Magic 111 – Knicks 87
ORLANDO – Larry Brown sent a message to Steve Francis last night in Orlando: Step up or shut up.
In his Orlando homecoming, Francis got humiliated by the Knick coach, benched across the final three quarters of last night’s disgusting 111-87 blowout Knick loss to the Magic.
Despite Quentin Richardson’s return, Brown still started Francis against his old club, but yanked him with 44 seconds left in the first quarter. Francis never returned. He committed three turnovers and scored just two points, booed each time he touched the ball.
The shocking incident occurred one day after Francis proclaimed he’ll deal with not starting this season but wants a trade if he doesn’t start next year.
Francis’ snub also occurred in front of vacationing owner James Dolan, sitting at midcourt in the sixth row with his children. Dolan added $48 million in payroll in the Francis trade one month ago. Dolan bolted midway through the fourth quarter.
Brown also benched the Knicks’ other expensive new addition, Jalen Rose, for the final three quarters.
“I looked out there, it looked like a few guys didn’t even care,” Brown said.
Francis yawned on the bench in the final minute but handled it gracefully afterward. As Francis sat, ex-Knick Trevor Ariza, traded in the deal, romped for 10 points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes.
Said a frustrated Francis: “Ever since I’ve been here, you never know when the minutes are coming. [But] I’m not in a position to demand minutes, because I didn’t go through training camp with this team.”
Even for Brown, this night was bizarre.
He had three different players start the second half, yanking Francis, Rose and Eddy Curry for Jamal Crawford, Qyntel Woods and Jerome James, with the Knicks trailing 59-47. The maneuver backfired as Orlando outscored the Knicks 19-7 to start the third quarter.
Brown went to Richardson first, then Nate Robinson, as Francis sat.
Brown denied he sent Francis a message, and got testy.
“I just decided to play other guys,” Brown said. “Do you ask me why I don’t play Nate? Why I don’t play Jamal? Get used to it. I got a lot of people.”
