New family dynamic for Nate



BY GREG LOGAN
Newsday Staff Writer

April 9, 2006


When Qyntel Woods tried a 360-degree dunk and missed it to open the second half against Indiana on Friday night at Madison Square Garden, no one was more interested in seeing how Knicks coach Larry Brown would react than Nate Robinson. "I know [Robinson] was trying to wait and see what I was going to do with Qyntel," Brown said with a smile yesterday.

When Brown sent Woods back on the court after calling a timeout, Robinson couldn't believe it. "I was thinking, 'Now what if I would have done that?'" Robinson said. "I was telling Quentin [Richardson], 'If that was me, I'd be sitting next to you guys right now.' I would have just run straight to the bench. I wouldn't even look at nobody. I would just walk right to the bench."

Brown and Robinson both could laugh after the 5-9 rookie scored nine of his 16 points in the fourth quarter to help the Knicks pull out a 98-96 win over the Pacers. That gave the Knicks (21-54) two straight wins entering this afternoon's game in Boston (32-44).

Robinson's showboating antics have been a source of consternation for Brown all season, but never more so than last Sunday, when the Knicks' coach criticized Robinson for playing to the crowd while scoring a career-high 34 points - and giving up 47 to Allen Iverson in a loss to the 76ers.

Two games later, Robinson drew more fire from Brown for being "selfish" by passing up open shots in a blowout at Washington. He took only one shot and went scoreless in 26 minutes. "I didn't feel comfortable inside," Robinson said. "I was clouded in my mind. I didn't want to go out there and force up too many bad shots or too many shots, period. I didn't want to stink it up, so I decided just to play defense."

That performance, coupled with Brown's criticism, spawned reports that Robinson might be traded over the summer if he doesn't want to conform. But in the past two games, Brown started Robinson in the fourth quarter ahead of veteran Steve Francis, who never did get off the bench in the quarter against Indiana.

"Most of my problems with Nate are the stuff that doesn't have anything to do with playing basketball," Brown said. "But I know he wants to win. I don't want to give up on him. I have confidence in him ... He might be a little misguided once in a while, but it's not because he doesn't care. I'll take those kind."

Robinson says he pays no attention to the newspapers, but he doesn't have to. His family and friends in Seattle follow the Knicks closely and relay the message to him.

Learning to focus on the game and forget about pumping up the crowd, Robinson said, has been "awkward," but he wants to please his "old-school" coach, if only to get Brown off his back.

"Honestly, Coach is great," Robinson said. "He's like a father figure to me because he's so hard on me. Growing up, my dad was always on me. 'You've got to do this, you've got to do that.' But at the end of the day, I love my dad. I love him to death. I'd do anything for my dad. That's how it is with Coach."

It's working!! The Larry Brown Father-Figure School for Wayward Millionaire Orphans!!!!

Posted by NYKniCksFan87:

yep...it is....im shocked brown didnt blow up on woods....he probably wants woods back next year

Knicks were up and it was on a breakway so I guess he let him live a little. Nate is definately different to say the least.

i dont think your crazy....nate can be like that...no fear, all heart just like AI

Posted by McK1:

Posted by Marv:

You guys may think I'm crazy but I think Nate's gonna end up surpassing the Gordon/Boykins/BJax comparisons and end up closer to Calvin Murphy or mini-AI status by the end of his career.

passing Boykins and BJax isdoable. They've have a career pattern you can track already.

but Gordon? I never heard Nate even compared to him. Gordon is ever bit as athletic as Nate, stronger than Nate, is a better shooter than Nate, and has alot more range than Nate. Gordon may play like a 6 year vet, especially in the fourth, but its only year 2 for the man

I would challenge your comparisons. I think Nate's stronger than Gordon, is as good a shooter and has comparable range. I like Gordon a lot. He's got a lot of intangilbles. Nate does too. Plus I think Nates's a better and more fearleass driver. And Nate has crazy energy that needs to be and will be harnessed more as he matures.

Nate may drive more than Ben but as strong and as good a shooter, come on Marv.

remember the 3 Ben hit while Steph was arging the call. He caught a cross-court pass at the elbow mid stride stopped on a dime and raised...he had played 42 minutes at that point

bring it on:

last person Brown called misguided was AI. Last person to call Broen a father figure was AI.

If Brown thinks the potential is there, theres noone else on the planet I would prefer to have looking after Nate then Larry Brown.