Star Ledger - April 21, 2007 | April, 2007
For the first time in his four-year coaching career Isiah Thomas spent the day after the regular season ended holding exit meetings with players and issuing a state- of-the-team address to reporters.
No practice and no playoff opponent to prepare for.
But as distraught as Thomas was to be hugging his players goodbye here in April, he said he didn't intend on making significant changes over the summer and vowed that the same basic group (this time being healthy, he assumes) will make the playoffs next year.
"I don't think we're that far away," Thomas said. "I fully believe this in my heart, that this day (next year) we will be talking about who we're getting ready to play and how we're going to beat them and if we can beat them. As opposed to the day we're having today, had we not been so depleted."
Asked directly if he was promising a playoff berth next year with the same squad, Thomas said, "Yes, I am saying that." (...)
I hope
