It's seems obvious the Knicks will be parting ways with Isiah Thomas when the season ends, but the embattled team president and head coach won't even acknowledge the possibility that he might be done after four disappointing seasons in New York.
Thomas is confronted by the possibility almost daily. Unless there is a snag, the Knicks are on the verge of bringing in Donnie Walsh to run basketball operations. He needs to name a new coach if only to correct the lingering image problem. Selling tickets won't be easy unless Thomas is at least tucked away into an invisible front office post.
Thomas already seems to be a little disconnected.
"I've always tried to remain present and stay where I'm at," Thomas said of his live-in-the-moment approach. "You may misread my focus on the present, so I don't allow myself to get in those kind of debates because you're asking me to talk about things that haven't happened."
HAWKS 114, KNICKS 109: Another flat spot in the fourth quarter derailed an otherwise reasonable effort on Sunday at Philips Arena. It's a problem that's plagued the Knicks all season. They compete for three quarters and come apart down the stretch.
The deficit was just 84-80 when the fourth quarter got underway, but the Knicks managed just two field goals in a seven-minute span. Atlanta went on a quick 10-2 run left the Knicks in dire straits. A pair of Joe Johnson free throws with five minutes to go resulted in a 103-89 deficit.
Jamal Crawford led the Knicks with 39 points and eight assists. David Lee added 17 points and 10 rebounds.
