Sixers 114 – Knicks 95
Hall-of-Fame coach Chuck Daly wrote the foreword to the new book, “The Perfect Team.” If a book were to be written on this season’s Knicks, it could be entitled “The Imperfect Team.”
Daly, who coached Knicks president Isiah Thomas in Detroit, believes his former superstar point guard knows what it takes to build a perfect team, even giving him credit for helping Detroit construct its two championship teams in the late 1980’s. The new book contains sports legends naming their “perfect team.”
Daly, 75, retired in Jupiter, Fla., said Thomas is “collecting assets” to make the key trade that will turn around the franchise.
“Isiah got thrust into it,” Daly told The Post in a phone interview. “The spiral started long before that. Isiah was being very proactive. They are garnering talent. They have multiple talents like point guards. They’re evaluating and collecting assets.
“There is no question Isiah Thomas has a great eye for talent,” Daly added. “Check his picks in Toronto. No question Larry Brown is a great coach. Those circumstances have to come together. Now the talent doesn’t mesh.”
Most New Yorkers would not disagree with Daly’s view as the Knicks yesterday fell to a season-worst 34 games under .500 (19-53) after a 114-95 loss to the Sixers. The Knicks need to go 3-7 in their last 10 to avoid finishing with the worst record in franchise history.
Things have gotten so bad, white T-shirts inscripted with the words “Fire Isiah” are being peddled on a website http://www.sadknicks.com.
According to Daly, Thomas had great influence in personnel decisions even in Detroit and it’s known he influenced Pistons management to trade with the Mavericks for Mark Aguirre during the 1988-89 season.
“He had a lot to do with building that team,” Daly said of Thomas. “He knows what it takes to win. He’s a very, very bright guy. This kills him more than any person in New York and you can write that. He was very involved in that franchise’s decisions with [former GM] Jack McClosky.”
Daly did not select Thomas on his perfect team, chosing Magic Johnson and Jason Kidd as his guards. But Daly did mention Thomas in the foreword repeatedly, saying: “He is one of a handful of guys who can get other people to follow. I said once he might have been the greatest player in history if he were five inches taller.”
When Daly was a consultant with the Grizzlies, he had a hand in a key trade that turned that franchise around, when they acquired Pau Gasol in the draft, giving up Mike Bibby and Shareef Abdur-Rahim.
“We were in the exact same situation [as the Knicks],” Daly said. “What to we had to do is go to the bottom. People thought we were crazy. That’s the kind of move the Knicks have to make.”
Unfortunately, Thomas does not have his own lottery pick, instead owning two late first-rounders. As The Post reported, Brown told confidants he’s in love with LSU freshman Tyrus Thomas and would consider him for the No. 1 pick overall. Thomas uses his athleticism for defensive purposes, rebounding, blocking shots – stuff the Knicks don’t have.
On his Perfect Team, Daly had Phil Jackson over Brown as coach. Only Allen Iverson and Kidd selected Brown.
“It’s been a rough year, but anyone who’s coached against him knows he’s a great coach,” Daly said of Brown. “Right now it’s hard because the players are looking for the season to end.”