KNICK NOTES

CHICAGO – Knicks coach/president Isiah Thomas and Stephon Marbury still haven’t spoken 1-on-1, so Thomas sent more subliminal messages to his point guard through the media.

Thomas explained what he wants out of a point guard at yesterday’s morning shootaround at the West Loop Athletic Club. Marbury may want to take notes. Thomas seemed to suggest that Marbury’s view on the game plan is being taken too literally. As a result, Saturday night he did not take a shot all game.

“Some nights you have to score a lot. Sometimes have to distribute, “Thomas said of what he needs from his point guard. It’s why it’s the toughest position in the league. Some games the first quarter you may have to score to keep the team in the game. Then the second quarter you may not have to take a shot. It’s always what’s necessary for the team to have.”

The friction between Thomas and Marbury remains after Saturday’s second-half benching. Thomas even made an allusion that scoring point guards have shorter careers than non-scorers.

“When you haven’t been known as a scorer in this league, it’s much easier,” Thomas said. “That’s why the guys who don’t score the basketball a lot really have the longest careers. The guys who score the basketball a lot, their careers are shorter because of expectations and high standard of play you have to live up to.”

Marbury said before last night’s game he realizes he has not given Thomas what he wants, though he feels he’s trying to conform to Thomas’ offensive scheme in which Thomas wants him to facilitate a balanced-scoring attack.

“I know what I have to do on the basketball court,” Marbury said. “I haven’t been playing the way I’m capable of playing.”

Thomas wanted Marbury to pick up his attacking yesterday with David Lee and Renaldo Balkman starting, neither of whom are shooters.

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Thomas visited his mother in Oakbrook, Ill., and relatives in his native West Side. “I tell everybody every day I’m from the west side of Chicago because anyone who made it from the west side we feel good about that,” Thomas said . . . Thomas said he has no rule against headbands. The Bulls Ben Wallace was benched against the Knicks for wearing a headband against team rules.