Link:Knicks owner James Dolan has seen progress and has heard from his players, and coach Isiah Thomas appears very safe for now.
Dolan, speaking casually to the team the day before Saturday's disheartening loss to the Utah Jazz, told his players that Thomas didn't have "anything to worry about right now," according to a person in the room at the time. Then to add emphasis, he playfully tapped center Eddy Curry on the shoulder, which made everyone in the room laugh.
It was Curry who said last week that if Thomas were to be fired at the end of the season, he would look to get off of the team, declaring, "I'd be trying to get out of here."
According to the person, who did not want to be identified due to the sensitive nature of the subject, Dolan was strongly hinting to Curry and his teammates -- who almost to a man worship Thomas -- that they need not worry, although it is believed Dolan has not yet made a final decision.
But he seemed to be reinforcing the idea that, barring any unforeseen collapses or roadblocks, Thomas will be back next year, hardly a surprise to anyone on the team or to anyone watching it closely.
While the owner was not making a major announcement to the players and did not make any guarantees about Thomas' future, his tone was supportive and positive, and also a little humorous. One of the things he mentioned was the wave that fans did at Madison Square Garden during the last game against the Clippers, which he seemed to enjoy.
Dolan was out West on business and had scheduled to attend the game against the Jazz after he fell ill during the Knicks previous West Coast trip in January. Although he witnessed a deflating overtime loss in Salt Lake City, Dolan has also seen a lot more positive things in 50 games this year than he did all of last season.
While still seven games under .500 at 22-29, the Knicks have nevertheless made what most observers would call "evident progress." With one more victory the Knicks will match last season's total, and in the process they have joined the playoff hunt.
"Evident progress" and "significant progress" were the terms used by Dolan when he appointed Thomas head coach over the summer. He said that unless Thomas demonstrated those things by the end of the season, he would be gone.
He has never given a tangible definition in terms of victories or playoff seeding for "significant progress," but Dolan said we would all know it when we see it.
