Magic Johnson, the N.B.A. legend and part owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, met with Knicks president / head coach Isiah Thomas for about 30 minutes before their teams played Tuesday night. Johnson expressed sympathy and support and made this bold claim about the Knicks: œThey™re going to make the playoffs. I think that they™re going to be a tough eight or seven seed, too. – Howard Beck, New York Times, January 31, 2008