Back to the drawing board
By MARC BERMAN
The only solace from last nightâs Knick loss to Orlando is perhaps the Magic are going to be a top three team in the East. Because if the Knicks need Orlando to fall out of the top eight to make the playoffs, itâs not happening. Last yearâs eighth seeds look much improved, especially Dwight Howard.
Meanwhile, the Knicksâ perimeter defense looks as bad as last season, which is alarming. Stephon Marbury couldnât stop little Jameer Nelson from getting to the rack and Jamal Crawford is no defensive wizard.
Marbury is a good physical defender but may have lost a step defensively, making it tough for him to defend the speedy, younger point guards. (One Orlando scribe said in the press room Nelson never goes to the hole like that).
Marbury is better off guarding the bigger shooting guards. But do the Knicks have anyone who can defend an opponentâs quick point guard?
Right now Nate Robinson is slowed by a hamstring strain. Itâs so bad heâs got to keep loose on a cycle machine during the game until trainer Roger Hinds summons him when Isiah wants to make a substitution.
Fred Jones hasn’t played since the opening game. Isiah may want to dust off his cobwebs if the defense continues to stink (106.8 ppg).
After a loss, normally you get the better quotes than after a win. Not last night. The players really had nothing substantial to say, unable to explain their inconsistencies, with Thomas in defensive denial.
Isiah likely knows the clubâs perimeter defense is going to be shoddy this season and they will have to outgun teams. So after the Orlando loss he harped on turnovers leading to easy baskets as their undoing. Isiah probably feels thatâs the only thing he can control.
The Knicks committed a season-high 20 turnovers, very sloppy during the fourth-quarter meltdown. Now itâs Miami, which is 0-5 but could be getting Dwayne Wade back tomorrow night. The Knicks are 2-2, in danger of being 2-3 heading West.
The Knicks played oddly lethargic Friday. Zach Randolph took too many ill-advised jumpers and Jamal and Stephon chucked up too many bricks and chalked up too many turnovers. It was a bad night all-around after two days of promise.
The only good moment came when the Garden videoboard showed Patrick Ewing highlights from his glorious Knick career and then showed Ewing on the Orlando bench. A standing ovation ensued on a night where there was not much to cheer about the home team.
