Changeup: Back to Steph and Steve

By MARC BERMAN

BOSTON – The experiment is over after one game. Incredibly, Isiah Thomas pulled a flip-flop at the morning shootaround today in Boston. The Stephon Marbury-Steve Francis starting backcourt is being reunited tonight vs. the Celtics.

Francis is back in the starting lineup and Crawford back to the bench. Larry Brown couldn’t have changed his mind any quicker or better.

Apparently, Thomas was so horrified how it all looked Wednesday in Minnesota when the suffered their worst performance of the season that he felt the one-game experiment was doomed to fail.

Thomas said he’s reverting to the old way because without Crawford, the bench play was mediocre. The change hurt Quentin Richardson and Nate Robinson’s games too much in Isiah's eyes. Richardson, whose been their best player and also helped out the second unit, didn’t shoot once in Minnesota.

“We got four, five guys playing good basketball we got to keep those guys playing well and somehow figure out another way to help the others,’’ Thomas said. “I don’t want to try it two nights. I don’t want to do it. It didn’t work.’’

Thomas spoke to Richardson when he was on the bench the other night. “Speaking to him and Nate, I made a change and it had an effect on Nate and Quentin,’’ Thomas said. “I wanted them to know I recognize the change didn’t help them. We always have to do what’s best for our team. That change didn’t help our team.’’

The larger issue is Marbury finding the right balance. He was given more freedom the other night but perhaps to the exclusion of ball movement. Remember the Knicks had 11 assists total in the Minnesota blowout. But it’s not all Marbury’s fault. Channing Frye and Eddy Curry, the supposed fearsome young frontline, played no defense.

When I asked Thomas this morning if Steph’s not finding the right balance and is confused, Thomas wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole. So he took my tape recorder, flashed it in my face, laughed and said,

“You answer that bleeping question.’’

Of course, Brown would have taken that question and smacked it over the Green Monster nearby.

--

The Knicks held their shootaround at the tony Sports Club LA by their team hotel, the Ritz, because the Bruins were playing the Hurricanes at the new Garden.

Ironically, after the shootaround, Thomas said he was going to take one of those “spin’’ classes. Considering the way he’s “spinning’’ the season, it was the perfect irony.

oh my god, you've got to be kidding me.

if Isiah ever knew how to coach (seemed like he was ok) he's forgotten. He just doesn't have a clue.

I've got a better idea. Bench both Steph and Francis and Curry. Start the current bench. We'd get out of the gate quicker. And, we'd have one of the best benches around (and most expensive).

Posted by djsunyc:

looks like steph was behind the benching of francis and he's jerking around jamal.

[Edited by - djsunyc on 11-24-2006 2:12 PM]

This is LB's fault. Rich helped me officially come to this conclusion yesterday.(rolling eyes)


What a desperate Man Zeke has become.

So does Crawford know what his role is? Obviously Q got worked over for at least a game we'll see what Bumchise and Coachbury do tonight. Hope the best for Q tonight.

Posted by Rich:

Did Wednesday night's lack of effort reflect the team's belief that it was Marbury, not Francis, who should have gone to the bench?

Either way, the more interesting move will be to see what Isiah will do when Jeffries comes off the DL.

Why is this team so fragile that now it matters who's starting?

Posted by SeatsBlue:

Posted by djsunyc:

quentin is this close to beating somebody down...

Well he screamed at Crawford and gave Steph multiple death looks the last game.

that has to be the funniest sh t i've read this year "come get the ball and run the damn offense"

quentin is my new hero...

FLIP FLOPPER! Fitting that this game is in Massachusetts.

Posted by martin:

FLIP FLOPPER! Fitting that this game is in Massachusetts.

Is this the city of Flip-Flop?


I have another ? for all apologist.


Why didn't Zeke try a Francis/Crawford backcourt this game?


Is he scared of receiving divorce papers from Coachbury?

Posted by SeatsBlue:

Hey Rich

Why did Zeke panic after 1 game if he wasn't willing to except at least more than a 1 game result from his decision? Wouldn't that suggest that the decision should have never been made in the first place?

[Edited by - SeatsBlue on 11-24-2006 1:25 PM]

I don't think anyone doubts that this team would be better off if certain players weren't on it. Almost everyone here thinks that the starting lineup should be altered. Where most of us differ with Isiah, is that we wouldn't have only removed Francis.

In any event, the Francis trade was stupid. The issue then is whether it was Isiah's decision, or is Francis's continued presence on the team Larry's gift that keeps on giving.


[Edited by - Rich on 11-24-2006 2:31 PM]

Posted by SeatsBlue:

Posted by djsunyc:

quentin is this close to beating somebody down...

Well he screamed at Crawford and gave Steph multiple death looks the last game.

How long do we think until he gets traded? I mean he is giving Isiah's two prized possessions a lot of sh!t...