|
|
|
Thursday, April 19, 2001
Thomas, Walsh refute column's points
ESPN.com news services
|
INDIANAPOLIS – Isiah Thomas reacted angrily Tuesday to a column written by Jeff Denberg on ESPN.com criticizing the Pacers' first-year head coach for his work ethic, dedication and productivity.
"To anyone who's covered our team and been around our team, they would know that that's not the atmosphere and that none of those things that he suggested has happened," Thomas told a writer for the team's web site before the Pacers played Phoenix on Tuesday night. "That's the nature of the business. I've been in sports long enough to know that these things happen and people have their opinions and sometimes they're not truthful."
Denberg wrote in his Eastern Conference notebook published Monday that Thomas was likely the main reason the Pacers are in jeopardy of not making the playoffs. Denberg quoted unnamed sources close to the Pacers as saying the former star player is disingenuous and has been responsible for the team's uneven play because of numerous lineup changes, among other reasons.
"What strikes those who know what's going on is that Isiah doesn't appear to work very hard," Denberg quoted one insider as saying. "He's constantly canceling shoot-arounds. He cancels practices. He's frequently late. You can say a lot of bad things about a lot of coaches, but very few, if any, are late."
Denberg's column also said Thomas' relationship with team president Donnie Walsh is strained. Walsh denied that to the Pacers' web site writer on Tuesday, too.
"It's totally untrue," Walsh said. "Nothing could be further from the truth. I don't know where this is coming from. The fact is, I like what Isiah is doing with the team, I like him as a head coach and I like our future. If there's any problem with our team this year, it has more to do with me."
 Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
|
|
ALSO SEE
Denberg: Questioning Isiah's intentions
|
|
