Hornets Fact or Fiction: NBA TV’s Frank Isola
March 31, 2007
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Hornets.com caught up with NBA TV analyst and New York Daily News NBA writer Frank Isola prior to Saturday’s game for another edition of “Hornets Fact or Fiction.” Isola has served as a beat writer in New York for 11 seasons and provided his unique insight on current Hornets head coach Byron Scott, who previously coached the Knicks’ crosstown rivals, the New Jersey Nets.
Hornets.com: OK, Frank, it’s time for fact or fiction. Although injuries have ruined much of what he hoped would happen on the court this season after a busy 2006 offseason, the Hornets’ Jeff Bower is one of the NBA’s most underrated general managers…
Isola: Fact. If you think about what they have to work with here and the fact that they’ve had to play in two different cities over the last two years, he’s done a great job. He did a great job with the deal over the summer to get Tyson Chandler, and he also made a good move in not re-signing Speedy Claxton. Sometimes the best signings are the ones you DON’T make.
Hornets.com: Based on Bower’s low-profile personality and the way he stays out of the limelight, the average NBA fan could not pick Bower out of a lineup…
Isola: Fact. But then again, he shouldn’t feel bad. Because unless you’re talking about Jerry West or Larry Bird, (fans don’t recognize GMs). I don’t think the average person would know who Bryan Colangelo is, either, and he’s considered one of the best GMs in the league. Sometimes it’s good to be anonymous.
Hornets.com: Frank Isola could not pick Jeff Bower out of a lineup…
Isola: Fiction. Yes, I could. Definitely. [grins]
Hornets.com: In terms of how he coaches and treats his players, Byron Scott is one of the most “old school” coaches in the NBA…
Isola: Fiction. But I think he’s a good coach. He wins. Look at the job that he did in New Jersey. He did nothing but win there, and he’s done great things since he’s been here. He turned a pretty rough situation into a good situation. I think most players like the fact that he’s honest with them. If they know the reason that they’re not playing, they can accept that.
Hornets.com: With you having worked in the New York City area for more than a decade, you may be pretty qualified for this one. Byron Scott provides the most honest assessments of his team to the media of any coach in the league…
Isola: Fiction. That would be Jeff Van Gundy. He does that as well as anyone. I would also put Phil Jackson in the same category. Byron Scott and George Karl are also (both very candid to the media) and can be brutally honest. I think people appreciate the honesty. The media likes a guy like Byron Scott who is willing to say what is on his mind. It makes our job easier and more enjoyable.
Hornets.com: The New Jersey Nets regret letting Scott go as head coach in 2004…
Isola: Fact. He did a good job and I don’t think he deserved to go. Now, that doesn’t mean I don’t think Lawrence Frank is a good coach, but Byron got them to two NBA Finals. Remember, the Nets were like the Los Angeles Clippers of the Eastern Conference before Byron Scott and Jason Kidd arrived. Since he left, I think they’ve only won two playoff series.
Hornets.com: The selections of Hilton Armstrong and Cedric Simmons in the first round of last year’s draft will prove to be good picks…
Isola: I will say fiction until proven otherwise, because they really haven’t paid off just yet.
Hornets.com: Covering the Knicks is the premier NBA team beat writer job in the league…
Isola: To me, that is definitely a fact. There is nothing like being able to go to Madison Square Garden, sit courtside and be able to cover basketball for a living. I’ve been doing it for 11 years, and to me, it’s the best job in the world. But then again, covering the Phoenix Suns wouldn’t be too bad, either. [grins] You get to see a great team in a great city – and you get some pretty good weather as well.
Last year covering the Knicks, on the ‘crazy’ scale, that was about as crazy as it’s ever been. It’s toned down a little bit this year.
Hornets.com: Considering this is a home game against a sub-.500 opponent, Saturday’s game vs. the Knicks is a must-win for the Hornets in the West playoff race…
Isola: Fact. If they’re going to make the playoffs, absolutely.
