Charlie Ward has spent his entire eight-year NBA career as a Knick, half of them as a starter. Howard Eisley has been a Knick for eight games, the first seven as a DNP. But, as much as it pained him, coach Jeff Van Gundy has demoted Ward to the bench and promoted Eisley to the rotation, behind starter Mark Jackson.
Van Gundy made the move apparent Tuesday night, when Eisley – persona non grata since being acquired this offseason from Dallas – made his debut with the Knicks trailing Portland in the third quarter and engineered an 89-82 come-from-behind win. Van Gundy made it official at yesterday’s practice as the Knicks prepared to host archrival Miami tonight.
“He said I did a good job and he was gonna put me in the rotation. That’s about it,” said Eisley, who used his quickness to get into the lane Tuesday. “Last night was a surprise. I just tried to take advantage of an opportunity, go out and play hard.”
Eisley was the last Knick out of the gym yesterday, working on his jumper about 40 minutes after practice ended. It was just another example of the work ethic that allowed him to unseat one of Van Gundy’s favorites.
For Van Gundy, who is fiercely loyal to his veterans, it was a gut-wrenching decision. Ward has credited Van Gundy with his development as a player; but that didn’t stop the latter from making this tough move.
“The decision’s never easy. It’s awful,” Van Gundy said. “Howard’s was difficult at the start of the year, [but] this was more difficult because it’s a guy who’s had a great deal to do with our success here. When you give that news, no matter what you say, it’s not good.”
Ward – who has been on the roster longer than any Knick – said he knew it was a tough call for Van Gundy to make, but it’s one he expected and he was prepared for it.
“We’ve been together from Day One. I’m sure it was very difficult for him. He probably stayed up all night. [But] I knew. I tried to make it as easy as possible on him,” Ward said.
And now the Knicks will host the hated Heat with Kurt Thomas at center guarding Alonzo Mourning (17.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg) and Clarence Weatherspoon starting at power forward. Latrell Sprewell will guard Eddie Jones (19.0 ppg) and both teams will brace for one of the most hotly contested rivalries in sports.
“I think that’s a rivalry that will go down as one of the most intense rivalries in sports, just because our styles of play were so similar. We were built from the same rib,” Allan Houston said.
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Center Marcus Camby worked on the treadmill and lightly on the court yesterday, and said he expected to return to the lineup Saturday, Nov. 24, against the Bulls.
