It's hard to know what to do with TT because we don't know what the problem is. Isiah and Lenny should be talking with him (and maybe they are) to figure out what's going on.

I totally agree with having JYD in the starting lineup as our SF. The Knicks currently doesn't have an identity, and it is mainly because we have no one in our starting lineup who is willing to bring the intangibles that a player like JYD can. Our team has a habbit of starting very slow, with JYD in that lineup, that wouldn't be the case. Now that TT is in a serious FUNK, Lenny needs to stop waisting time. Tonight, TT's stats were extremely aweful. Granted that he didn't take that many shots, but he didn't rebound nor play defense. The time has come for Lenny to stop b.sing with TT... He is lobbying to be benched, but Lenny has yet to recognize that.

RON RON RON RON RON RON RON RON RON RON RON RON RON RON RON

Agreed. JYD is clearly outplaying TT, and Lenny did promise to play the hot hand.

Ariza. So what if he's a rookie. Get his energy and movement in there, not to mention he's tenacious on D and pretty fearless around the rim. plus I love the way he looks to make passes. I know he's raw, no J, rookie mistakes, all that - so what? Give him a go.

Start Penny there. Use Brewer as the exclusive backup PG (even though has absolutely no offensive game)

FAMILY TRAGEDIES TORMENT TIM THOMAS

By MARC BERMAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim Thomas finds himself surrounded during last Friday nights 103-101 loss in Dallas AP
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November 25, 2004 -- TORONTO — The Garden boos don't hurt Tim Thomas. He's been through too much during a summer of family tragedy.
Within a span of three days in August, his sister, Amanda, died of a stroke, and his cousin perished in a motorcycle accident.

"Put this together, I had to go to two funerals within a weekend," Thomas told The Post before last night's 114-91 loss in Toronto. "I'm getting prepared for the season, running hills, and to have that happen within three days of each other, it was the worst blow ever for me."

A still-shaken Thomas is off to his worst start, shooting 31 percent, with every clanked shot greeted by boos at the Garden. Thomas said he's had trouble focusing on the court, but his brain is starting to clear, though he had another quiet four-point night in the 23-point loss.

His responsibilities now include taking care of his young nephew and niece. To boot, Thomas' mother underwent surgery earlier this week.

Of the boos, Thomas said, "It's not tough at all compared to what I've been going through.

"I thought everything happening, coming in, being able to play basketball, I thought I'd be able not to harp or think about what's going on. But it's been very difficult. Not to use that as an excuse, but it's been difficult. I'm going to try to do my best."

Thomas, before facing Vince Carter last night, spoke with great emotion, showing none of the bravado from last playoff spring when he was ready to fight Kenyon Martin. He said his wife also has been "up and down" because of the tragedies and new responsibilities.

"It's one of those things, I've never been through it," Thomas said. "I never thought anything like this could happen. I'm trying not to show too much emotion. But holding it in is kind of a bad thing."

Thomas' shot is wayward, but Lenny Wilkens said the forward was playing better. Thomas had been defending his man, getting rebounds, trying to pass the ball.



"Overall, he's starting to relax; he was pressing earlier," Wilkens said. "What he realizes, he's got to do other things than score. He's starting to do that. I think it's in his head [his shooting woes]."

Thomas said he believes only now is he able to hone in fully during games. Last week, he had to miss practice because of a family issue.

"Mentally I thought I'd be OK as far as being able to go out and not think about it," Thomas said. "But I've never been in that situation for 27 years of my life. Everything has been nothing but happiness, but to actually lose two people I was really close to, having to come into the season, it was difficult.

"I have to continue to play through it. I feel better about a whole lot of things other than basketball. It's been a long, dreadful start for me."

http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/32207.htm

Posted by MaTT4281:

FAMILY TRAGEDIES TORMENT TIM THOMAS

By MARC BERMAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim Thomas finds himself surrounded during last Friday nights 103-101 loss in Dallas AP
Email Archives
Print Reprint



November 25, 2004 -- TORONTO — The Garden boos don't hurt Tim Thomas. He's been through too much during a summer of family tragedy.
Within a span of three days in August, his sister, Amanda, died of a stroke, and his cousin perished in a motorcycle accident.

"Put this together, I had to go to two funerals within a weekend," Thomas told The Post before last night's 114-91 loss in Toronto. "I'm getting prepared for the season, running hills, and to have that happen within three days of each other, it was the worst blow ever for me."

A still-shaken Thomas is off to his worst start, shooting 31 percent, with every clanked shot greeted by boos at the Garden. Thomas said he's had trouble focusing on the court, but his brain is starting to clear, though he had another quiet four-point night in the 23-point loss.

His responsibilities now include taking care of his young nephew and niece. To boot, Thomas' mother underwent surgery earlier this week.

Of the boos, Thomas said, "It's not tough at all compared to what I've been going through.

"I thought everything happening, coming in, being able to play basketball, I thought I'd be able not to harp or think about what's going on. But it's been very difficult. Not to use that as an excuse, but it's been difficult. I'm going to try to do my best."

Thomas, before facing Vince Carter last night, spoke with great emotion, showing none of the bravado from last playoff spring when he was ready to fight Kenyon Martin. He said his wife also has been "up and down" because of the tragedies and new responsibilities.

"It's one of those things, I've never been through it," Thomas said. "I never thought anything like this could happen. I'm trying not to show too much emotion. But holding it in is kind of a bad thing."

Thomas' shot is wayward, but Lenny Wilkens said the forward was playing better. Thomas had been defending his man, getting rebounds, trying to pass the ball.



"Overall, he's starting to relax; he was pressing earlier," Wilkens said. "What he realizes, he's got to do other things than score. He's starting to do that. I think it's in his head [his shooting woes]."

Thomas said he believes only now is he able to hone in fully during games. Last week, he had to miss practice because of a family issue.

"Mentally I thought I'd be OK as far as being able to go out and not think about it," Thomas said. "But I've never been in that situation for 27 years of my life. Everything has been nothing but happiness, but to actually lose two people I was really close to, having to come into the season, it was difficult.

"I have to continue to play through it. I feel better about a whole lot of things other than basketball. It's been a long, dreadful start for me."

http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/32207.htm

Every man women and child has those types of problems in life--they are inevitable. if he feels that it is hindering his play, he should volunteer to sit.

I don't think its the worse thing to have him come off the bench- if he doesn't want to be away from the team- and being around others and 'working' might help him deal- but have take some pressure off him-

start Ariza or JYD depending on matchups and have TT be one of the first two off the bench