just one postseason game may mean he gets to keep his job. Meanwhile, owner James Dolan will sit and wait in his owner's box, giving Thomas all the rope he needs to hang himself. In the end it's the fans that suffer. If there's ever an opening at head coach, maybe Dolan should give Whoopi Goldberg a call.