The Knicks Fix

Jamal Crawford is good at repeating back questions as statements. He's one of the more media-savvy players on the Knicks and he knows how to play the game. So he was asked after the MLK-day win over Sacramento if him being out of the starting lineup doesn't bother him. "It's not who starts it's who finishes, right?"

"Right, it's not who starts, it's who finishes," he replied.

Gold Jerry. Gold.

Isiah Thomas' starting lineup has changed nine times this season and might again a few more times (if David Lee's efforts have any bearing), but Thomas' finishing lineup in the Sacramento game seemed like it should be set in stone.

PG - Stephon Marbury
SG - Jamal Crawford
SF - Quentin Richardson
PF - David Lee
C - Eddy Curry

It's an excellent combination. Marbury can defend and drive and get himself open for a perimeter shot. Richardson can defend and hit the three-ball. Lee can defend on the post and will rebound, rebound, rebound, along with getting to loose balls. Curry is getting to the point where he can draw fouls automatically down low (and he's even starting to hit his free throws). And Crawford -- or "Mally-'mal" as some call him -- is an unconscious gunner who just knows how to score in crunch time.

Thomas seems defiant with his starting group and there is a method to his madness. He has Channing Frye start at power forward and Frye has shown an ability to get hot right out of the gate with his perimeter shooting. The past two games Frye has scored the majority of his points in the first half. Against Charlotte on Friday he had all 12 of his points in the first half. Against the Kings, 11 of his 17 were in the first half.

And that's OK, because Frye's shooting keeps the defenses honest when looking to double-team Curry early. But down the stretch you need Lee's tenacity on the boards more than you need Frye as a shooter, especially when he's not going to be the first two options.

Jared Jeffries, too, has found himself on the bench in the fourth quarter lately and for good reason. Teams can easily play off him on defense and double elsewhere because he has not shown an ability to consistently hit open shots. His defensive ability is important early in games, which is why he starts -- Jared twice blocked Ron Artest early in Monday's game to set a tone -- but down the stretch the Knicks can rely more on Richardson for his D and his ability to shoot. They can't play both Jeffries and Lee, who also has yet to prove he can consistently hit open shots from outside, because then you have two players you can play off of on defense. And Lee is a much better rebounder than Jeffries, so he gets the nod.

Thomas seems to be stroking the many egos on the team carefully with how he is working his rotation. Frye and Jeffries get to start and Lee and Crawford get to finish.

It's a good plan.

But when it comes to the starting lineup, there's only one change still to come:

That is when Eddy Curry is the last player announced, which is an honor usually bestowed on the best player on the team. Marbury's outstanding play recently proves he still deserves the honor. But it seems only a matter of time before Big Eddy takes the throne.

* * * * *

It's been hard not to notice the extra work Jeffries has been putting in on his offensive game. He stays after practice and works on post moves with Mark Aguirre. He has openly talked about how he knows he needs to be more of a factor, especially on defense. Especially because that's why Thomas gave him the $30 million mid-level exception. But no matter what he does on defense, Jeffries can't keep himself on the floor if he continues to be a liability on offense.

He showed up Monday with a haircut and sporting an orange headband (for the first time this season). He seemed more determined, especially with his first block on Artest early in the game.

Though Marbury is likely to get the assignment, I'd like to Jeffries guard his former teammate, Gilbert Arenas, a few times tomorrow in Washington. Arenas is a scoring machine right now -- he dropped 51 on Utah on Monday -- and his out-in-the-stratosphere personality is reminiscent of Darryl Dawkins. (Thanks to ESPN, however, his "Hibachi" catchphrase is now completely worn out and no longer cool).

Marbury will need a break from time to time and Jeffries does have the quickness to keep up with Arenas. His 6-11 length can also be a factor against the 6-4 Arenas. Then again, the Jazz had 6-9 Andrei Kirilenko on him and it didn't matter.

Oh well.

* * * * *

Most people wouldn't answer the front door in their underwear, right? (Most people, I said . . . people like Dennis Rodman and the dudes from Jackass don't apply here). And they tell you that you can quell the nervousness of speaking before an audience by picturing them in their underwear.

Then I look across the Knicks locker room Monday and see Eddy Curry at his locker. He had just finished his media scrum. He only had time to put on his dress shirt and tie. He was sockless and still in his underwear.

And a woman standing by the door pushed her autograph-seeking daughter over to him. Curry kind of hesitated and looked for a towel to grab. Then he finally just signed the girl's jersey and smiled. Her mother reached to shake his hand and Curry obliged.

"You can put your pants on now, Eddy," I said.

* * * * *

A quick P.S. to landLORD, who posted a comment about the Norbit ad. I agree man, there are many BBWs (means: Big Beautiful Women) out there. But the one in that ad is Eddie Murphy, man. That's Eddy Murphy in a fat costume (and some airbrushing).

Eddy Murphy, man!

My Top 5 "BBW" list (feel free to add any I might have missed)

5. Queen Latifah -- in her prime, she had it going on
4. Kym Hampton -- beautiful smile, beautiful voice and yet a hell of a rebounder
3. Kirstie Alley -- she can do the Weight-Watchers thing all she wants, but she still counts
2. Anna Nicole Smith -- Somewhere between TrimSpa and her reality show
1. America Ferrara -- After seeing her on the Golden Globes, Ugly Betty ain't so ugly out of character

With that, I'm off to Washington D.C. Catch you all tomorrow after the shoot-around.