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playa2
Posts: 34922
Alba Posts: 15
Joined: 5/15/2003
Member: #407
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Posted by BlueSeats:
Posted by playa2:
For some reason I feel the player (some) don't want to play here , or they don't like playing with Marbury.
We all thought the chemistry issue was because of LB,Steph is still here and he claims the team is not on the same page.
We haven't been all on the same page, one game, yet, Marbury said. We're making a conscious effort of getting Eddy the ball right now and we're doing that."
[Edited by - playa2 on 24-03-2007 20:06]
Got a link to that article?
Cavaliers 90, Knicks 68
Knicks Hit New Low and May Go Further
By HOWARD BECK
CLEVELAND, March 23 -- A look of disgust crossed Isiah Thomas's face, although it was hard to pinpoint when it became permanent. The way things are going for the Knicks, the expression might not leave Thomas's face until sometime in August.
For the second consecutive night, the Knicks looked thoroughly disjointed from start to finish. The result was their most anemic offensive performance of the year and a 90-68 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
The point total was their lowest of the season and ranked as the 10th-lowest in franchise history, but that was hardly their greatest concern. Two weeks ago, the Knicks (30-39) appeared promising enough to inspire playoff dreams and earn a contract extension for Thomas. They have lost 5 of 6 games since then and are now a season-high nine games below .500.
They have not cracked the 90-point barrier in four straight games. Thomas repeatedly cited fatigue and injuries Friday, but most of his players shunned those explanations.
We've won when guys have been out,†Steve Francis said. Injuries can't be an excuse.
The Knicks remain in the playoff race, but fell a game and a half behind Orlando and Indiana for the final spots in the Eastern Conference.
The Cavaliers played an entirely unimpressive game themselves but improved to 42-27 as LeBron James finished with 21 points and 10 assists.
The Knicks lost despite a resurgent performance by Eddy Curry, who had 27 points and 9 rebounds to break out of a monthlong slump. But Curry also missed 7 of 16 free throws and committed 6 of the Knicks 22 turnovers.
Curry scored more than the Knicks other four starters combined, and Thomas showed little patience with his lineup. When the Cavaliers opened the second half with an 11-2 burst and took a 17-point lead, Thomas benched everyone but Curry.
You really know it's going bad when they bring a whole new cast in, Curry said. But I think it was deserved. The unit we had out there, it wasn't clicking, for whatever reason.
No amount of prodding, substituting or fretting by Thomas could right the Knicks. They never got the lead down to single digits.
Francis and Stephon Marbury were ineffective for the second consecutive night, combining for 13 points and 4 assists. Francis played only 21 minutes, 4 in the second half, and seemed displeased with the truncated role.
Asked what has become of his game recently, Francis said: Not playing. Not being on the court is tough. That's the toughest thing for me. I'm just doing what I can do.
Marbury suggested that the Knicks are finding it tough to get Curry going again while still keeping everyone else in rhythm.
"We haven't been all on the same page, one game, yet, Marbury said. We're making a conscious effort of getting Eddy the ball right now and we're doing that."
Regardless of the question, Thomas kept citing injuries. The Knicks have been without Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson and David Lee for most of the month.
Some of the things that have occurred to us injury-wise I think it's starting to take its toll a little bit, said Thomas, who nevertheless insisted, There's fight in my team.
The Knicks had nine turnovers in the first quarter, four by Curry. Francis caused a 24-second violation on the Knicks first possession of the game when he barely gave chase to a ball that was slapped into the backcourt. The ball-handling and decision making did not improve over the course of the evening. Jerome James threw a pass behind Marbury and out of bounds late in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Nate Robinson overdribbled, resulting in a 24-second violation.
It's not fluid, Francis said of the offense. It's not like somebody's purposely trying to destroy it or detonate the offense. It's more of concentration and being at a certain spot at a certain time.
JAMES DOLAN on Isiah : He's a good friend of mine and of the organization and I will continue to solicit his views. He will always have strong ties to me and the team.
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