If you're looking to point the finger at somebody for last night's disgraceful brawl at the Garden, look no further than the two head coaches.

It would be a mistake to think this all started when Mardy Collins tackled J.R. Smith with less than two minutes to go in a game that was already out of hand. 

This goes all the way back to last summer.  George Karl had made some unflattering comments on how the Bricks handled the firing of good friend Larry Brown and Isiah Thomas didn't like it.  He confronted Karl and told him to worry about his own team. 

Fast forward to last night.  Up by 19 Carmelo Anthony was still on the floor with less than two minutes to go.  That's all you need to know.

You see, Karl wanted to win the game, but he also wanted to humiliate Isiah.  You'll never get that out of him, but why else would the majority of the starting lineup be in the game at that point in time.

That's Karl's petty mistake.  No big deal, right?

Well, Isiah didn't see it that way.  That's where the former Detroit bad boy kicked in.  Despite Thomas' wonderful playing career, he's a jerk.  He continues to prove that over and over, not only this season (threatening to murder the Spurs' Bruce Bowen -- seriously, he threatened to kill him!), but throughout his time in the league (trying to freeze out MJ in Jordan's first All-Star game). 

Thomas is a wanna be thug.  Usually hiding behind much bigger, stronger players to fight his battles.  When he was a player it was Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn.  As a coach, the names are not nearly as impressive.  Mardy Collins??? Jared Jeffries??? Nate "Napoleon" Robinson???  I think you get the point.

He talks a big game and then sends his henchmen out to finish the job.  Read Isiah's lips as he tells Carmelo to avoid the paint or suffer the consequences.  What did we think was going to happen?  The Bricks were simply following their coach's lead.

That's why Isiah should not only be suspended -- he should be fired.  Immediately. 

I understand fans will argue that ultimately it's the players responsibility.  Smith could of shrugged off the foul and pointed to the scoreboard. 

But I'm sorry, this one is not on the players.  Their head coaches put them in a no win situation.  Karl's need to embarrass Thomas started the ball in motion, while Thomas' total over reaction escalated the situation to absolute pandemonium.

It's too bad Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, Nate Robinson, Mardy Collins, and Jared Jeffries will pay the price for their coaches' immaturity.