STICKING TO PLAN KNICKS PASS ON IVERSON
Allen Iverson
Coach Mike D'Antoni  in particular  was initially enthusiastic about the idea. Walsh had to be convinced. Yet they were so close to making the leap that  as of early Thursday evening  people close to the team were convinced that Iverson was on his way.
 Not surprisingly  there were concerns about Iverson's character. He left his last two teams  Memphis and Detroit  amid controversy. While renowned for his passion on the court  he is infamous for his poor work habits. As the Knicks dug further  they became increasingly concerned about off-court issues  and that concern influenced the final decision. Iverson's agent  Leon Rose  did not return messages on Friday.
 James L. Dolan  the Madison Square Garden chairman  was opposed to Iverson from the start  according to a person who was briefed on the deliberations  but indicated that he would not veto the move if Walsh and D'Antoni wanted to make it.
 The Knicks might have been Iverson's last  best hope to salvage his career and his reputation. Iverson  in turn  might have represented the Knicks' best hope for providing fans with a little excitement.
 "I'm always concerned about that " Walsh said of disappointing the fans. "But I don't think you can build a basketball team based on polls."
Coach Mike D'Antoni  in particular  was initially enthusiastic about the idea. Walsh had to be convinced. Yet they were so close to making the leap that  as of early Thursday evening  people close to the team were convinced that [TGT] was on [TGT] way.
 Not surprisingly  there were concerns about [TGT]'s character. [TGT] left [TGT] last two teams  Memphis and Detroit  amid controversy. While renowned for [TGT] passion on the court  [TGT] is infamous for [TGT] poor work habits. As the Knicks dug further  they became increasingly concerned about off-court issues  and that concern influenced the final decision. Iverson's agent  Leon Rose  did not return messages on Friday.
 James L. Dolan  the Madison Square Garden chairman  was opposed to [TGT] from the start  according to a person who was briefed on the deliberations  but indicated that he would not veto the move if Walsh and D'Antoni wanted to make it.
 The Knicks might have been [TGT]'s last  best hope to salvage [TGT] career and [TGT] reputation. Iverson  in turn  might have represented the Knicks' best hope for providing fans with a little excitement.
 "I'm always concerned about that " Walsh said of disappointing the fans. "But I don't think you can build a basketball team based on polls."