James Dolan emerged from the coach's office and walked through the hallway outside the Knicks' locker room followed by one of his Garden executives, who carried a pink envelope. Not quite a pink slip, but the symbolism certainly was there.

And after yet another defeat, this one 100-88 to the New Orleans Hornets last night at the Garden, that ticking clock seemed to get a little louder as the Knicks (18-42) clinched a seventh straight losing season.