COLD Q HEADED TO BENCH

By MARC BERMAN


January 8, 2008 -- CHICAGO - Isiah Thomas is ready to pull Quentin Richardson from the starting lineup tonight against the Bulls, but claims he's doing it more because of Richardson's recent injury - a bruised right thigh suffered in Houston - than his poor numbers.

However, Thomas acknowledged Richardson's disastrous season in his bluntest terms yet. Richardson is shooting an embarrassing 31.5 percent and averaging 6.8 points in 30 minutes.

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"He's having a really tough year," Thomas said. "I can't put a finger on it because he has a good work ethic. He works. He practices. He's having a difficult time."

Thomas said Jared Jeffries will start in Richardson's place at small forward. He stopped short of saying Richardson is in danger of losing his job permanently, but will continue to slash his minutes.

"If he's not playing well I can take him out early, which we do," Thomas said. "When you line up, you know he's there. Those are the kind of guys you want. . . . He may not be playing well, but his competitive fire is always there."

Thomas and Richardson have had bench confrontations, including one in Charlotte when Thomas was restrained by assistant Herb Williams as Richardson could be seen on the bench cussing aloud after getting yanked.

"He's a guy who sometimes you can ride pretty hard," Thomas said. "Sometimes when he gets angrier, he has a tendency to play better."

The Knicks stayed in the playoff race into April last season because of Richardson's rebounding, defensive tenacity and shot-making. With Richardson unable to toss the ball into Lake Michigan, the Knicks are left without a scary 3-point shooter. Richardson took responsibility for the Knicks' 8-24 start.

"Of course I do," he said. "I'm one of the veterans on the team. I always take a lot of the accountability."

A hyperextended elbow slowed Richardson in November but it has healed and his surgically-re paired disk gives him no pain.

"I'm not going to make excuses," Richardson said. "I'm out there not playing well right now."

Former Bull Eddy Curry took a shot at Chicago GM John Paxson for his timing on the Scott Skiles firing.

"It was crazy they let him go Christmas Eve," Curry said.

Paxson would not give Curry a long-term deal because of his irregular heartbeat. Curry is not a fan of Paxson - or of Skiles.

"He's extremely hard on you, especially (when) you're going as hard as you can and he continues to push us," Curry said. "I'm pretty sure you can only take so much."

Posted by martin:

I just read this article too and was noticing the same thing.

Curry has never been in a position where coaches PUSH him. In HS he was probably bigger faster than ANY other guy he was playing with and against.

Classic case of a guy who probably needed 2-3 years at college.

"When you line up, you know he's there. Those are the kind of guys you want. . . . He may not be playing well, but his competitive fire is always there."

Posted by martin:

I just read this article too and was noticing the same thing.

Curry has never been in a position where coaches PUSH him. In HS he was probably bigger faster than ANY other guy he was playing with and against.

Classic case of a guy who probably needed 2-3 years at college.

Posted by martin:

I just read this article too and was noticing the same thing.

Curry has never been in a position where coaches PUSH him. In HS he was probably bigger faster than ANY other guy he was playing with and against.

Classic case of a guy who probably needed 2-3 years at college.