Upon the Reeling Knicks

In a matinee affair yesterday, the Knicks lost yet another close game to the surging Chicago Bulls. After leading by 8 points with 3 minutes to go in the 4th quarter, Chicago went to their end game star Ben Gordon. The former UConn standout went for double-digits in the 4th quarter again, a feat he has accomplished multiple times this year. The Knicks lost by 2 at home just days after losing to the Bulls by 2 on the road. While I realize that The Bulls are riding a 7-game win streak, and are one of the hotter teams in the NBA, these are both games that the Knicks should have won.

This New York team is still struggling to find its identity, but the feeling-out period needs to end soon. Injuries to Houston, Crawford, Hardaway, Tim Thomas, Sweetney, and others, has prevented Lenny Wilkins from establishing a regular rotation. You can count on Marbury and Kurt Thomas to suit up and start everyday, but beyond that it has been a guessing game. Now the media has sank their teeth into the "When will Isiah will fire Lenny?" story. The New York papers will likely beat this story to death, and the likely result will be a new coach for the Knicks if the losing does not subside. I remember the talk of Phil Jackson to the Knicks, and wouldn't mind the former NY player coming to coach the team. I'm not sure that Isiah himself taking the reins is the best idea, but this may be the more likely scenario.

While Lenny waits in limbo, I have a stop-gap solution. The starting 5 should beMarbury, Houston, Tim and Kurt Thomas, and Mohammed. Barring foul necessity, the first subs should be as a unit; Crawford for Houston, JYD for Tim Thomas, and Kurt Thomas moving to Center for Mohammed with Sweetney taking the PF spot. This is a high-energy unit who can defend, rebound, and not drop any scoring. When the rotation changes again, it should be 3 guards with Houston, Crawford, and Marbury, with Mohammed and Kurt Thomas. Finally, the change of pace line-up should be Brewer, Crawford, Ariza, Sweetney, JYD. Tim Thomas and Houston should play as their shooting dictates on any given night.

Hopefully the ship can be righted soon, because Wilkins days could be numbered.