Isiah finally has winner
Thomas hitting right buttons for Liberty
JUDGING on the record, there’s no denying Isiah Thomas has done a startlingly solid job with the Liberty in his first year as president. Whether the hiring should still be regarded as inappropriate is an issue that is still being debated.
During Thomas’ introductory press conference at which he answered for his past record as the central figure in a sexual harassment lawsuit, the former Knicks president/coach begged the assembled media to heretofore judge him on his winloss ledger with the Liberty.
With Thomas making behindthescenes moves since being secretly empowered in January (his presidency wasn’t announced until May 5), the Liberty finished the regular season Sunday with the best record in franchise history at 2311 and, for the first time, the best record in the WNBA. This after the Liberty failed to make the playoffs two straight seasons.
While Knicks president Phil Jackson was AWOL all summer, off in Montana and Los Angeles following his 1765 disgrace, Thomas guided a Garden winner. How do you figure?
Owner James Dolan recently wanted to sell the financially floundering Liberty. Now a semiregular attendee at Liberty games, he appears delighted as his WNBA franchise begins its playoff run Friday against Washington at the Garden.
Thomas has laid low amid the Liberty’s climb, declining interviews. In a statement to The Post, Isiah said:
“When we were building this team during the offseason, there were three specific goals in mind: We wanted our team to have great chemistry, identify players that would have a positive impact in the com munity, and to be known for our on court defense first. To see this group perform at such a high level from the very start of the year has been enjoyable to watch. Coach (Bill) Laimbeer, his staff, and our players, have done an incredible job. ”
While Dolan is enthused the Liberty have become more relevant, Thomas’ success probably hasn’t increased his chances of a second stint as Knicks president. The 70yearold Jackson has anointed general manager Steve Mills as his successor. Though Mills hired Thomas to run the Knicks in 2004, they aren’t close — their union in the Anucha BrowneSanders mess is not one Mills would care to relive.
How much credit should Thomas get for the team’s 2311 record? Thomas promoted Kristen Bernert from senior vice president of business operations to general manager, and the two worked together on a series of moves.
Rehiring Laimbeer after he initially was canned following a 2642 twoseason disappointment was their best call. Bernert worked with Laimbeer in Detroit where he guided the Shock to three WNBA titles.
Thomas also brought in Liberty alumnus Teresa Weatherspoon as the team’s director of player development — the only WNBA team with this position. He added exKnick assistant Herb Williams to the coaching staff to work with the frontcourt players.
The Garden protests following news of Thomas’ hiring now turn to playoffs. The Liberty, a charter member of the league that began play in 1997, have never won a championship. It would be a cruel joke if Thomas breaks the curse.
Why couldn’t he have had this success with the Knicks?