Knicks 108 – Sixers 103
A forgotten man since January, Lee Nailon says he wants to return to the Knicks next season. No, he wasn’t wearing his trademark headband too tight.
“I just have to see where the chips fall this summer,” the free-agent-to-be said last night before coach Don Chaney finally showcased him in a game the playoff-eliminated Knicks won 108-103 over the Sixers at the Garden.
“Hopefully I’ll be back in New York and make something happen next year for the team and get to the playoffs,” Nailon added. “I like New York, like the organization, like the city. I want to come back here.”
Chaney began showcasing Nailon, rookie point guard Frank Williams and Lavor Postell last night in the Knicks’ first outing since their mathematical elimination.
Despite the 12-man rotation, the Knicks posted a surprisingly energetic victory over the red-hot Sixers before a large contingent of Philly fans at the Garden, damaging the Sixers’ chances of catching the Nets for top seed.
Of the three, Nailon had the poorest showing in seven-minute stint in the first half, scoring just two points on the fastbreak with no rebounds and one airball. It just shows Nailon’s confidence has dwindled with no playing time.
Williams showed lots of flair in his five-minute outing in the second quarter. When Williams came in with 5:10 left in the second quarter, Sixers coach Larry Brown didn’t know who he was, shouting for one of his players to guard “Postell.” Kurt Thomas cracked up at Brown’s gaffe.
But Brown learned Williams’ and Postell’s names quickly. Putting a fake on Allen Iverson, Williams sped past him into the lane and would’ve been free for a layup if Tyrone Hill did not drag him down.
With six points in six fourth-quarter minutes, Postell, also a free agent, made the biggest impression, scoring two big buckets in the fourth quarter, including the most athletic play a Knick has made since Antonio McDyess went down.
With 8:37 left, Postell reached up for a vicious putback dunk after Shandon Anderson missed a layup, putting the Knicks ahead 80-76. Postell howled all the way downcourt and Latrell Sprewell got up from the bench, waving his towel. “Y’all can see that more often if I can get on the court,” Postell said.
En masse, their five starters returned with 5:45 left to carry them home. Iverson (20 points) had a poor outing. His backcourt turnover that Sprewell tracked down in the right corner was the game-killer. Sprewell knocked down the 3-pointer for a 96-91 lead with 2:55 left.
As for Nailon, Seattle and Indiana expressed interest in him last summer. Nailon gave the Knicks at size at small forward but hadn’t played 34 of the last 41 games.
The Knicks signed Nailon, 27, as insurance in case Sprewell were traded. Even if Sprewell isn’t shipped, the Knicks want to re-sign Nailon, especially since he came cheap at $770,000.
Nailon, who fits in well in the locker room, hasn’t complained. His beef over minutes with Silas prompted his release. “What I liked about him is he knew he wasn’t in the rotation but worked hard every day in practice,” Chaney said.
