11-08-2006, 09:15 PM
It only took 4 games for things to unravel in MSG. That's early even for them
espn.com
New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas is prepared to do whatever he needs to win, even if that means benching star guards Stephon Marbury or Steve Francis.
"I have zero favorites. I'll bench anyone," Thomas told the New York Daily News. "I think I showed you that [Monday]. Whether it be Marbury, Francis, whoever. I want to win."
During the Knicks' home loss to San Antonio on Monday, the Spurs led 52-29 with 3:34 remaining in the half. Thomas then sent out four new players who helped the Knicks close the half with a 12-2 spurt that made it 54-41.
That group -- which included Nate Robinson, David Lee, Malik Rose, and Mardy Collins along with starter Quentin Richardson -- also opened the second half, while players such as Marbury and Eddy Curry, who help comprise the NBA's highest payroll, watched from the bench. Rose and Collins hadn't even scored this season.
"The guys that were out there, they were getting the job done," Marbury said after the game. "They were playing with energy and getting us back in the game."
The ploy by Thomas seemed to energize the Knicks' starters, who sparked a 20-2 run in the fourth quarter to pull within 92-91 with just over 4 minutes to play on a jumper by Marbury, who had the Madison Square Garden fans on their feet after they heavily booed him during a horrendous game Saturday night.
The Spurs eventually sealed the game, though, winning 105-93.
"We got a lot of guys who are shaken right now," Malik Rose told the Daily News. "We have guys on the team who are top talents in this league who are shaken right now, and it's just going to take time to get that confidence back."
Thomas made it clear that it's up to the players, shaken or not, to prove their worth.
"I'm a fighter myself and I want people who are going to fight and compete," Thomas said after Monday's loss. "And if you're not going to fight and compete, then I'm the president and we can give you a pink slip, too."
Thomas told the Daily News that for the time being he plans no changes to the starting lineup, though the ankle injury Francis sustained Monday could force reserve Jamal Crawford into the starting shooting guard role.
espn.com
New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas is prepared to do whatever he needs to win, even if that means benching star guards Stephon Marbury or Steve Francis.
"I have zero favorites. I'll bench anyone," Thomas told the New York Daily News. "I think I showed you that [Monday]. Whether it be Marbury, Francis, whoever. I want to win."
During the Knicks' home loss to San Antonio on Monday, the Spurs led 52-29 with 3:34 remaining in the half. Thomas then sent out four new players who helped the Knicks close the half with a 12-2 spurt that made it 54-41.
That group -- which included Nate Robinson, David Lee, Malik Rose, and Mardy Collins along with starter Quentin Richardson -- also opened the second half, while players such as Marbury and Eddy Curry, who help comprise the NBA's highest payroll, watched from the bench. Rose and Collins hadn't even scored this season.
"The guys that were out there, they were getting the job done," Marbury said after the game. "They were playing with energy and getting us back in the game."
The ploy by Thomas seemed to energize the Knicks' starters, who sparked a 20-2 run in the fourth quarter to pull within 92-91 with just over 4 minutes to play on a jumper by Marbury, who had the Madison Square Garden fans on their feet after they heavily booed him during a horrendous game Saturday night.
The Spurs eventually sealed the game, though, winning 105-93.
"We got a lot of guys who are shaken right now," Malik Rose told the Daily News. "We have guys on the team who are top talents in this league who are shaken right now, and it's just going to take time to get that confidence back."
Thomas made it clear that it's up to the players, shaken or not, to prove their worth.
"I'm a fighter myself and I want people who are going to fight and compete," Thomas said after Monday's loss. "And if you're not going to fight and compete, then I'm the president and we can give you a pink slip, too."
Thomas told the Daily News that for the time being he plans no changes to the starting lineup, though the ankle injury Francis sustained Monday could force reserve Jamal Crawford into the starting shooting guard role.
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v40/faceman802/venspi.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>