Apr 05, 2006

NEW YORK (AP) - Larry Brown knows the Knicks need new players, even wondering Wednesday if he should be the one coaching them.

Before the Knicks hosted Cleveland, the Hall of Fame coach acknowledged that some players are no longer listening to him as they wind down his dismal first season in New York.

"I think there are some that probably are tuning us out and I think some that are making progress," Brown said.

Even after their 96-94 victory over the Cavaliers, the Knicks have an NBA-worst 20-54 record despite owning the league's largest payroll. Brown thinks some players have just stopped trying. He felt that was the case again Tuesday night in the Knicks' 105-90 loss at Washington.

"I've been doing this forever, I haven't had trouble with getting guys to respond," he said. "Never. You bang heads for a little while, but eventually they know you care and you want to make them better.

"I've never had a problem before in that regard. You can go and say isolated incident here or there, but I don't think I've ever remembered anybody telling me my teams didn't play hard, didn't try to guard or didn't try to play unselfishly."

Brown publicly feuded with point guard Stephon Marbury and has been critical of rookie Nate Robinson. He pointed out that the Philadelphia Eagles cut ties with Terrell Owens because of his insubordination, and the Knicks may have to do the same with the players that won't work under Brown.

Brown reiterated he won't quit. But if team president Isiah Thomas or owner James Dolan prefer the players over the coach, he knows he could be the one to go.

"It depends on Isiah and Mr. Dolan, what they think of me," he said. "If they don't want to do what you ask them to do and you're going to be the coach, why would you have them around?

"You surround yourself with people that care about doing the right thing and I think that's what we've got to do. If they think I can't do it I understand, but I'm not giving up."

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