THE Knicks have become Team Turmoil again, the evil twin of Team Tranquillity that they promised they would be heading into the season. We are halfway through an accelerated schedule we really shouldn’t care about and the Knicks are desperately grasping for something to break their fall.
The Pacers made their first visit to the Garden last night, a game that in January figured to be a clash of Eastern Conference title contenders, a showdown of macho basketball to set a statement for the post-season.
Problem is, only one team kept up its end of the build-up. The Pacers entered with a 20-9 record, trailing Orlando by a half-game for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Eight players are averaging 20 minutes a game and nobody is complaining about his role or minutes.
The Knicks, meanwhile, were a disappointing 16-14 after a 1-2 West Coast trip where their confidence and chemistry seemed to deteriorate. The most honorable thing about the Knicks these days is the players’ support of their embattled coach Jeff Van Gundy.
Team captains Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson and Herb Williams are apparently so concerned that Van Gundy might be held accountable for the Knicks’ lackluster record they are contemplating discussing the coach’s status with Garden president Dave Checketts.
While it might sound noble in theory, the idea of players – regardless of their stature – approaching management about saving a coach’s job is an unnecessary distraction that tells you how ridiculous things have become.
If the Knicks want Van Gundy to keep his job, the more effective approach would be to start winning basketball games, not only at the Garden, where the Knicks were 12-4 entering last night, but in visiting arenas where they are a timid 4-10.
The hope last night was that a five or six-game winning streak would quiet all the talk about Van Gundy and what might be ailing the Knicks.
But if anybody really believes these Knicks can win five or six straight, let them raise their hands and expose themselves as liars.
The Pacers were in town with Reggie Miller, Mark Jackson, Jalen Rose and Rik Smits, all of them knowing their roles and what’s expected. If Travis Best takes the point late in games, Jackson sits without needing an explanation from coach Larry Bird.
It seems all Van Gundy does these days is explain why Latrell Sprewell makes the Knicks better off the bench instead of starting. At a time when the playoffs are a little more than five weeks away, the Knicks are consumed with justifying who plays when and whether or not Sprewell has a winner’s attitude. Of course, that’s not the only thing wrong with this team.
Ewing can’t hit a game-winning shot; Allan Houston plays like Michael Jordan one night then Michael J. Fox the next; Charlie Ward has thrown more interceptions the last two months than he ever did at Florida State, and Sprewell isn’t sure if he’s supposed to be gun-shy or a gunner.
The Knicks were supposed to have so many offensive weapons that finding points wasn’t going to be a problem. Yet, the Knicks are 28th in the league in scoring.
Scoring droughts are prolonged because they can’t shoot free throws and partly because they can’t rebound. They also play some games like the New Yuck Knicks, low on heart and energy.
With 20 games to play, including last night, there is plenty of time for the Knicks to find themselves. But where are the signs that it will happen?
From these eyes, the Knicks need a shakeup, something to bring some freshness to their approach. If the Knicks continue to stumble, it will be time for Van Gundy to assess his Sixth Man role, insert Sprewell back in the starting lineup and bring Houston off the bench. I’d also start Chris Childs at point guard and sit Ward.
It’s a minor shakeup, but Van Gundy makes it out to be a big deal and a challenge to his authority. Instead of starting Sprewell, he’d rather fight a public battle. Perhaps Van Gundy should listen to his own advice when he said, “You’ve got to be able to adjust if something’s not going well.”
Coming off the bench, might also add some fire to Houston’s game even though some think he couldn’t handle it mentally. After sitting out the fourth quarter in the Knicks’ loss at Sacramento, Houston went nuts against the Suns scoring 29.
Childs, according to Van Gundy, has been one of the Knicks most consistent players this season. Yet, he doesn’t start either, despite clearly out-playing Ward.
NBA coaches like to say that it doesn’t matter who starts but how many minutes a player gets and who finishes the game. If it doesn’t matter that much, then why not start Spree and Childs to give the Knicks a new look.
The fear is that somehow, the two scorers can’t work together with Ewing, which doesn’t make sense either, if the three of them are going to be on the floor at crunch time in the fourth quarter.
Van Gundy might well be one of the hardest-working coaches in the NBA. But he is also one of the most stubborn. He lobbied for Sprewell, a freelance transition scorer, and not only makes the three-time All-Star a sixth man, but now wants him to tone down his aggression and work within the framework of the offense.
Mixed signals like that lead to turmoil and trouble.
